PiFan 2013: Preview Part IV - KAFA, Ani Fanta and Jodorowsky

Pierce Conran, Contributor; Seoul, South Korea (@pierceconran)

July 16 2013, 5:00 AM

PiFan starts in two days and we're still sorting through the fest's impressive program. For part IV of our preview I take a look at some of the fest's sidebars, including the annual animation program Ani Fanta, the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) sidebar and the Alejandro Jodorowsky retrospective.

Scroll through the above images to read about the various sections.

Ani Fanta

Every year, PiFan showcases some of the most innovative animation around, in its Ani Fanta section and this year proves no exception. The fest will screen two works by Shinkai Makoto and A Liar’s Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python’s Graham Chapman, which includes Ben Wheatley among its directors.

Alejandro Jodorowsky: El poeta bizzarro

Jodorowsky is one of the big names of international cinema and for good reason. His surreal masterpieces, such as El Topo (1970), the original midnight movie, and The Holy Mountain (1973) have cemented him as one as one the biggest names in cult cinema. What's more, 2013 has been a big year for him as he finally made a new film (Dance of Reality) and a documentary about one of his most famous failed projects, (Jodorowsky's Dune), was also released. Both were warmly received at Cannes.

Sadly, the planned inclusion of Jodorowsky's Dune has been cancelled, but nonetheless I'm excited to rediscover the great cineaste's works on the big screen.

The Catcher in Korean Films: KAFA 30 Years

It's no accident that Korean films look as good as they do. For years, the nation's top film schools have been churning out some the best film professionals in the medium. One of these is the Korean Academy of Film Art, which counts Bong Joon-ho among its alumni. KAFA puts out some of the best student films around. This retro, which includes films like Bleak Night (2010) and End of Animal (2010), is not to be missed.