[31st BIFF] Cuarón Father and Son, 'First Visit to Korea' Made More Special by Being Together (Comprehensive)

Alfonso Cuarón&Jonás Cuarón Hold Press Conference Today (8th)From Explaining Film Philosophy to Introducing New WorksDirector Alfonso Cuarón (left) and Director Jonás Cuarón attend a press conference held at the BIFF Hill of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the 8th and pose for photos. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT|Busan=Reporter Park Ji-yoon] World-renowned director Alfonso Cuarón and his son, director Jonás Cuarón, are gracing the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). Visiting Korea for the first time, they, as father and son and colleagues, showed each other infinite support and justified trust.A press conference with director Alfonso Cuarón and his son, director Jonás Cuarón, was held on the morning of the 8th at the BIFF Hill of the Busan Cinema Center. Alfonso Cuarón, visiting Korea for the first time, opened the conversation by saying, "I'm so happy to be in Busan and glad to be able to talk here," and shared various stories with reporters.Alfonso Cuarón, who cemented his name at the pinnacle of world cinema by winning the Best Screenplay Award at the 2001 Venice International Film Festival for 'Y Tu Mamá También' (2001) and the Golden Lion at the 2018 Venice International Film Festival for 'Roma' (2018). Furthermore, he achieved a legendary feat by winning the Academy Award for Best Director twice for 'Gravity' (2013) and 'Roma,' etching his name in history.Director Alfonso Cuarón, who attended the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival on the 6th to greet the audience, held a special talk after the IMAX screening of his representative work 'Gravity.' He is also scheduled to conduct a separate master class and fulfill various other engagements.Director Alfonso Cuarón, visiting Korea for the first time, explained his film philosophy: "So I always think about what kind of film I want to watch and what I can make." /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeolFirst, director Alfonso Cuarón revealed his film philosophy. He said, "Before I made films, I was a cinephile, and I still have moments when I become an audience member," adding, "I make the films I want to watch, but sometimes I feel that the films I want to watch are not suitable for me to make. So I always think about what kind of film I want to watch and what I can make."Director Jonás Cuarón, who accompanied director Alfonso Cuarón to Busan, is his son and participated in the screenplay for 'Gravity.' Subsequently, director Jonás Cuarón has built his own filmography by directing films such as 'Desierto' (2015) and 'Chupa' (2023), and his film 'The Garbage Champion' was selected for the World Cinema section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival.Regarding his new film, director Jonás Cuarón said, "It was a project that inspired me a lot. Unlike typical immigrant stories, I wanted to show the appearance and faces of immigrants," and added, "Although there is hardship, adversity, and violence, I wanted to convey that there are poetic aspects like desire, dreams, and love."Director Jonás Cuarón (right) said about 'The Garbage Champion,' "It was a project that inspired me a lot. Unlike typical immigrant stories, I wanted to show the appearance and faces of immigrants." /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeolHowever, director Alfonso Cuarón candidly confessed that he had opposed his son becoming a director, despite watching many films together, drawing attention.In this regard, director Alfonso Cuarón recalled, "I wanted him to have a broad perspective on the world. I wanted him to be someone who could observe life, not just live it." He continued, "As I walked the path of a director myself, I experienced moments of failure and having my dreams crushed, yet I had to keep moving forward. Perhaps as a father, I didn't want my son to go through such feelings."Nevertheless, he praised, "Jonás Cuarón is a director who values the audience. He makes films that focus on themes and excels at visualizing them. He is moving forward as a director with his own unique language. There are aspects that influence my own films."Upon hearing this, Jonás Cuarón recalled, "Thanks to my father, film has always been a part of my life, and it was naturally absorbed. As a child, I watched various films from classics to action, and found the genres I liked, which led to 'Gravity.' It's no exaggeration to say that my father was the nourishment for everything I am and the foundation of my principles."He added with a smile, "However, my father didn't want me to study film, so at first, I focused on photography instead of film. I even shot stills for French films, but in the end, because I loved film so much, I became a film director."The 31st Busan International Film Festival, attended by director Alfonso Cuarón (left) and director Jonás Cuarón, will be held until the 15th at the Busan Cinema Center and various locations in Busan. /Busan=Reporter Kim Sung-ryeolIn particular, director Jonás Cuarón finds elements he wants to incorporate into his films in Korean cinema. Mentioning films such as 'The Host,' 'Parasite,' 'Hope,' and 'The Day I Died,' he emphasized, "The reason I love Korean films is that they maintain a strong thematic consciousness and don't lose humor while connecting with the audience. I respect Korean works because many of them excel at storytelling through genre devices and incorporating humor."Finally, news about the duo's next projects was also shared. Director Jonás Cuarón, who just finished 'The Garbage Champion,' replied, "I think this film is about connecting with the audience, so I want to communicate with them. I have several potential projects in mind and am considering the approach." To this, director Alfonso Cuarón hinted, "To speak cautiously, there is a horror story that (Jonás Cuarón) is slowly writing," raising anticipation.The 31st Busan International Film Festival will be held until the 15th at the Busan Cinema Center and various locations in Busan.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]