Jeonju Co-director Min Sungwook Talks to TFV

The 24th Jeonju International Fillm Festival unfolded April 27 to May 6

Min Sungwook (Left) and Jung Joonho (right) courtesy of Jeonju IFF

VERDICT: From "crisis is opportunity" to the joy of discovering impressive new titles, Jeonju veteran Min Sungwook takes us behind the scenes of a beloved South Korean festival.

One of South Korea’s most beloved film events, the Jeonju International Film Festival (Jeonju IFF), took place under the leadership of two new festival co-directors this year, veteran actor Jung Joonho and Mr. Min Sungwook, a professor at Paekche Institute of the Arts. In this interview with The Film Verdict, Min Sungwook – whose wealth of experience with the festival includes previously serving as Jeonju’s secretary general and deputy festival director – talks to TFV about the selection of the opening film, Korean independent cinema, and the festival’s role as a film producer.

The Film Verdict: You have worked in different roles at Jeonju International Film Festival (Jeonju IFF) since it began. This year marks the first time you have been the festival’s co-director. Can you tell us how it changed the way you experience the festival?

MIN SUNGWOOK: I am aware that the festival carries high expectations, which makes this position both an honor and a responsibility. But I believe the festival can only be successfully held when the people behind it enjoy their work, which is precisely what I am trying to achieve.

TFV: What was your prime focus in preparing for this edition?

MS: Jeonju Dome, once a festival center and a gathering place, is currently undergoing construction that will turn it into the House of Independent Cinema, a long-cherished business initiative for the city of Jeonju, which temporarily leaves us without a central venue. Taking crisis as opportunity, we decided to host events all over town: having the opening ceremony at Sori Arts Center, the closing ceremony at Jeonbuk National University, and so on. Hopefully, it will increase the engagement of local residents.

TFV: What did you discuss with the programmers in terms of the content?

MS: It’s always about discovering impressive new titles. With the change of festival directors, there were concerns about the Jeonju’s major focus shifting to popular events to attract visitors. This is absolutely not the case. Our unwavering focus since our inception has been supporting independent, alternative and digital cinema. I encouraged our programmers to reinforce the festival’s distinctive identity, which is aptly reflected in sections such as Frontline and Expanded Cinema.

TFV: How was the opening film Tori and Lokita chosen? Having screened multiple works by the Dardenne brothers in the past, including the lesser-known ones, the festival definitely seems to have an affection for the filmmakers.

MS: We had planned to screen the then-latest Young Ahmed in 2020, along with a retrospective on the Dardennes, and to invite them in person. Sadly, it fell through due to the pandemic. Now that travel restrictions have been lifted, we decided on Tori and Lokita as the opening film very early on. It will be the brothers’ first visit to Korea, which is hard to believe, given the great love they receive from Korean cinephiles.

TFV: Jeonju IFF is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA). Can you comment on the significance of KAFA for the festival?

MS: KAFA is the face of Korean film education, helping countless filmmakers launch their careers. With government support, KAFA provides young talents with quality resources, yielding dynamic and refreshing outcomes. KAFA is an invaluable source of great new films and filmmakers for Jeonju IFF and, frankly, for the whole industry.

TFV: This year also marks the tenth edition of Jeonju Cinema Project (JCP). Can you share some insights on its first decade?

MS: Before JCP, we had funded three short projects annually. But short films posed distribution challenges. So we doubled the budget and began funding feature projects. A lot of JCP-funded films have gone on to receive international recognition and win awards, elevating the JCP brand. However, with rising production costs in recent years, we are at a point where we will be reexamining how we operate this program with limited financial resources and manpower. We will be hosting a conference on public funding for independent film production during the festival.

TFV: What factors does the festival as a producer consider when selecting JCP projects

MS: We consider whether the finished work would generate positive and meaningful audience responses. Additionally, we assess whether a project truly requires our support, with no viable alternative financing options. This year, we present Samsara, which premiered at the Berlinale and won the Encounters Special Jury Prize. In his acceptance speech, the director Lois Patiño thanked Jeonju IFF for trusting in this experimental and innovative film. It was a proud and validating moment for our endeavors.

TFV: What is Jeonju IFF’s vision within the festival circuit?

MS: Jeonju IFF aspires to be the mecca of independent films, introducing Korean independent filmmakers to the world and making them feel at home in Jeonju. We also aim to provide a platform for filmmakers and film professionals to connect and work towards reaching a bigger audience outside of festivals. For the audience, Jeonju IFF offers unique and exceptional films that are not found in multiplexes, films for which they need to come join us in front of our big screen. This is our festival’s commitment to the audience.

Interview conducted by Cho Hyo-jin