A group of Korean filmmakers are coming to Busan for Netflix’s Creative Asia programme at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). The streamer revealed the speakers today, including Kim Ji-yong, who worked as director of photography on Possible Love, director Han Jun-hee of The Blue Road, and Kimball Thurston, who serves as chief technology officer of WETA FX.
Kim Ji-yong On Shaping Possible Love
Possible Love director Lee Chang-dong and Kim Ji-yong will discuss how they constructed the visual world of the film during a masterclass. The film recently earned the Grand Jury Prize at Venice, and it now represents Korea for the Oscars.
The course examines the partnership between the director and cinematographer on the project.
Han Jun-hee On Making Stories Resonate
The masterclass, entitled “Making Unexpected Stories Resonate.”, is being hosted by Han Jun-hee, who has credits on D.P. and Weak Hero Class. She will discuss how to transform awkward and difficult topics into narratives that hold the world’s attention.
The method focuses on building connections with listeners so that hard subjects leave a lasting impression, rather than fading from memory.
Location And Storytelling Panel
Creative Asia will also feature a masterclass on “Location and Storytelling.” The panel brings together Lauren Cooper of Location Managers Guild International, Perfect Days producer Reiko Kunieda and Sung Q Lee, Senior Director, APAC Production at Netflix.
The goal of the session is to show how where a story is filmed ties into how well it reaches its audience.
AI In Filmmaking Panel
Kimball Thurston, WETA FX’s chief technology officer, has been confirmed as a speaker on a panel devoted to the use of AI in filmmaking. The panel bears the title “AI in Filmmaking: New Tools, New Possibilities.”, and it brings together Thurston with Sung Q Lee and Korean director Kang Yun-sung, whose credits include Run To The West and The Outlaws.
This panel examines how artificial intelligence is altering the equipment that filmmakers work with.
New Voices In Filmmaking
Another industry panel, “New Voices in Filmmaking: What’s Ahead,” examines small- to medium-budget filmmaking. Speakers include Namkoong Sun (Love Untangled) and Wi Eun-kyoung and Son Gwang-min, co-directors of My Aunt.
The discussion focuses on how to measure success for smaller projects and what openings there are for young talent.
Two Workshops For Writers
The programme includes two workshops. “The Art and Archetypes of Cinematic Storytelling,” led by Netflix’s Director, Content Acquisition, Christopher Mack, is aimed at writers and breaks down what makes a pilot compelling and the structural choices that keep audiences watching.
The second workshop, led by Netflix’s Director, Creative Strategy, looks at “Understanding the Buyer’s Perspective.” It covers what motivates greenlight decisions, how a show gets chosen for financing, and what kind of script or story stays in the imagination after a pitch ends.
Who Runs The Programme
Netflix created Creative Asia in collaboration with BIFF, AFCNet and the MPA, and it is set to take place on October 10 at Dongseo University Centrum Campus.
“Making Unexpected Stories Resonate”
BIFF Dates And Venues
From October 6 to 15, BIFF is on at the Busan Cinema Center and various venues throughout Busan. The Asian Contents & Film Market happens at BEXCO from October 10 to 13.
Key Facts Box
- Event: Netflix Creative Asia at BIFF
- Date: October 10
- Venue: Dongseo University Centrum Campus, Busan
- Speakers: Kim Ji-yong, Han Jun-hee, Kimball Thurston, Kang Yun-sung, Namkoong Sun, Wi Eun-kyoung, Son Gwang-min
- Panels: “AI in Filmmaking: New Tools, New Possibilities,” “New Voices in Filmmaking: What’s Ahead”
- Workshops: “The Art and Archetypes of Cinematic Storytelling,” “Understanding the Buyer’s Perspective”
What This Means For Asian Creatives
This initiative aims to help the area’s young creative talent. Directors, producers, a WETA FX CTO and Netflix executives all take part in panel discussions covering AI, emerging filmmaking talent and the art of pitching.
The event blends craft and business, with masterclasses touching on visual direction, location management and the technical side of AI filmmaking along with sessions on what makes a pitch land.
The panels provide young Korean filmmakers with guidance on entering the international streaming market, and the AI panel in particular deals with a tool that is altering the filmmaking process.
This workshop gives aspiring writers insight into the decision-making process behind greenlights by examining the buyer’s perspective. It reveals which factors influence whether a project moves forward.
The programme gathers a variety of viewpoints on filmmaking, moving from the art of creation to the workings of the business itself.
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