A total 1,132 entries from 105 countries; highest number since festival’s launch in
2009

◇ The number of entries for the
Competition Section of the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival
(Chairman: Nam Kyung-pil, Festival Director: Cho Jae-hyun) exceeded 1,000 for
the first time in just the eight years since the festival was launched. Pictured:
Ppening ceremony for the 7th DMZ International Documentary Film
Festival ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

The number of entries for the Competition Section
of the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival (Chairman: Nam Kyung-pil,
Festival Director: Cho Jae-hyun) exceeded 1,000 for the first time in just the eight
years since the festival was launched. 

According to Gyeonggi Province and the DMZ
International Film Festival Organizing Committee, 1,132 films from 105
countries were entered into the Competition Section of the 8th DMZ
International Documentary Film Festival, which ran from January 15 to May 31.  

The DMZ International Documentary Film Festival is
divided into the International Competition Section and the Asia Competition
Section. A total of 960 films (571 feature films and 389 short films) from 102
countries were entered into the International Competition Section, and 172
films (88 feature films and 84 short films) from 37 countries were entered into
the Asia Competition Section.  

Launched in 2009, the DMZ International Documentary
Film Festival began with 125 entries. From 2012 to 2014, more than 600 films
were entered into the competition and 849 films were registered in last year’s festival.  

With more than 1,132 entries, the largest number to
date at the DMZ Film Festival, diverse countries were represented in the festival
and reinforced the international status of this event. Of these entries, 35% came
from Europe, 34% from Asia, 16% from Africa, 12% from South America, 2% from
North America, and 1% from elsewhere around world.  

An official with the DMZ International Documentary
Film Festival said, “Since the fact that our DMZ
International Documentary Film Festival emphasizes peace, communication, and
the value of life has become better known among documentary producers around
the world, the number of documentaries submitted to the festival in a wide
range of subjects including war, refugees, and the environment is on the rise
each year.” The official explained, “On top of this, the most substantial amount of
support in Asia for the production of films seems to be a reason why our DMZ
International Documentary Film Festival has become more attractive to
documentary film producers.” 

The DMZ International Documentary Film Festival
currently sponsors KRW 350 million in production costs for feature-length
documentary projects, DMZ projects, and new writers involved with Korean and
Asian documentary projects.  

Films entered into the festival go through
preliminary assessment with 20 films selected for screening at the festival
itself. The films selected via preliminary assessment are announced in August,
and the judges at the main competition round select winners during the festival
period.  

Meanwhile, separate from the International
Competition and Asia Competition Sections, entries to the Korean Competition
and Youth Competition Sections will be accepted until June 20.  

Feature and short documentary films produced by a
Korean director or in Korea can enter the Korean Competition Section. The Youth
Competition Section is for documentaries that are less than 40 minutes in
length and produced by middle/high school students or those from equivalent age
brackets with Korean citizenship. More details can be found at the DMZ
International Documentary Film Festival website (www.dmzdocs.com).  

The 8th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival will run from September 22 to 29 in
the Goyang City and Paju City areas of Gyeonggi Province.  

◇ The 8th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival will run from September 22 to 29 in the Goyang City and Paju City areas in Gyeonggi Province. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Lee Jun-kyun eyekle@hanmail.net

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201606171322337055C049&s_code=C049