JEONJU Cinema Project 2021 of JEONJU IFF Announces 2 Additional Projects!

·Lois PATINO’s Samsara and Alan SEGAL’s Three detectives: paper, clay, or stone

·During the COVID-19 pandemic, JEONJU IFF will invest in independent and art film productions that can grow together with the festival!

The JEONJU International Film Festival (JEONJU IFF, Festival Director LEE Joondong) announced the selection of two additional international projects for JEONJU Cinema Project, a program in which the festival supports the production of korean and international independent and art films. Documentary film Samsara and fiction film Three detectives: paper, clay or stone were added to the new additions.

JEONJU Cinema Project is one of JEONJU IFF’s major sections. In this section, the festival selects creative and challenging fictional and documentary feature projects and invests in the production, while the completed film is then introduced through the festival programming. Ever since its launch in 2014, the JEONJU Cinema Project introduced a total of 21 productions (15 Korean productions, 6 international productions) including Korean films such as PARK Jungbum’s Alive, SHIN Yeonshick’s The Avian Kind, KIM Heejeong’s Snow Paths, LEE Changjae’s OUR PRESIDENT, KIM Daehwan’s The First Lap, JANG Woo-jin’s Winter’s Night, KIM Jongkwan’s Shades of the Heart, and international titles such as Gyorgy PALFI’s Free Fall, Benjamin NAISHTAT’s El Movimiento, Lukas VALENTA RINNER’s A Decent Woman, Camila Jose DONOSO’s Nona. If they soak me, I’ll burn them., Alejandro Fernandez ALMENDRAS The Play, and Damien MANIVEL’s Isadora’s Children.

Last June, JEONJU IFF held its 12th JEONJU Project Market Award Ceremony where PARK Hyuckjee’s My Genie and Eric BAUDELAIRE’s A Flower In the Mouth were announced as the selected projects of the JEONJU Cinema Project 2021. Following the initial announcement, Lois PATINO’s documentary film Samsara and Alan SEGAL’s fiction film Three detectives: paper, clay or stone were also selected.

Firstly, Samsara is the newest title from PATINO who previously introduced 10 of his short and feature films at JEONJU IFF including Coast Of Death which was invited to the 15th edition in International Competition. Samsara will cinematize the distinct cultural differences between a young Buddhist monk at a temple in Luang Prabang, a young girl from Zanzibar, and a baby goat. Director Lois PATINO said, “Through their perspectives, I want us to take a look at the world and reality in a new light ”

when asked about his directional intent. He added, “I want to look for new cinematic languages while approaching the relationship between humans and nature and their spirituality.”

Three detectives: paper, clay, or stone is a debut feature by Argentinian rookie filmmaker Alan SEGAL. SEGAL is a film editor who also has a career in contemporary art. This film is an experimental fiction film that explores the emotional impact and repercussions language can have through three protagonists who work in the film industry. The producer on board is director Gaston SOLNICKI who met the audiences of JEONJU IFF with Kekszakallu which was introduced in the 18th Frontline, an avant-guard program, and Introduzione all’Oscuro, introduced as a part of 20th Newtro Jeonju, a special section.

Regarding the two additional selections to the JEONJU Cinema Project, Festival Director LEE Joondong said, “We paid attention to new challenging projects from rising directors who will grow with JEONJU IFF, and decided to make additional selections. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, productions of independent and art films are becoming increasingly difficult. Through JEONJU Cinema Project, JEONJU IFF will expand and lead in supporting independent and art films.”