South Korea’s CJ Entertainment continued to strengthen its film industry ties with near neighbour China by this weekend holding a short film festival (Sept. 17-19).
The grand prize winner was “Farewell My Love,” by Chinese director Zeng Guang. Runners up were “Life Smartphone,” by China’s Xie Cheng Lin and “The Sea,” by Korea’s Han Ting. Awards were made by a jury that included Kang Je-kyu (“Swiri,” “TaeGukGi”) and Chinese director Huang Jianxin.
The festival was the second edition of the event. Organizers said that they had 572 submissions and selected 42 to show over the three days. Winners take home cash prizes and a place on a Korean film training program.
CJ, which is Korea’s largest integrated entertainment combine, sees itself as a provider of skills, hardware and investment to the Chinese film industry. Its CJ-CGV exhibition operation is now the eighth largest cinema circuit in China.
As a film production and investment entity CJ has been involved in remakes and Chinese adaptations of Korean movies “A Wedding Invitation” and “Miss Granny.” It is also producing a Chinese version of mystery thriller “The Peaceful Island” in a deal with China’s Tianjin Century Media, C2M, Huace Media and Hong Kong’s Media Asia.
CJ also revealed that it plans to continue with its CJ China Film Festival, a bilateral friendship event which was started several years ago. The next edition will be held in Seoul in October.
