JURY FOR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
PROGRAM GUEST【Fantastic OFF-THEATER Competition】
[EXAMINATION CHAIRMAN]
◇Johnny To
[Hong Kong/Director]
Johnnie To Kei-Fung, born 1955, is a Hong Kong director and producer. Johnnie To began his career at age 17 as a messenger for the Hong Kong television studio TVB. Moving up the ladder, starting from 1973 To started to work as an executive producer and director for TV shows. In 1980, To made his silver screen debut with The Enigmatic Case, but continued working in television for the Shaw Studios. To joined the team of Cinema City Company Limited starting from 1986. In this period To made a series of comedy which brought his box office success, and had his first try on action movie co-directing The Big Heat (1988). In 1996, To and frequent collaborator Wai Ka-Fai formed Milkyway Image, an independent production house whom manages to make their name known in all major film festivals by producing modern classics including Election (2005) and Exiled (2006) .
To’s popularity is not solely limited to the local or greater Chinese market, he has also found acclaim overseas. After decades of dedicated filmmaking, To manages to produce an impressive back catalogue including a variety of genres, though internationally he is best known for his action and crime movies, which have earned him first acceptance in the cult circle and eventual critical respect in major film festivals. Often described as "multifaceted and chameleonic" for his versatility of tones and genres between movies, To has demonstrated yet and again his ability of maintaining a consistent style, with a signature uncompromising high standard of narration, drama, and stylistic visual elements. As an auteur, male friendship, fate and the change of Hong Kong society are recurrent themes To frequently explore in his works. His recent works are Sparrow (2008), and Vengeance (2009)
◇RYO ISHIBASHI
[Japan/Actor]
Born in 1956. First debuted as an actor in the film, "Rock Is Sex," directed by Ryudo Uzaki. Received the Kinejun Best New Male Actor Award for "A Homance" (1982, Dir. Yusaku Matsuda), gaining considerable attention as an actor. He advanced into Hollywood with "The Crossing Guard" (1996, Dir. Sean Penn). An international class actor working mainly in movies, he is famous for his appearances in "Kids Return" (1996, Dir. Takeshi Kitano) and "Audition" (2002, Dir. Takashi Miike). Recently appeared in "M.W." (2009, Dir. Hitoshi Iwamoto).
◇JUNG SOOAN
[Korea/Program Director]
Completed her Ph.D. in Art(Dramatic Arts) at Letters, Arts and Sciences, Waseda University and earned a doctorate in Department of Drama and Cinema at Dongguk University Graduate School. She is an associate professor in Department of Film and Digital Media at Graduate School of Digital Image & Contents, Dongguk University and also a programming director of Jeonju International Film Festival. She has an interest in organizing history and aesthetics by researching relationship between Japanese films and Korean films. She is working for discovering overlooked movies made in many areas of the world as a film festival programmer.
◇MARC WALKOW
[USA/Programing Director]
Born in 1968. Walkow is a director / programmer for the New York Asian Film Festival since 2006, and also selects films and organizes events for Fantastic Fest in Austin etc. He organized a 1960s Nikkatsu Action series that toured North America in 2007 & 2008, and has also produced special features for American DVDs of Japanese films like HORRORS OF MALFORMED MEN. He currently lives in New York City and his recent ambition is to move into Japanese film production.
◇NOBUHIRO YAMASHITA
[Japan/Director]
Born in 1976 in Aichi. He won a Grand Prix in the Off-Theater Conpetition of Yubati Internation Fantastic Film Festival in 1999 while he was still a student of Osaka University of Arts. Having produced "No One's Ark" and "Ramblers", he got acclaimed that he is a "Japanese Aki Kaurismaki" and made an impact in and out of Japan. He won a Best Director Award for "Linda Linda Linda" and "A Gentle Breeze in the Village" (2007) at 32nd Hochi Film Award at the youngest age in history. Now he is known as a most famous figure representing young film makers in Japan.