16th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (2012)

The 16th edition of the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) took place from July 19 to July 29, 2012, in Bucheon, South Korea. The festival, which focuses on genre cinema, showcased a diverse selection of international and Asian films, including world and regional premieres.

PiFan 2012 promotional material — Promotional visual for the 2012 Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival.

Program Highlights

The festival opened with the anthology film Horror Stories, a South Korean production. The closing film was For Love's Sake, directed by Takashi Miike, which held its Asian premiere at the event.

Awards

Several films and individuals were recognized during the festival. The "Best of Puchon" award and the NH Nonghyup Citizen’s Choice award were both presented to Space Brothers, directed by Yoshitaka Mori. Other notable awards included the European Fantastic Film Festival Federation Asian Award for Lee’s Adventure, the Netpac Award for Vulgaria, and the Fujifilm Eterna Award for Super Virgin.

Special Awards

The festival featured specific awards for actors based on industry and public recognition. The "Producer's Choice" award, designated by the Korean Film Producers Association, was presented to Ha Jung-woo and Ha Ji-won. Additionally, Lee Je-hoon and Min Hyo-rin received the "Fantasia Award," which was determined by a popular vote conducted among Bucheon citizens in June 2012.