The 21st JEONJU International Film Festival (JEONJU IFF, Director LEE Joondong) will be changed into a form of closed festival around competition sections.
This year's JEONJU IFF has delayed its schedule by one month and considered every possible ways to hold the festival safely so far. It includes online events of film lineup introduction, talk programs with overseas guests, as well as intense disinfection of staffs, guests and audiences.
However, as the pandemic is not over yet and the upcoming long holidays in May would cause another outbreak, JEONJU IFF has decided to cut back its scale drastically and change its methods to join these social concerns. It is a part of national struggles to normalise our daily lives, and, above all, a part of Jeonju Emergency Management Agency to protect the safety of Jeonju citizens against COVID-19.
On April 27, JEONJU IFF's administration discussed this subject and has decided after asking pukers' permission- to hold an exclusive edition with NO Public Audience with the minimum number of judges and filmmakers of each competition sections including International Competition, Korean Competition and Korean Competition for Shorts.
Festival Director LEE Joondong said, “As the upcoming long holidays in May have caused great alarm among public health authorities, JEONJU IFF has no choice but to think the best way to ensure the safety of the public.” However, he added that JEONJU IFF will continue its funding and supporting programs for filmmakers such as JEONJU Project Market as ever, because the festival has considered its role of discovering and supporting promising filmmakers who lead alternative trend of the contemporary film industry.
Meanwhile, one of the officials of Jeonju city government said, “Well will have programs to introduce films this year to audiences after consolation with JEONJU IFF when this pandemic is over.”
