Film director Im Sang-soo has been appointed honorary ambassador for this year’s Jeju French Film Festival. Best known for movies such as “Housemaid” and “The Taste of Money”... Im says Jeju’s breathtaking natural scenery makes it the perfect venue for the film festival. Suejin Choi reports.
[slug] Director Im Sang-soo named Jeju French Film Festival ambassador

He’s a household name in the Korean film industry and has twice been invited to the Cannes Film Festival for “Housemaid” and “The Taste of Money”.

Director Im Sang-soo (임상수) is also this year’s ambassador for the 7th Jeju French Film Festival.

[slug]‘Festival owes success to local residents’

The Jeju French Film Festival may be small in scale, but it continues to attract many movie enthusiasts year in and year out.

Director Im (임) says much of its success can be owed to the appreciation shown by the local residents… who make the festival just as exciting as any star-studded film extravaganza.

As a first time honorary ambassador, Im (임) is all the more enthusiastic about taking on the role.

Interview
Im Sang-soo / Film director
It’s very small and local, and not too many famous people may attend, but it’s a beautiful festival because of the way the people really care about it.
<인터뷰: 임상수/ 영화감독>
"정말 작고 지역적인, 유명한 사람들이 많이 안와도 그 동네 주민들이 정말 사랑하는 영화제의 아름다움이랄까요."

Im (임) recalls the first time he visited Jeju many years ago, on a wooden boat he took from Mokpo (목포). Today, he sees the island as a cultural outlet with great potential.

The upcoming film festival is expected to offer an opportunity for Jeju residents to watch a wide range of movies that would otherwise be hard to come by on the island.

Im (임) has also stressed how perfect Jeju is to host the festival.

Interview
Im Sang-soo / Film director
The venue of any festival is crucial. It can create a festive atmosphere in itself. And you can’t get better than Jeju. There’s the sea and the mountains...
<인터뷰: 임상수/ 영화감독>
"축제는 장소가 중요하잖아요. 축제 느낌을 주는 장소, 제주도만큼 좋은 곳은 없는 것 같아요. 바다도 있고, 산도 있고..."

During the four-day festival, Director Im Sang-soo (임상수) will himself watch some of the screenings with festival-goers... and hold movie-related discussions.

Interview
Ko Young-rim / President, Jeju Intl. Culture Exchange Assn.
He knows a lot about French films, he’s been invited to compete at the Cannes Film Festival twice, and he’s just a great director. I hope many people come and enjoy these beautiful French films this year, in beautiful Jeju.
<인터뷰: 고영림/ 제주국제문화교류협회 회장>
"프랑스 영화에 대해서 많이 알고 계시고, 칸국제영화제에 두번이나 본선 경쟁작으로 초대됐던 훌륭한 감독이시잖아요. 제주가 아름다운 프랑스 영화를 아름다운 제주에서 많은 사람들이 즐길 수 있으면 좋겠다."

The 7th Jeju French Film Festival...

[camera] Moon Ho-seong
[reporter] Suejin Choi

… will be held from November 3rd until the 6th this year… at the Jeju Movie and Culture Art Center in Jeju City.
Suejin Choi KCTV