- Spotlighting the oeuvres of master filmmakers… 15 films, including new works from hidden masters, will be screened!
- A chance to meet legendary filmmakers: Quay Brothers, John Smith, Denis Côté, and more!
- Programmer Moon Sung, “Selected with a passion for discovering hidden diamonds.”
The 26th JEONJU International Film Festival (JEONJU IFF, Festival Co-Directors Min Sungwook and Jung Junho) unveiled the screenings for the Masters section, showcasing filmmakers who have made outstanding cinematic achievements and pioneered their own eras.
A total of 15 films (9 feature films and 6 short films) will be presented in the Masters section at this year’s JEONJU IFF. This year’s selection includes works not only from well-known filmmakers but also from lesser-known yet equally remarkable "hidden masters." While the term “hidden masters” may seem like an oxymoron, it reflects JEONJU IFF’s ongoing commitment to redefining its role and direction in today’s cinematic landscape.
▲ From the left: Hard Truths, When Fall Is Coming
Among 15 films, five films are fiction genres. British realism master Mike Leigh’s new work Hard Truths is a poignant commentary for our troubled times where it is difficult to feel peace. François Ozon, a filmmaker who understands that life is shaped by desire and chance, presents When Fall Is Coming. The film follows two elderly women whose happiness centers entirely on family harmony, until desires among family members trigger moral conflicts that transform their once-peaceful daily life into the stage for a psychological thriller.
▲ From the left: ESCAPE, Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass, Rumours
The Quay Brothers, legendary masters of animation and magicians of light, after years of focusing on short works, have released a new feature film. Their fascination with Polish author Bruno Schulz has led to the adaptation of his novel Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass, into a mysterious feature film. Adachi Masao has focused on those who exist in society but live outside the system. ESCAPE portrays a terrorist who paradoxically reveals himself in the face of death after a lifetime on the run.
Rumours satirizes a G7 summit, where the seven most influential leaders of the world gather. What begins as a meeting to better improve the world faces the challenges of the end of the world, revealing how these supposedly dignified heads of nations respond to crises. The film boasts an impressive cast of actors including Cate Blanchett, Alicia Vikander, Roy Dupuis, and Charles Dance.
▲ From the left: D is for Distance, little boy, TWST - Things We Said Today
7 documentaries and 3 experimental films will be screened. The new documentary film of Christopher Petit—who is known for his Radio On (1979) and London Orbital (2002)—D is for Distance, co-directed with Emma Matthews, visualizes the desperate hearts and time of parents doing everything to treat their son’s illness into a masterful film.
The enigmatic title little boy seems to continue a dialogue with James Benning’s American Dreams: Lost and Found (1984), as he expands his filmography with tireless passion. Through images of miniature craftsmanship and backed by various songs and political speeches from different eras, the director, according to his own words: look at the past to warn about the future. Meanwhile, it is no coincidence that Andrei Ujică references the Beatles in his new film title, TWST - Things We Said Today. The film captures the excitement of summer through previously unseen Beatles footage and images of devoted fans from the era.
▲ From the left: Being John Smith, The Girl Chewing Gum, The Black Tower
John Smith, a pioneering British experimental filmmaker, has proven exceptional ability in creating fiction using real images through cinematic composition. Being John Smith is an autobiographical film that traces his life and work, starting from his name. The JEONJU IFF takes this precious opportunity to screen two of his previous works, The Girl Chewing Gum and The Black Tower which demonstrate how even experimental films can create humorous drama and mysterious horror.
▲ From the left: Paul, Days Before the Death of Nicky
Denis Côté has returned with a documentary after a long time. Paul follows the life of a man struggling with anxiety and depression as he attempts to leave his room, build relationships with others, and find love. Through Paul’s journey, Côté examines what it means to live a healthy life. True to his prolific reputation, the JEONJU IFF also presents a new short film Days Before the Death of Nicky.
▲ From the left: Scénarios, Exposé du film annonce du film "Scénario"
Finally, we present two posthumous films by Jean-Luc Godard, completed thanks to his collaborators who shared his final moments. Scénarios and Exposé du Film Annonce du Film “Scénario” offer insight into Godard’s filmmaking process while confirming that film history was built, as the director once said, from small films.
Programmer Sung Moon mentioned, “This year’s Masters section represents the JEONJU IFF’s response to questions about our festival’s role and direction in the current era.” She added, “The JEONJU IFF aims to discover hidden diamonds, introducing films by exceptional filmmakers who deserve wider recognition in various fields around the world.”
Those 15 diamond-like films will be presented to audiences at the 26th JEONJU IFF. The festival will take place from April 30 (Wed) to May 9 (Fri) across various locations in Jeonju.
The 26th JEONJU IFF Masters Selections
Title
Director
Country
Genre
D is for Distance
Christopher PETIT, Emma MATTHEWS
Finland
Documentary
ESCAPE
ADACHI Masao
Japan
Fiction
Hard Truths
Mike LEIGH
United Kingdom
Fiction
little boy
James BENNING
United States
Documentary
Rumours
Evan JOHNSON, Galen JOHNSON, Guy MADDIN
Canada, Germany, Hungary, United Kingdom, United States
