The 16th Jeonju International Film Festival, 10% increase in total admissions, with successful expansion
- 6,874 increase in total admissions compared to last year, leading to positive feedback about programs
- Confirming possibility of outdoor screenings as new cinema culture
The 16th Jeonju International Film Festival (Jeonju IFF) closed when its final screening Li’l Quinquin ended at 11:50pm on May 9. With its increase of slightly over 10%(10.03%) in total admissions compared to last year, 75,351 people visited, which is 6,874 more than last year(68,477). Total seat occupancy rate was 76.2% and sold-out screening times was 176.
1. Expanding screening opportunities and choices of the audience, from securing screening times, theaters, and seats per screen
‘Expansion’ of spaces, theaters, and programs, which was the slogan of the 16th Jeonju IFF this year, seemed to work out, when we see over 10% increase in total admissions even though holidays were interspersed with workdays (May 4 was working day) compared to 6-day straight holidays last year. Especially, greatly increasing the number of theaters(17 this year, 4 more than last year), screening times(440 this year, 109 more than last year), and total number of seats(98,886 this year, 17,422 more than last year) through adding newly built theater ‘CGV Jeonju Hyoja’ which has average of 236 seats per screen resulted in positive effects. Securing more seats highly increased screening opportunities for the audience, overcoming the case where many people had to return, in front of sold-out signs. In fact, on the first Saturday(May 2), when the most people visited, they had more opportunities to watch alternative ones thanks to increased number of theaters, despite 7 more sold-out screening times(46) than last year. As a result, they have accommodated people whom they could not do last year, and therefore, audiences could make choices among more theaters and seats, greatly increasing screening opportunities despite the increased number of admissions.
2. Distribution effect from space expansion, improving screening quality and services
Adding CGV Jeonju Hyoja as a new theater, audiences previously saturated on ‘Cinema Street’ were somewhat distributed. During its 6-day screenings from May 1 to 6, seat occupancy rate of CGV Jeonju Hyoja compared to total admissions reached 35%. Also, 19.6% of audiences moved to Jeonju Sports Stadium to watch outdoor screening films at 8:00pm during the same period. These indicate the relaxation to some extent of audiences previously focused on ‘Cinema Street.’
Screening quality was greatly improved through adding state-of-the-art theater. Especially, there were many positive feedbacks from international guests. International Competition jury and Greek actor Vangelis MOURIKIS expressed satisfaction by saying, “Facilities of Jeonju theaters were excellent. It is comparable to that of overseas film festival, and I think it is the best environment to make examinations.” Director J.P. VALKEAPAA from International Competition said, “Every director wants to meet the audience in the best environment. I was really satisfied to introduce my film at large, decent venue.”
Regarding worries about the distance between theaters and traffic jam in peak times, they tried to minimize inconveniences through running enough number of shuttle buses and relaxing on-time admission policy. From May 1 to 6, 860 times of shuttle buses ran, and 15,080 people used that period. In addition, they took measures against shuttle delays from traffic jam, through allowing 2 times of admission after 5 and 15 minutes each.
3. Strong trends in South American films and discovering new faces in Korean films
When looking at award-winning films from competition sections of the 16th Jeonju IFF, strong trends in ‘South American films’ still remained since last year, and it is also interesting to see rookie directors who will lead Korean film scene in the future. In International Competition section, Poet on a Business Trip(Dir. JU Anqi) won Grand Prize, Navajazo(Dir. Ricardo SILVA) won Best Picture Prize, and Parabellum(Dir. Lukas VALENTA RINNER) won Special Jury Prize. Alice in Earnestland(Dir. AHN Goocjin) and Blossom(Dir. HAN Inmi) each won Grand Prize in Korean Competition and Korean Competition For Shorts. As you can see, South American films achieved outstanding results, as they won 2 out of 3 main awards in International Competition, and in Korean film area, new faces from film schools brightened the future of Korean films.
