‘Wangsa-nam’ Director Jang Hang-jun takes the post of Jecheon International Music & Film Festival executive director
A ‘star-studded’ attendance list including Jeon Mi-do·Kim Yun-ah
Appears in the promotional video together with writer Kim Eun-hee
Film Music Award to Chinese composer Zhao Jiping

“From Korea, the world-class master, I am Jang Hang-jun, husband of writer Kim Eun-hee and executive director of the Jecheon International Music & Film Festival.”

The official press conference for the 22nd Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF) was held on the 6th at Community House Masil in Jung District, Seoul. With the success of <The Man Who Lives With the King>, executive director Jang Hang-jun became a “16-million director” and introduced himself with good humor. Appointed as executive director last year, he had expressed his ambition to “create a festival that is friendly to the public.”

This year's festival program shows a clear intention to realize that goal.

The attendee list is dazzling from the start. Directors Park Chan-wook·Bong Joon-ho will attend the opening ceremony, with broadcaster Jang Do-yeon and actor Moon Sang-min hosting. Director Bong will also take part in <Talk to You>, a program in which notable figures introduce films they consider personally special. Director Lee Myung-se, actor Jeon Mi-do, singer Kim Yun-ah, profiler Kwon Il-yong, and journalist Son Suk-hee will also watch their selected films with audiences and talk together.

Executive director Jang joked, “When inviting them, I begged a lot. It seems it was possible thanks to the ‘halo’ of <The Man Who Lives With the King>.” He said he especially wanted to invite Park and Bong to the same place: “I called out of the blue and explained, and they agreed. They also like me.” He added that he has watched the two directors “for over 20 years, and their attitude toward staff, actors, and audiences is excellent, so there is much to learn.”

This year's festival trailer (promotional video), directed by Kim Cho-hee of <Chansil Has Plenty of Luck> (2020), features executive director Jang Hang-jun and his wife, writer Kim, appearing themselves. A woman (Kang Mal-geum) whose husband is a film director has a ‘straw’ stuck in her back. She says, “My director husband stuck it in 22 years ago, and it never comes off.” Looking at her with pity, writer Kim advises, “There is no ‘never’. Since it is already stuck, suck refreshingly to your heart's content.” The dialogue, which recalls the relationship between Director Jang and writer Kim, naturally leads into promotion for the festival.

Director Kim said, “The trailer's purpose is to bring in audiences,” adding, “If we tailored it to the specificity of a music film festival, the fun would suffer. There is hardly anyone as popular these days as Director Jang Hang-jun, so I thought using him would be fun.” She continued, “I handed over the script, fearing it might be a burden, but he accepted it with gusto.” Director Jang said, “It is a chance to see top writer Kim Eun-hee act,” and added, “I think it is a good trailer with a unique conception.”

The festival, which will run for six days from the 3rd of next month, will present 189 films from 45 countries. The international competition has been reorganized into the International Music Film Competition and the International Competition, seeking expansion beyond music films alone.

The opening film is <Congo Boy> by Congolese director and musician Rafiki Fariala. Programmer Cho Myung-jin explained, “Even amid the reality of civil war in Africa, it is a film that briskly shows how music becomes the strength to live for tomorrow.” The Jecheon Film Music Award will be given to Chinese composer Zhao Jiping, who scored <Farewell My Concubine> (1993) and <Mei Lanfang> (2008). Actor Ahn Jae-hong will serve as promotional ambassador ‘JIMFFACE’.

The festival's signature concert program, <One Summer Night with K-pop Season 2>, to be held on the 4th5th of next month, will take place not at the former Jecheon Airfield but at the Summer Plaza of the Jecheon Arts Center. Crush, Lisenne, Lee Seung-yoon, Saesonyeon, Soran, Monsta X, and FT Island will take the stage. Performance director Kim Ki-yong expressed confidence, saying, “In terms of popularity, this lineup is second to none anywhere in the country.”