#ISUPPORTBIFF_YANG Young-hi 양영희
I'm the film director, Yang Young-hi. It is a pity to comment about BIFF at current situation. As a filmmaker in Japan, as one of the residents in Japan whose hometown is Korea, and also as a director who was discovered and supported by BIFF, Busan is like a birthplace for me where I build my career, and it is also like a cradle to me. Since BIFF is the one of the film festivals representing Asia and the world, the spirit of the festival staffs and the earnest attitude on the films are highly appreciated. It is seriously wrong that this quality is under pressure from the government and the administration. While we are fighting for the freedom of expression and the freedom of film art, it is heartbroken that BIFF has to go through this situation, the festival we admire and respect. Please be proud of BIFF, and take a good care of its value. This is not only the matter of Koreans, but also the vital matter of the filmmakers in the world. Who could imagine that the efforts of the people who started the festival in Busan more than 20 years ago will fully bloom as it is now? We should express our respect and give a big hand to the staff who have supported and developed BIFF, but it is unconvincing to take legal actions and talk about prosecution due to a controversial film. Watching news on BIFF every day in Japan, I am very saddened that it is happening in my homeland. I totally support the BIFF's demeanor still going through with firm attitude. I think the staff of BIFF must be exhausted, Korea is a country transforming its image through cinema. I would like you to consider one more time, that BIFF is one that carried out a role to build Korean cinema as a genre in the world. I understand the staff of BIFF are having hard time, But the world is watching. So please fight for it till the end. We make films to be more liberated. Politically, economically, and cuturally, beyond the national borders, beyond the gender, beyond various barriers and matters, we make films to figure out what human being is. I think all films screened at BIFF would be the same. I hope Korea can be a place where we can make films freely, show films freely, and have a conversation about films freely. We feel anxious, and at the same time, we are motivated and encouraged. The world is all watching. Fighting! (* Korean way of saying cheer-up) Go, BIFF! Thank you.