Korean actor Song Kangho and Afghanistan actress Marina Golbahari will host the Opening Ceremony of the 20th Busan International Film Festival at the Busan Cinema Center on October 1, 2015.
Song Kangho will be hosting the opening ceremony at Busan International Film Festival for the second time since 2001. Song has captivated audiences with performances in films of various genres including Joint Security Area(2000), The Host (2006), Secret Sunshine (2007) and The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008). He firmly established himself as an actor that audiences can rely on for high quality and popular films like Snowpiercer (2013), The Face Reader (2013), and The Attorney (2013). His recent work with director Lee Joon-ik, The Throne (2015) will be released soon. It will be a memorable event for the Festival to have him as the 20th anniversary host.
Marina Golbahari will be the second foreign actress to host the opening ceremony of Busan International Film Festival after Chinese actress Tang Wei in 2012. Though Afghan films are still unfamiliar to many audiences, filmmaking is actively taking place in Afghanistan despite harsh conditions. Osama (2003), which completely changed Marina’s life had the honor of being invited to Directors’ Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalisateurs) and won her the Outstanding Younger Actor Award at Molodist International Film Festival in Ukraine and the Best Actress Award at the Cinemanila International Film Festival in Philippines. Osama was also invited and well-received at the 2003 Busan International Film Festival. This year, as the leading actress in Afghanistan who has eagerly engaged in acting under a violent environment, Marina will visit Busan to host the opening ceremony of the 20th Busan International Film Festival.
With an effort to highlight films and film professionals from all over Asia, including East Asia and Afghanistan, Busan International Film Festival welcomes Korean actor Song Kangho and Afghan actress Marina Golbahari as hosts to represent Asia.
The 20th Busan International Film Festival will screen its opening film Zubaan after the opening ceremony.
Major filmography of Song Kangho
The Foul King (2000), Joint Security Area (2000), Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), Memories of Murder (2003),The Host (2006), Secret Sunshine (2007), The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008), Thirst (2009), Secret Reunion(2010), Snowpiercer (2013), The Face Reader (2013), The Attorney (2013)
Major filmography of Marina Golbahari
Osama (2003), Opium War (2008), Act of Dishonor (2009), Soil and Coral (2013), Darya’s Story (2014)