Director Park Chan-wook, the first Korean filmmaker to serve as the jury president at the Cannes Film Festival, has shared his judging philosophy, stating, "Art and politics should not be separated."
Attending the jury press conference held ahead of the opening ceremony of the 79th Cannes Film Festival on the 12th (local time), Director Park said, "The very idea that the two conflict with each other is strange." He added, "Just because an artwork contains a political message, it should not be considered an enemy of art. Likewise, a film should not be excluded simply because it lacks a political message."
These remarks offer a glimpse into the direction of this year's festival judging. While acknowledging that art and politics cannot be separated, he expressed caution against prioritizing political messages in film.
Director Park stated, "No matter how excellent a political statement may be, if it is not expressed artistically, it can easily devolve into propaganda." He continued, "I am prepared to watch with the eyes of a pure audience member, free from any prejudice or stereotypes, and with the anticipation that a film will simply surprise me."
In an interview with AFP the day before the opening ceremony, he also revealed his principles for evaluating works and judging criteria, noting that awards should go to "works that will maintain their vitality for the next 50 to 100 years."
Regarding becoming the first Korean to serve as the Cannes jury president, Director Park said, "This appointment is further proof of the influence of Korean culture since 'Parasite' won the Palme d'Or in 2019." He emphasized, "Korea is now establishing itself as one of the central hubs of the film industry."
Director Park will oversee the judging for the competition section, where the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or, is at stake. The jury members include Hollywood star Demi Moore, Ethiopian-Irish actress and producer Ruth Negga, Belgian filmmaker Laura Wandel, Chinese-American director Chloé Zhao, Chilean director Diego Céspedes, Ivorian actor Isaac de Bankolé, Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty, and Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård.
This year, Korean cinema is represented by director Na Hong-jin's 'HOPE', which is competing for the Palme d'Or. Additionally, director Yeon Sang-ho's 'COLONY' has been invited to the Midnight Screenings, and director July Jung's 'Dora' has been invited to the Directors' Fortnight.
The Cannes Film Festival began its 11-day journey on the 12th with the screening of the opening film, 'Electric Kiss'. The festival will run until the 23rd in the southern French resort city of Cannes.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)