2024 International Ocean Film Festival Opens in Yeongdo, Busan on July 19th

The 7th International Ocean Film Festival will be held at P.ARK, a complex cultural space in Yeongdo, Busan, for three days from July 19th (Fri) to July 21st (Sun).

Hosted by Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Hyung-joon), organized by the International Ocean Film Festival Organizing Committee (Chairperson Jo Hana), and sponsored by Busan Yeongdo-gu (District Head Kim Ki-jae), this year's festival will showcase 27 feature and short ocean films from 11 countries under the theme of ‘Boundless Ocean’.

This year's opening films for the International Ocean Film Festival are ‘Disappearing Jewels’ by Korean-American animator Will Kim, which uses watercolor illustration animation to convey scientific data and affection for marine life about various issues caused by global warming, and ‘Alien Contact’ by marine biologist and 2002 Emmy Award winner Rick Rosenthal, a documentary that provides a glimpse into the lifestyle of manta rays, which have a wingspan of nearly 8 meters and the most advanced cognitive abilities among fish.

The closing film is ‘Nomad’ by director Ma Xue, which depicts the subtle emotions between love and friendship encountered in Wan'an, China, a surfing utopia for surfers. Actor Xu Weihao, who starred in and co-wrote the script for this film, is scheduled to visit Korea and greet the audience at the closing ceremony.
The screenings will continue for three days, starting with the opening film on the first day, in two theaters on the 6th floor and B1 of P.ARK, a complex cultural space in Yeongdo.

Many films depict the Jeju Island, similar to Busan Yeongdo, and among them, ‘Bok-soon’s One-Day Class’ shows the healing process of Bok-soon, who lives in Jeju, through yoga. A special program is also prepared to enjoy yoga from the film in collaboration with Cocoa Island, a representative wellness brand in Busan, before the screening.
Also, a special session ‘Haenyeo_The World Met Under the Water’ has selected three films featuring Haenyeo (female divers), who have been designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, each with a different story, including ‘Haenyeo: Daughter of the Sea’ produced by Patagonia. After the screening, a GV will be held with director Kang Bin of ‘Until the Day They Are Happy’, and Jeju Haenyeo Kim Ok-ja and Lee Soon-deok, who appeared in the film.

On Saturday night, after the screening of ‘I Cut the Sea with You’, a film about indie band ‘Annyeong Bada’s’ (Hello Ocean) cross-country trip across America, famous for ‘Starlight Falls’, a music talk will be held with director No Jae-yoon, Annyeong Bada’s bassist Woo Myung-je, cameraman Kwon Jae-hyun, and music columnist Kim Tae-hoon. Beer will be provided to the audience during this event, offering a special experience to enjoy the film, music, and travel stories with a cool beer.

In addition, Sarah Nollenberg, director of the reportage ‘Orca - Black & White Gold’, which captured a Russian company illegally hunting orcas, a popular species in aquariums, and persuaded the government to release them, will visit Korea and have a GV with Jo Yak-gol, head of Hot Pink Dolphins, a marine environmental group that is working to designate a habitat protection area for southern resident dolphins in Jeju, to discuss domestic and international situations.

Also, SBS Special Documentary, ‘Whale and Me’, which shows the crisis of the earth revealed through the life and death of whales, is preparing a GV program after the screening.
Furthermore, a total of 8 films selected through the domestic production and screening support competition of the International Ocean Film Festival, including △Breath Sounds △Bok-soon’s One-Day Class △Mijo △How to Swim with Dolphins △Until the Day They Are Happy △Fish Cake in the Water △Mackerel, the Sea, and Soon-hee △Why Do People Go to See the Sea, will be screened in the short film and special sections.

In addition, special sessions have been prepared in collaboration with marine-related organizations and companies such as MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) and Deokhwa Myeongran to discuss various issues facing the ocean with marine experts in each field.

The International Ocean Film Festival has showcased various artworks in collaboration with local artists every year, and this year, Ahn Hee-jeong, a picture book author who is actively involved in various exhibitions and cultural planning in the region, will present artwork and experience programs for the International Ocean Film Festival through the Busan Cultural Foundation’s Artist Dispatch Support Project.

Jo Hana, the operating committee chair of the International Ocean Film Festival, said, “Based on this year’s theme, ‘Boundless Ocean’, we have strived to incorporate everything related to the sea, including marine environment and culture, as well as humanities, literature, and music,” adding, “We hope many people will take an interest in the festival that is celebrating its seventh anniversary this year.”

Tickets for the 2024 International Ocean Film Festival can be booked through the reservation link on the website, and on-site booking is also available during the festival period. The screening fee is 10,000 won for special programs and 5,000 won for general screenings. Tickets purchased online can be exchanged for physical tickets at the venue, and a can of coffee or a financier coupon at the Piak Cafe will be provided as a gift.

For more information on the 2024 International Ocean Film Festival, please visit the festival website (www.kioff.kr) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/kioff.official).

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※ This article is based on a company's press release, and it has been reorganized for clarity.