Date: Wed, 24 Sep 1997 20:40:24 -0700 From: gordon brent INGRAM environmental planning Subject: Police Closing of the first Seoul Queer Film Fest >> here is the original press-release: >> >> PRESS RELEASE >> >> PLUG PULLED ON 1st SEOUL QUEER FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL >> >> Seoul, Sept.20, 1997. >> >> Yesterday (Sept 19) was the opening night of the 1st Seoul Queer Film & >> Video Festival at the Tongmun Theater on Yonsei University Campus. The >> festival was due to run until Sept 25, and included 85 films from all >> over the world. >> >> However, the authorities waited until that day to take action against >> the festival, effectively preventing it from going ahead. The festival >> was hit with a double whammy. >> >> First, the local government officials in the Soedaemun District of Seoul >> where Yonsei University is located posted a notice on the door of the >> theater declaring the event illegal. They threatened to seize all >> screening equipment and materials to be screened, and also threatened the >> organizers with a 20 million Korean won (approx. US$22,000) fine and a 3 >> year jail sentence. >> >> Second, Yonsei University withdrew support, threatening to turn off the >> electricity in the building. According to reports, they had come under >> pressure from alumni, whose funds were used to build the theater in >> question. >> >> The Seoul Queer Film and Video Festival staff and volunteers have put in >> thousands of hours of work not only to organize the festival but also to >> try and find a way to hold it legally. Over the last few months great >> difficulty has been encountered with homophobic national censorship >> authorities. Even Wong Kar-Wai's latest film HAPPY TOGETHER has been >> banned in Korea, with authorities stating that it is "not relevant to >> the emotional life of the Korean people." >> >> The same authorities stated that they would not permit the Queer Film >> and Video Festival to import and screen film prints. In these >> circumstances, the festival was forced to attempt a technique used by >> other festivals in similar circumstances, namely to screen videos only >> on a university campus. But now that attempt has also run into a brick >> wall. >> >> The Queer Film and Video Festival's difficulties raise serious >> questions about civil rights and freedom of expression for all >> Koreans. We believe that our struggle is of importance to all >> organizers of film festival, all organizers of cultural events, and >> Korean audiences in general. >> >> Last night, the festival staff, volunteers and audience members who had >> come for the opening night gathered in a bar nearby. One by one, >> everyone present took the stage to express their feelings. Among those >> who spoke were members of all sectors of the gay, lesbian and queer >> communities, including cyperspace bulletin board organizers, members of >> the film culture community, university teachers, and university and high >> school students. >> >> Everyone agreed that the struggle to find a way to hold the 1st Seoul >> Queer Film and Video Festival must go on. The festival will now try to >> find an alternative legal venue to hold the festival in a few weeks >> time, and will also continue to demand reasonable censorship procedures >> to allow it hold a legal public event. Watch this space for further >> details... >> >> Seo Dongjin >> Programmer >> 1st Seoul Queer Film & Video Festival. > > >>> dear friends >> >> please send your letter of support and/or protest to the following e-mail >> address: >> >> queer21@interpia.net >> >> we noticed that the daily variety is running the piece, as is moving >> pictures in their dailies at the san sebastian film festival. >> >> thanks for your help. >> >> wouter barendrecht >> >> FORTISSIMO FILM SALES (HONG KONG) >> Wouter BARENDRECHT >> c/o Edko Films >> 1212 Tower II >> Admiralty Center >> 18 Harcourt Road >> Hong Kong >> tel: (852) 2528-8028 >> fax: (852) 2529-5339 >> email: wouter@asiaonline.net >> mobile: (852) 9418-0693 >> **************************************************************************** gordon brent INGRAM Ph.D. environmental planning 1230 Hamilton Street #204 Vancouver V6B 2S8 CANADA voice mail: 1(604)669-0422 fax: call ahead to confirm location email: gb_ingram@bc.sympatico.ca ***************************************************************************