With a turning point, total admissions increased and screening opportunity expanded

- 61,238 of total admission, 141 of sold-out screening time, and 79.6% of seat occupancy rate

- Festival continues to May 9, with screening of award winners and hottest titles

Passing the half point after the opening on last April 30, the 16th Jeonju International Film Festival (Jeonju IFF) reported the interim statement of highly increased total admissions and screening opportunities.

According to the report by Jeonju IFF administration department on May 6, total number of admissions by May 5 was 61,238, which is 3,022 more than the same period last year(58,216). Seat occupancy recorded 79.6%, and the number of sold-out screening times reached 141. These indicate the heated popularity from the audience, considering the number of total seats has been expanded due to selection of CGV Jeonju Hyoja and Jeonju Sports Stadium as new screening venues, and holidays were interspersed with workdays (May 4 was working day) this year, compared to 6-day straight holidays last year.

The increase of total admissions seemed to be influenced by the increase of total seats (8,338 more than last year) due to the additional new screening venues. Seat occupancy(79.6%) and sold-out screening times(141) so far have decreased for a small amount compared to the same period last year(seat occupancy 84.9%, sold-out screening times 168) but this seemed to be the result of largely expanding total seats and seats per screen to increase the screening opportunities. When it comes to sold-out screening times, it has decreased compared to last year, but highly increased compared to that of 2013(107) and 2012(113).

It is also noticeable to see that festival offered 313 of screening times which is 77 more than 236, that of 6-day period last year. Improving screening environments and increasing the audience’s convenience through securing the latest theaters, and expanding screening opportunities for the audience are great achievements.

The newly prepared outdoor screenings almost reached 60%(59.5%) in seat occupancy rate, showing successful results. Especially, the figure is quite inspiring, considering the all-day-long rains on May 3 which made staffs to hesitate about the screenings until 5 minutes before it starts, and bad weather conditions like chilly days after the rains. Also, outdoor screening films on days before it rained, Trash (May 1) and Rudderless (May 2) recorded much over 80%, with Jeonju Sports Stadium full of the audience. In fact, on rainy day, May 3, about 700 citizens with raincoats calmly watched movie without wandering around. This advanced attitude definitely indicated high possibility of outdoor screenings becoming the new culture of the Jeonju IFF.

Various events were held and numerous event booths opened for the audience and citizens at Jeonju Lounge in front of Jeonju Sports Stadium. Buskings by Jeonju-based indie bands heated the festival ambience even more, and radio broadcastings such as ‘CBS LEE Byeongjin of 3.0’ and ‘MBC LEE Ju-yeon, Movie OST’ as well as small-scale handmade markets were also arranged for Jeonju citizens.

The most loved films from the audience showed diverse distribution, such as Korean indie films, those from rising directors recognized by overseas critic circles, and those from international veteran directors. Until May 5, in addition to 2 Korean films, Alice in Earnestland(AHN Goocjin), and Speed(LEE Sangwoo), Opening Film Partisan(Ariel KLEIMAN), While We’re Young(Noah BAUMBACH), Li’l Quinquin(Bruno DUMONT), Little Forest: Winter/Spring(MORI Junichi), and The Duke of Burgundy(Peter STRICKLAND) recorded sold-out for all screening times.

The 16th Jeonju IFF continues to May 9, with screening of award-winning films and hottest titles.