Busan International Film Fest Gets Underway

BUSAN, South Korea -- The 17th Busan International Film Festival got underway tonight with a star-studded opening ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center in Centum City. Hundreds of fans lined up as early as 7 a.m. to get the best glimpse of the stars as they paraded down the world’s longest red carpet.

Chinese starlet Tang Wei, along with Korean acting legend Ahn Sung-ki co-hosted the event, with Tang being the first foreign host in the film festivals history.

"I have been impressed by the passion people here have for film," Tang said. "Busan is a city full of energy."

The Hong Kong police thriller, Cold War, directed by Longman Deung and Sunny Luk opened the festival to the thousands in attendance. Earlier in the day, before the official screening of the opening film was a special screening for press, followed by a press conference with the directors, and stars Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Ka-fai.

With this year’s festival focusing more on Asian cinema, festival director Lee Yong-kwan said choosing a Hong Kong production to open the festival will help to see a rise in the regions cinematic power.

"We want to encourage Asian cinema and encourage talk about Asian cinema," he said.

The 10-day festival, which runs an extra day this year, features over 300 films from 75 countries, and organizers are hoping to attract over 200,000 visitors.

Friday Events:

4:00 p.m. - Master Class - Toshihiro Isomi - CGV Centum City 1
4:30 p.m. - Outdoor Greeting Event - “Cold War” - Haeundae Beach BIFF Village
5:50 p.m. - Outdoor Greeting Event - “Code Name: Jackal” - Haeundae Beach BIFF Village
6:45 p.m. - Open Talk - Ahn Sung-ki, Tang Wei - Haeundae Beach BIFF Village
7:30 p.m. - Outdoor Greeting Event - “A Company Man” - Haeundae Beach BIFF Village
8:00 p.m. - Open Talk - Lee Chang-dong, Zhang Ziyi - Haeundae Beach BIFF Village
9:00 p.m. - APAN Star Road - BIFF Village

Lead photo from www.newsen.com

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