Fueled by the rapidly expanding influence and popularity of Korean filmmakers in Hollywood, Busan West, the annual pan-Asian film festival staged by Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in partnership with South Korea’s Busan International Film Festival (Asia’s largest film festival), is expanding its program and introducing a competition for the 2013 festival, set to take place March 8-10 on the Chapman campus in Orange, Calif.

Busan West presents a unique filmmaker showcase that brings select notable Asian films and filmmakers to the U.S. to create a new and unique platform for heightened recognition outside of Asia. New to the festival this year is a competition for short films -- ‘Best Narrative Short’ and ‘Best Documentary Short’ Competition winners will be announced and awards presented at the festival’s Closing Night reception, March 10. The two winning short films will be programmed at the 2013 Busan International Film Festival in October. Contest details are available by emailing busanwest@chapman.edu.

Over the course of three days, Dodge College hosts a showcase of contemporary and classic Asian films selected primarily from the Busan International Film Festival by Dodge College Professor Nam Lee, an expert in Pan-Asian film. The 2013 Busan West program features a special opening night event and a martial arts retrospective, all designed to showcase Korean and Asian culture through food, music, and décor. Q & A sessions led by notable film scholars will guide the audiences in conversation with several of Asia’s top film directors and talents who have committed to participate at Busan West and personally introduce their films.

Previous editions of the Festival have attracted some of Korea’s most renowned filmmakers including celebrated writer/director Bong Joon-ho (“Mother,” “Memories of Murder,” “The Host”), award-winning writer/director Park Chan-wook (“Thirst” director's cut), writer/director Kim Ji-woon (“The Good, the Bad, the Weird”), director Lee Doo-yong (“Last Witness”), Oh Jeom-kyun (“Viva, Love”), Park Jin-sung (“Evil Spirit: VIY”), director Kim Dong-won (“Drifting Away”) and writer/director Kim Young-nam (“Don't Look Back”).

Further expanding its focus of cinematic education and exploration in Southern California, the Festival stands to bring more one-of-a-kind opportunities to students and other film enthusiasts in the area. By celebrating and recognizing the cinematic accomplishments of the dynamic and emerging Asian cinema, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts aims to contribute to the growth of international understanding among nations.

“We are excited to once again celebrate the talents of both emerging and established Asian filmmakers,” says Robert Bassett, dean. “The addition of the short film competition and martial arts retrospective enables us to connect further with both local and global audiences.”

The event marks the third venture between Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and South Korea’s Busan International Film Festival to introduce the culture, look and feel of Asia’s largest film festival to an American audience and celebrate the vibrant and emerging Korean and Pan-Asian cinema.

About Chapman University:

Consistently ranked among the top universities in the West, Chapman University attracts highly qualified students from around the globe. Its programs are designed to encourage leadership in innovation, creativity and collaboration, and are increasingly recognized for providing an extraordinary educational experience. The university now excels in film and media arts, performing arts, educational studies, economics and business, law, humanities and the sciences. Student enrollment in graduate and undergraduate programs is approaching 7,000, and Chapman University alumni are found throughout California and the world.

Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts:

One of the premier film schools in the country, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts offers students the unique opportunity to learn filmmaking in a hands-on environment modeled on a working studio.  The college is comprised of the Sodaro-Pankey Undergraduate School of Film and Media Arts, offering degrees in film production, film studies, screenwriting, creative producing, television and broadcast journalism, public relations and advertising, screen acting and digital arts; and the graduate Conservatory of Motion Pictures, offering M.F.A. degrees in film production, film and television producing, production design, and screenwriting, and an M.A. in film studies. Two joint M.F.A. degrees in producing are also offered in conjunction with the business (M.F.A./M.B.A.) and law (M.F.A./J.D.) schools. Dodge College is housed in Marion Knott Studios, a state-of-the-art, 76,000-square-foot studio and classroom building that provides students with 24-hour access to sound stages, edit bays, Dolby surround mixing, a motion capture stage and more.  With an Oscar and Emmy-award winning full-time faculty that boasts more feature film credits than any other film school, Dodge College is where students learn the entertainment business from the inside out.