Filmmakers assemble to criticize government budget cuts to industry funding
Published: 16 Oct. 2024, 19:19
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- KIM JI-YE
- kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr
Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI
![Director Lee Mi-rang speaks during a press conference held at the National Assembly in Yeouido District, western Seoul, on Oct. 16, to call for the normalization of the film industry supporting budget and policies. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/10/16/175851a2-358d-4a61-9b92-d67851d59f1f.jpg)
Director Lee Mi-rang speaks during a press conference held at the National Assembly in Yeouido District, western Seoul, on Oct. 16, to call for the normalization of the film industry supporting budget and policies. [NEWS1]
Filmmakers urged the government to roll back its budget cuts that have more than halved film festival funding, saying at a press conference Wednesday that the government is killing the domestic film industry.
“The film ecosystem, where creators stand, faces severe threats due to ongoing cuts in film support budgets,” director Lee Jeong-hong said during a press conference held at the National Assembly in Yeouido District, western Seoul, on Wednesday.
“Not only has the production and distribution of independent films scaled down, but the shift to an administrative support system has also caused many creators to experience difficulties. A more serious regression in film policies is the 50 percent cutback in the film festival budget and a total budget reduction for regional films by the Korean Film Council (Kofic), which was forewarned last year.”
A total of 18 filmmakers, along with Reps. Cho Gye-won, Lee Ki-heon and Kim Jae-won gathered for the press conference, claiming that Kofic's cutback on film festivals and regional film funding is "shaking the weakest area of the Korean film industry.”
![Film directors hold pickets calling for the normalization of the film industry supporting budget and policies during a press conference held at the National Assembly on Oct. 16. From left, directors Lee Joeng-hong, Lim Oh-jeong, Lim Dae-hyung and Lee Mi-rang [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/10/16/6454a737-18d0-4fe8-8e83-af6d5b1cbd9d.jpg)
Film directors hold pickets calling for the normalization of the film industry supporting budget and policies during a press conference held at the National Assembly on Oct. 16. From left, directors Lee Joeng-hong, Lim Oh-jeong, Lim Dae-hyung and Lee Mi-rang [NEWS1]
Kofic's annual budget is decided by the Culture Ministry. This year's budget for domestic film festivals was 2.4 billion won ($1.76 million), more than halving the previous year's budget of 5.2 billion won. As a result, the number of selected recipients plummeted to almost one-fourth from last year, with only 10 recipients chosen — down from 41 previously.
This year, most of the smaller film festivals were denied subsidies. Only major festivals, such as the Busan International Film Festival, Jeonju International Film Festival, Bucheon Fantastic International Film Festival and DMZ International Documentary Film Festival received funding.
The Seoul Independent Film Festival was especially emphasized during Wednesday's press briefing for being one of the film festivals to experience a complete scale-down in budget this year.
“If independent film festivals, which have established a new foundation for independent cinema through feature-length films, are reduced, it is evident that the ecosystem of independent films will also be shaken,” director Baek Jae-ho said.
The filmmakers also stressed the importance of film festivals and their function in the field.
![Director Lim Dae-hyun speaks during a press conference held at the National Assembly in Yeouido District, western Seoul, on Oct. 16, to call for the normalization of the film industry supporting budget and policies. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2024/10/16/7c0e5560-d2d7-4a46-8f0b-79fa9a728849.jpg)
Director Lim Dae-hyun speaks during a press conference held at the National Assembly in Yeouido District, western Seoul, on Oct. 16, to call for the normalization of the film industry supporting budget and policies. [NEWS1]
“Film festivals are a crucial platform and an important space for creators,” director Lee Ran-hee said. “They are the first gateway where films meet audiences and serve as a networking hub for directors, actors and staff members, offering a space of limitless possibilities.”
“Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of audience members attending film festivals has actually been on the rise, while the need for film festivals is increasing in response to the monopolization of screenings. It is difficult to understand why there is a sudden push to reduce film festival projects,” she added.
Filmmakers also called for the restoration of film funding and support to secure the future of the Korean film industry.
“We, as filmmakers, stand here today to call for the normalization of film policies, which look after the most essential and marginalized areas in collaboration with the film industry and to demand the restoration of the film support funding that was the backbone of the Korean film industry,” director Baek said.
“Young and innovative filmmakers have been able to take on new challenges through Kofic and the film development fund,” Lim Oh-jeong also said. “We hope that Kofic and film development become a solution for overcoming the crisis in the film industry and serve as a gateway for future generations to experience Korean films in theaters."
BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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