Kim Dong-ho, the founding director of Busan International Film Festival and its current honorary chief, received a lifetime achievement award at the opening ceremony of Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy on Friday.

Kim is considered a pioneering figure in the Korean film history. He was BIFF’s founding director for 15 years, and retired from the position in 2010. Though BIFF started small in 1996, Kim’s well-known leadership and networking skills turned it into the largest film festival in Asia. 

“Kim’s constant action, not surprisingly, coincided with the extraordinary renaissance of Korean cinema, from the 1980s to the 1990s, then culminating in the dedication of true excellences as Park Chan-wook, Kim Jee-woon and Bong Joon-ho,” the festival posted on their website.

“Kim is a constant source of inspiration and proof that festivals and research are essential for the circulation of ideas even today, among so many difficulties.”

Kim last year also made his directing debut during Korea’s Asiana International Short Film Festival with his short titled “Jury.”

An account of jury members at a film festival getting into arguments with each other, the film features Kim’s longtime friends as its main characters, including veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki and Kang Soo-yeon. The film was featured at this year’s Berlinale as well.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)