Venice jury president Bong Joon-ho claims COVID can't stop cinema

연합뉴스 / 2021-09-02 15:32:31

▲ South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, President of the Jury of the 78th annual Venice International Film Festival, arrives at the Lido Beach for the 78th annual Venice International Film Festival, in Venice, Italy, 01 September 2021. The festival runs from 01 to 11 September 2021. EPA/ETTORE FERRARI

SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean film director Bong Joon-ho, who is also president of the jury at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, gave a powerful message on how COVID-19 won't be able to stop the cinema at a press conference on Wednesday in Italy.

▲ Jury President of the 78th Venice Film festival, South Korean director Bong Joon-ho takes off his face mask to deliver a speech during the the opening ceremony of the 78th Venice Film Festival, on September 1, 2021 at Venice Lido. (Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP)

According to ANSA news agency, director Bong acknowledged the difficulties filmmakers went through during the pandemic saying, "But in a way, looking back, it feels like this was a test, and what it has shown is the life force of cinema."

▲ Cynthia Erivo, left, and Jury president Bong Joon Ho pose for photographers at the photo call for the jury during the 78th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Wednesday, Sep, 1, 2021. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Director Bong also said to "have a kind of explosion" with fellow members of his jury as they assess the movies in competition.

▲ The 'Venezia 78' jury with (L-R) Alexander Nanau, Chloe Zhao, Cynthia Erivo, Bong Joon-ho, Virginie Efira, Saverio Costanzo, Sarah Gadon, pose with Festival Director Alberto Barbera (front) during a photocall at the 78th annual Venice International Film Festival, in Venice, Italy, 01 September 2021. The festival runs from 01 September to 11 September. EPA/CLAUDIO ONORATI

The 78th Venice Film Festival's jury includes Director Bong, who won last year's Oscar for "Parasite," as well as director Chloe Zhao, British actress and singer-songwriter Cynthia Erivo, Belgian actress Virginie Efira, Italian director Saverio Costanzo, and Canadian actress-producer Sarah Gadon.

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