On June 30, within the framework of the 4th Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF IV), the founder of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) - Kim Dong-ho and producer Park Min Jeong had an exchange with audiences right after the screening of the documentary Mr. Kim Goes to the Cinema (Vietnamese title: Ông Kim cùng với điện ảnh).
The work belongs to the Asian Cinema Panorama program at the 4th Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF IV). Accompanying in the conversation were director Phan Dang Di, director Nguyen Hoang Diep and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phung Ngoc Kien.
Filmed after the COVID-19 pandemic, "Mr. Kim with Cinema" marks Kim Dong-ho's first time holding a documentary film camera when he is over 80 years old.
The work follows his journey through many countries to meet filmmakers, friends and movie lovers, and at the same time directs attention to cinemas that are gradually disappearing as film appreciation habits change and audience numbers decline after the pandemic.
Looking back at the decades of attachment to cinema, Kim Dong-ho shared his desire to bring Korean cinema closer to international friends, as well as his persistent efforts in creating a space for filmmakers to meet, learn and inspire each other.
According to him, cinema is not only a form of art but also a bridge between people, between different cultures.
Those concerns are also the consistent spirit of the film. Kim Dong-ho spends a lot of time talking about the value of cinemas in cinema life.
According to him, although online platforms are increasingly developing, the experience of enjoying a work on the big screen is still irreplaceable. Cinemas are not only places to watch movies, but also spaces for audiences to share emotions, so that the work truly lives in the empathy of the community.
Closing the exchange, Kim Dong-ho and producer Park Min Jeong expressed their honor to be present at DANAFF IV, and thanked the Organizing Committee and Vietnamese audience for warmly welcoming "Mr. Kim and Cinema".
The two filmmakers believe that the public's love for cinema is the motivation for filmmakers to continue to create and contribute.
