Oliver Stone named president of Busan International Film Festival

Oliver Stone has been named as the new president of the 22nd Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).
The triple Oscar-winning screenwriter, director and producer is to head up the New Currents jury at the upcoming event in South Korea, leading Iranian director Bahman Ghobadi, French cinematographer Agnes Godard, Korean director Jang Sun-woo and Philippines filmmaker Lav Diaz. Together they will introduce and analyse the work of up and coming Asian directors.
Stone is known for his outspoken nature and often triggers conversation with his work, such as 2016’s Snowden which starred Joseph Gordon-Levitt as American whistleblower Edward Snowden, who copied and leaked classified documents from the National Security Agency in 2013. Other controversial topics covered in his movies include capitalism in the U.S. in 1987’s Wall Street and 2008’s W. about former President George W. Bush, who sent America to war in 2003.
BIFF has also hit the headlines over the years, such as in 2016 when the event was ordered to cancel a screening of documentary The Truth Shall Not Sink about the South Korean government’s dismal attempts to aid the Seoul ferry disaster in 2014. The vessel was carrying 476 passengers when it capsized and sank, with only 172 survivors rescued as coastguards arrived 40 minutes after the incident.
Local filmmakers boycotted the event over the choice of feature, with the festival’s head Lee Yong-kwan, who supported the screening, being ordered to depart his post not long after. The festival’s founder Kim Dong-ho and its director Kang Soo-youn are also planning to leave after this year’s running.
Stone’s previous visit to South Korea in 2013 saw him participate in protests against the military.
BIFF kicks off on 12 October and is set to run until the 21st.