Seoul Inaugurates Digital Film Fest

An explosive kinetic force will boost the dynamics of Seoul, as some 40 art films mix with digital technology in Cinema Digital Seoul 2007 (CinDi), July 20-27 at multiplex theater CGV Apgujeong in southern Seoul. Amid the high tide of summer film festivals, the event stands out as Korea's first festival focusing uniquely on digital movies.

``Following the birth of analog movies in Paris, Dec. 27, 1895, Cinema Digital Seoul hopes to capture the second historical leap in cinema,'' said Chung Seong-ill, co-chair of the festival's organizing committee and one of the most renowned film critics in Korea.

The term ``digital film'' is an oxymoron, for digital cinematography is a process of filmmaking that ironically does not involve film. It captures motion pictures as digital images instead, and uses digital representation of the brightness and color of each pixel of an image. A digital film revolution is said to have started from the bottom up, thriving among independent filmmakers.

Recently, however, several mainstream Hollywood movies were shot digitally. In 2002, ``Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones'' became the first high-profile high-budget work that was shot on 24-frames-per-second, high-definition video.

But due to its nature with infinite potential, the use of the graphic medium is yet an experimental endeavor in the industry. Presenting the latest digital trends in movies, CinDi sheds light upon the future and vision of cinema.

``Inland Empire'' (2006), a zany film written and directed by the celebrated David Lynch (``Mulholland Drive,'' 2001), will open the festival Friday evening. Shot entirely in digital video, the movie traces the mysterious story of a deeply troubled woman, and imaginatively combines snippets of different situations and settings. Even the film's heroine, Laura Dern, is said to have been clueless about her role and the storyline.

In the main competition, 20 progressive digital films by up-and-coming Asian directors await discovery. Works convene from different corners of Asia, including Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, India, Kuwait, the Philippines, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Unlike other competitive film festivals, CinDi does not have a Grand Prix. Rather, four awards will be given out independently by four different groups -- renowned international directors with experience in digital filmmaking, recognized film critics and journalists from around the world, young critics from Korea as well as the audience. A top award may arise should one film receive more than one of the four prizes, according to Chung.

Outside the competition, works from the far sides of the globe provide a thorough retrospection of modern digital films. Moviegoers can appreciate Park Chan-wook's ``I am a Cyborg but That's Okay'' (2006) starring pop star Rain; ``Honor de Cavalleria'' (2006), a reinterpretation of Cervantes' ``Don Quixote'' by rising Spanish director Albert Serra; and ``Imagine Nation'' (2006), a breathtaking omnibus of shorts by 20 Filipino filmmakers.

Another notable film is ``So Much Rice'' (2005) from China. Although created as a project with a group of friends (neither director Li Hongqi nor his crew had any formal background in film), the work presented a new challenge for Chinese digital film. More interesting is that after participating in the project, crew members went on to make their own films. Surprisingly, their films won critical acclaim and can be found in the competition section of CinDi 2007.

Tickets for all movies cost 5,000 won, and can be purchased online at www.cgv.co.kr or on site at CGV Apgujeong, located near Apgujeong Station in southern Seoul. Admission for night screenings is 10,000 won.

To learn more about Cinema Digital Seoul, visit www.cindi.or.kr.

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Source : http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2007/07/141_6672.html