BUCHEON, South Korea — The Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) came to a close Wednesday with a record number of participants and projects. Among the 27 titles presented during the Puchon (Bucheon) International Film Festival’s (PiFan) genre film project market, 6 took home the 7 awards between them.
Over 250 Korean and international film professionals took part in NAFF during its 4-day run, according to organizers. A total 47 companies attended business meetings for the 27 titles presented at the ‘It Project’ and ‘Project Spotlight’ sections.
The top Bucheon Award with a cash prize approximately $14,600 (15 million won) went to Dev Benegal‘s Dead End. The Indian comedy had already picked up the NAFF Award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival’s project market, the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).
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Chinese sci-fi drama Cartridge and the Man Who Copied Himself by Bruce Hwang Chen emerged as a double winner, taking home the NAFF Award ($9,700) and the Media Vision Award ($10,000). The latter prize is a newly added category sponsored by China’s investment/production company Media Vision Entertainment. Chen is an alumnus of NAFF’s intensive training program for film professionals, Fantastic Film School, graduating in 2011.
The Cheong Song White Porcelain Award and its $9,700 cash prize went to Lee Ju Hean’s mystery N.S.I (South Korea). The award is back by the Cheongsong Culture & Tourism Foundation, which provides production support for genre films location shooting in Cheong Song.
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For the post-production support awards, Cong Cai’s romantic thriller In the Name of Love (China) received the Moneff Award for editing support, Jo Jin Kyu’s fantasy thriller The Shadow Zone (Korea) won the Wave Lab Award for sound mixing support, and Ian Bae‘s fantasy melodrama A Man for 100 Days (Korea)took home the Color Award for DI support.
Meanwhile, PiFan continues throughout the week, presenting 210 films from 47 countries. It will close Sunday with Lee Gwon‘s My Ordinary Love Story, a Korean romance with a horrific and mysterious twist.