4. Positive comments about programs, creative planning, and exhibitions
There were positive responses about solid programs. The public opinion was that this year’s Jeonju IFF has done high-level programming covering diverse trends of world cinema, as well as reconfirmed long-standing identity of discovery and alternative. Although increasing the number of official titles to 200, they improved overall qualities and arranged exhibitions to discover those which were not introduced domestically before.
When it comes to distribution of seat occupancy rate by section, Korean Competition For Shorts(98.7%), Korean Competition(92.5%), Jeonju Cinema Project 2015(88.7%), Cinemafest(81.3%), and Fallen Myth: Innovation in Greek New Wave(75.9%) got high popularity. Especially, ‘Fallen Myth: Innovation in Greek New Wave’, the special program about Greek new wave films, one of ‘Special Focus’ programs, recorded over 75% of seat occupancy rate despite the limits of ‘special program’ itself. In addition to the timely programs spotlighting new trends of world cinema, it is also regarded as great achievements to enhance educational aspects through newly arranging ‘Cinematology’ section, and expand ‘Expanded Cinema’ quantitatively and qualitatively.
Two newly arranged exhibitions this year received positive comments both domestically and internationally for their creative trials. ‘WANG Bing: Art of Observation’, which illuminates director WANG Bing’s world, held at the 1st floor of Jeonju Cinema Complex, attracted more than 1,600 people during the festival period. Also, ‘100 Films, 100 Posters’ which was held at Cinema Street, Jeonju Movie Hotel, and ‘Becky’ Art Space confirmed possibility of new program event. Especially, ‘Banner’ exhibition installed on Cinema Street became a photo zone for numerous citizens, confirming possibility of being unique tradition of Jeonju IFF.
5. Becoming ‘Square festival’, closer to citizens
In addition to outer expansion, previous announcement of being ‘Square Festival’ for citizens was successfully fulfilled as well. Outdoor screenings which took place at Jeonju Sports Stadium recorded 62.7% of seat occupancy. The heated reservation for them started from Opening film Partisan, as all tickets were sold out the day(Wednesday, April 29) before the Opening Day(Thursday, April 30). Following Partisan, Trash on May 1 and Rudderless on May 2 continued the high rate of occupancy, each scoring 80.5% and 87.9%. Especially, on May 3 scheduled for Ride, staffs were hesitant about the screening until 5 minutes before it starts because of all-day-long rains, but the advanced attitude of about 700 citizens with raincoats calmly watching movies without wandering around showed high possibility of outdoor screenings as new cinema culture of Jeonju IFF.
Moreover, various events for citizens were held at Jeonju Lounge outside of Jeonju Sports Stadium. Numerous kinds of programs such as Buskings, Exhibitions, Radio Broadcastings, and Flea Markets took place at Jeonju Lounge and Jeonju Square situated on ‘Cinema Street.’ In fact, most of busking teams consisted of youngsters based on Jeonju, contributing to enhancing the regional identity of ‘Jeonju.’
6. The largest scale ever, Jeonju Project Market
The 7th ‘Jeonju Project Market’ (‘JPM’) renewed its largest scale ever, as 850 people from 160 investment/production/distribution companies attended this year. Even if they shortened the market period from previous 7 to 4 days, they proved more solidness of their organization as the scale and the number of attending companies increased. Total 316 people attended pitching event of Jeonju Project Promotion (JPP) which showcases creative film projects, and 23 prestigious domestic investment/production companies including CGV Arthouse, Lotte Entertainment, Showbox/Mediaplex Inc. and JinJin Pictures went on 80 number of business meetings.
The newly arranged program this year, ‘Rising Cinema Showcase’ attracted a number of distribution companies as 138 associates attended the event, and 263 people(138 last year) and 784 times(339 last year) were scored for Video Library use for 6 days, indicating almost 2 times of increase compared to last year. At ‘Industry Conference’ and ‘JPM Class’ of Open Forum, the only events from JPM where general public can attend, 92 and 41 people each attended.
The 16th Jeonju IFF successfully implemented expansions such as increasing total admissions, the number of programs, and increasing citizen-friendly programs. Taking into account these new trials, Executive Committee of Jeonju IFF will prepare for the 17th edition of 2016.
