(PHOTOS – Left: In his Opening Speech, Secretary General Lee, Kyung-taek of the Busan Cinema Center thanked the ASEAN Ambassadors from the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam and Cambodia and guests for attending the Opening Ceremony of the festival. Middle: Ambassador Dizon-De Vega delivers her speech, congratulating the Korea Foundation, ASEAN Culture House and the Busan Cinema Center for organizing the film festival. Right: Director General Lee In-Hyuck of the Korea Foundation - ASEAN Culture House (KF-ACH), welcomes the ASEAN Ambassadors and representatives from the Busan Consular Corps in his Welcome Speech.)
22 August 2024, Busan – In commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Philippine – Korea Diplomatic Relations and the celebration of the Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa, the Philippine Embassy in collaboration with its hosts and organizers the Korea Foundation – ASEAN Culture House (KF-ACH) and the Busan Cinema Center (BCC) participated in the 2024 ASEAN Film Festival held at the Busan Cinema Center.
Philippine films featured in the festival were John Denver Trending, locally distributed by NewOne Cinema and directed by Arden Rod Condez, The Housemaid directed by Roman Perez, Jr., a remake of the 2010 Korean film Hanyeo, and lastly, Waiting for Sunset directed by Carlo Enciso Catu, adjudged the Best Picture at the 2014 edition of Cinemalaya, which also had the honor of being chosen as the opening film for the festival.
(PHOTOS: Top: Guests attending the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 ASEAN Film Festival. Bottom: Promoting the festival at the lobby of the Busan Cinema Center.)
In her congratulatory speech, Ambassador Dizon – De Vega said “Film brings people from diverse backgrounds and points of view together. The true test of the impact of any film is if the audience is touched by it, remembers it, thinks about it and if it lingers in our memories.”
She further emphasized that, “Every year there are emerging talents set to make their mark in international cinema. Through festivals and platforms such as this ASEAN Film Festival, more audiences will have the opportunity to view these remarkable films, across several genres. I hope that this glimpse of AEAN cinema will show Korean audiences the depth and breadth of the cinematic voices of our region.”
(PHOTOS – Left: H.E. Pengiran Hajah Nooriyah of Brunei Darussalam, H.E. Chring Botum Rangsay of Cambodia and H.E. Maria Theresa B. Dizon – De Vega of the Philippines. Right: ACH Director General Lee, Ambassador Rangsay, Ms. Mary O’Neil, President of the Busan International Women’s Federation, Ambassador Dizon – De Vega, Ambassador Nooriyah, Ms. Sophie Kang, President of the International Women’s Federation of Commerce and Industry, Embassy Cultural Officer Anthony Cornista and Korean TV personality.)
