Pyongyang International Film Festival Opens

The 14th Pyongyang International Film Festival opened with due ceremony at the Ponghwa Art Theatre on Wednesday.

Present there were Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim Yong Jin, vice-premier of the Cabinet, Pak Chun Nam, minister of Culture who is chairman of the organizing committee of the festival, Cha Hui Rim, chairman of the Pyongyang City People’s Committee, Kim In Bom, vice-minister of Culture and concurrently director of the Film General Bureau, and others.

Also present were delegations, delegates and members of an international jury of the festival.

Present there on invitation were diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations here and their wives and officials of culture of different embassies here.

Screened there were films which won the top prizes at the past festivals.

Pak Chun Nam in an opening address welcomed the movie persons and overseas Koreans who came here to take part in the festival.

The festival is a significant assembly which helps achieve social progress and prosperity common to mankind and deepen the bonds of friendship among world movie persons aspiring after the development of national films, he noted.

Expressing belief that the festival would prove a success thanks to the positive and sincere cooperation of all participants, he declared the festival open.

Then presented films and members of the international jury were introduced.

Mikhail Koshrev Nestserov, chairman of the international jury, made a speech.

He hoped that all the film fans would enjoy the successfully produced films through the 14th Pyongyang International Film Festival.

Prizes of the festival were introduced and pictures showing development of the Korean film art were screened.

At the end of the opening ceremony the participants watched a British feature film.

The organizing committee of the festival hosted a reception for the participants in the festival at Okryu Restaurant that day.