Finally today at 7 p.m. at the Uirimji lake-side stage in Jecheon

By Feature Editor Kim Hyung-dae, Reporter Lee Ji-hyun

Asia's most prominent music film festival, the 18th edition of Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF), will hold its opening ceremony at 7 p.m. today (Aug. 11) at the Uirimji Stage in Jecheon City, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, some 71 miles south of Seoul.
The opening ceremony, which will be held under strict COVID-19 quarantine regulations, will be broadcast live on MBC Chungbuk and the JIMFF's official YouTube channel. Jecheon residents will be admitted free of charge with identification on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Opening Ceremony, hosted by actors Lee Chung-ju and Jin Ji-hee, will begin with the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to artist Bang Jun-seok, who passed away from stomach cancer on March 26, 2022, to honor his memory and legacy. 
Following the ceremony, the official trailer will be screened, directed by Kim Byeong-seo, the director of Ashfall, and starring actor Lee Sun-kyun, known for his performance in Parasite. 

Official poster of the 18th JIMFF (Photo courtesy IMFF)
Official poster of the 18th JIMFF (Photo courtesy IMFF)

The trailer embodies the festive identity of JIMFF through its exceptional direction and delicate original music, and sends a message to return to the everyday rhythm before the pandemic, in keeping with the JIMFF slogan ‘a tempo.’
The event will continue with the presentation of the Jecheon Film Music Honorary Award 2022, given to the world's most acclaimed film music composer and/or musician. 
This year's honoree Justin Hurwitz, the composer beloved by Korean fans who wrote the original music for Whiplash and La La Land, will attend the ceremony himself and deliver an acceptance speech. 
To liven up the ceremony, there will also be a celebration concert led by music director Brandon Lee with 13 musicians and 8 musical actors performing three pieces of music, including the opening music of La La Land, "Another Day Of Sun."
The team behind the Opening Film, director Bartosz Blaschke, actor Michał Sikorski, and musician Grzegorz Płonka will participate in the ceremony to celebrate the beginning of the festival. 
It should be noted that a special performance, unique to JIMFF, is also planned for the ceremony: Moonlight Sonata will be performed on the Uirimji stage by musician Grzegorz Płonka, who is the real-life model for the story of overcoming a hearing disability through music.
The red-carpet event of the 18th JIMFF begins with the entrance of organizing committee Chairperson Kim Chang-gyu, Festival Director Cho Sungwoo, and directors and actors in attendance. 
Major Korean film festival directors including Jung Ji-young (Chairperson of BIFAN), Huh Moon-young (Festival Director of BIFF), Moon Sungkeun (Chairperson of PIPFF), Pang Eunjin (Festival Director of PIPFF), Min Sungwook (Deputy Director of JIFF), Park Kwang-su (Festival Director of SIWFF) will also attend. Representative Korean film figures such Kim Yu-jin (Director), Yim Pil-sung (Director), Cho Young-wuk (Music Director), Lee Jisoo (Music Director), Juheon Han (Conductor), Kim Ki-chun (Actor), Kwon Hae-hyo (Actor), Bang Minah (Actor), Yoon Sunwoo (Actor), Lee Gasub (Actor), Hong Seunghee (Actor), Jeong Somin (Actor) will also be present to celebrate the opening.
Various international guests of world fame will grace the event, including Krew Boylan (Screenwriter, Actor) of Seriously Red, Sonia Bohosiewicz (Actor) of Other People, Sabaah Folayan (Director) of Look at Me: XXXTentacion, Gabin Rivoire (Director) of Laurent Garnier: Off the Record, Ori Segev (Director) and Noah Dixon (Director) of Poser, Love Martinsen (Director) and Maria Loohufvud (Director) of Calendar Girls, Krastyo Lambev (PD) of The Naked Truth About the Zhiguli Band, Aitor Etxebeste Odriozola (Art Director) of The Extra Terrestrial Orchestra, Michael Mallie (PD) of Nothing Compares, and many more.

The jury for the Official Competition and Jecheon Music Film Project Promotion (JPP) will also attend the event: Mike Figgis (Director), Seonah Kim (Producer), Kim Hong-joon (Director of the Korean Film Archive), Anna Machukh (Managing Director of Odesa IFF), Park Heung-sik (Director), Moon Geun-young (Director), James Junwon Bang (Director), Shim Bo-kyoung (Producer), and Jury Nam Kiho (CEO of NK Contents), Yoon Seongho (Director), Cho Kye-young (CEO of Feel&Plan).
The 18th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival, where audiences can bask in music and film, begins its six-day journey from the opening date of August 11 to August 16 in the Jecheon City Area. This year, JIMFF invites audiences to share the joy of the festival by strengthening its identity with the representative music program One Summer Night and newly presented programs such as Films in Live and the Special Concert by Justin Hurwitz.
Details of the 18th JIMFF:
Title: The 18th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF)
Date: Aug 11(Thu)–Aug 16(Tue) (6 days)
Venue: Megabox Jecheon, CGV Jecheon, Uirimji Stage, Airfield Stage and Jecheon City Area
Host: Jecheon International Music & Film Festival
Organizer: Jecheon International Music & Film Festival Executive Committee
Sponsor: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Chungcheongbuk-do, Jecheon-si, Korean Film Council
For further questions, contact the JIMFF Public Relations & Media Team (+82 2 925 2242 (ext. 6)/publicity@jimff.org).
 

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