Choi Ho-jong, the winner of last year's Mnet 'Stage Fighter,' is set to open the 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) with a special performance. Previously, he rose to the position of principal dancer with the STF Dance Company but eventually stepped down.
The dancer and choreographer will grace the opening stage of BIFAN, which kicks off on July 3rd. As the symbolic start of the festival, his participation is drawing significant attention from both the film and art communities.
This year's festival slogan, 'Stay Strange,' aims to blur the lines between technology and art, reality and surrealism. Choi Ho-jong plans to interpret this message through his unique movements, artistic imagination, and fresh stage language.
The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, which Choi will open, is one of South Korea's top three film festivals and a leading genre film festival in Asia. Since its inception in 1997, it has showcased a wide range of domestic and international films, including fantasy, horror, thriller, and sci-fi, with a focus on Asian cinema and emerging directors.
Last year, the festival introduced the first-ever AI film international competition section in Korea, receiving a warm response. This year, it continues to explore the fusion of art and technology, focusing on the expansion and potential of art. Choi Ho-jong's performance is expected to offer audiences a new sensory experience at the intersection of art and technology, showcasing his true prowess as a dancer with his original movements and overwhelming expressiveness.
In May, Choi made history as the first dancer to hold a solo performance, selling out all tickets within one minute of release. His name even entered the top 10 of real-time search charts on ticketing sites, proving his growing influence and recognition. His efforts to break down the barriers of dance as a genre and expand the intersection of pure art and popular culture are being praised as groundbreaking.
Choi Ho-jong is also set to appear at 'KCON LA' in Los Angeles from August 1st to 3rd, drawing global fans' attention. As an artist who combines artistry, innovation, popularity, and experimental spirit, he is making his mark not only in the dance world but also at the crossroads of film, technology, and the global stage.
Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr