HAEUNDAE BEACH, BUSAN

... well, what can i say, another party ... for the usual suspects and party animals (or, a sociological study on the perfect balance to be found among comaraderie, inspiration, mutual support, general energy release after months and years of hard work, harmless festive flirts, exchange of cultural differences and out-of-the-box ideas --- and/or self-promotion, useless blah-blah, festie addiction so much so that some are seen in the circuit for years without burying the head in another creation (too much work!), pointless speculations and conspiracy theories, unjustified star-turns ... ) ... sincerely thankful for the continued existence of BIFF ... where the people involved in making this festival happen seem to embody and concentrate on all the above-mentioned positive elements of a film festival ... just a lovely feeling to be in Busan, especially when young filmmakers come up to you to say "remember me?  I was at the 'clinic' last year and here I am, showing my film this year" ... and finally meeting up with two committed, talented FB friends for years but no face-to-face until this year's BIFF, another positive effect of festivals amidst the other stuff one must not take away with one nor take seriously when the sun rises.

(October 2015)