12th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival to Join the Cannes Docs Network of Partners as the Only Asian Film Festival

12th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival to Join the Cannes Docs Network of Partners as the Only Asian Film Festival

 

‘1989 Berlin, Seoul 2019’ directed by Wooyoung Choi, which is selected as one of Cannes Docs’ Spotlighted Projects. It is a project supported by the ‘DMZ Project Fund’ last year. The film offers a chance to ponder the issue of unifying South and North Korea from the viewpoint of Germans who went through the German reunification.

 

 

The 12th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival (DMZ Docs) signed an MOU with Cannes Docs to partner the documentary film platform of the Marche du Film. DMZ Docs is the only Asian documentary film festival to join the Cannes Docs. Under the MOU, DMZ Docs will be introduced in Cannes Docs as one of its festival partners with the opportunities to join project meetings and showcases. 

This year, Cannes Docs is going digital for six days from June 22 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Each year, Cannes Docs showcases various documentaries and offers co-production opportunities. 

Besides DMZ Docs, IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam), CPH:DOX (Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival), DOK Leipzig, É Tudo Verdade / It’s All True, Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival and Visions du Réel will collaborate with Cannes Docs this year as its partners. 

Among eye-catching films in Cannes Docs is 1989 Berlin, Seoul 2019 directed by Wooyoung Choi, which is selected as one of Cannes Docs’ Spotlighted Projects. It is a project supported by ‘DMZ Project Fund’ last year. The film offers a chance to ponder the issue of unifying South and North Korea from the viewpoint of Germans who went through the German reunification. Operated by DMZ Industry, DMZ Project Fund is a program that funds documentary projects which contain topics the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival aims for -- “Peace, Communication and Life.” 

DMZ Industry is an industry platform launched in 2019 to invigorate the documentary industry and production in Asia including Korea. DMZ Industry runs not only the DMZ Project Fund but also diverse support programs in the entire filmmaking process involving planning and development, post-production, financing, pre-workshops and tailored one-on-one business meetings. 

“I expect the partnership with Cannes Docs to be a good occasion to let the world know various documentary films produced in South Korea and Asia,” said Jung Sang-jin, the Festival Director of the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival, “We are looking forward to attract more investment through DMZ Industry’s one-stop support platform for documentary projects.” 

The 12th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival will be held in Goyang and Paju in Gyeonggi Province from September 17 (Thursday) to September 24 (Thursday). The DMZ Industry 2020 will take place in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, from September 21 (Monday) to September 24 (Thursday).