Mongolian film ‘Faith’: Tickets sold out in U.S. cinema

A Mongolian film called ‘Faith’ (Itgel) has just premiered at  the Asian World Film Festival (AWFF), currently being held in Los Angeles and according to the organisers has already proved a total sell-out.  Subsequently, cinema officials agreed to show the 'Faith' on two screens in the same cinema simultaneously. This is the first time this has happened during a premier  at the Asian World Film Festival. Based on a true story, ‘Faith’ is directed by B.Garamkhand and main role is played by Mongolian ‘Hollywood’ actor  Amarsaikhan.

Famous artists such as ‘Oscar’ winning producer Andrew Morgan and Hollywood School House founder Ferris Bebe, are major figures behind the film festival. More than 50 films from Asian 40 countries are competing for seven nominations. Two Mongolian films, namely ‘The Faith’ and ‘Mother’ are currently contending. Last year, ‘Thief of the Mind’, a movie with  Amarsaikhan in the main role won the Viewers' Award.

The Asian World Film Festival brings the best of a broad selection of Asian World cinema to Los Angeles in order to draw greater recognition to the region's wealth of filmmakers as well as strengthening the ties between the film industries of Asia and Hollywood.

Mongolian film wins Busan International Film Festival

The realistic fiction film “Remote control” by Mongolian director S.Byamba took first prize at Asia’s largest film festival, Busan International Film Festival (IFF).

This is the first time a Mongolian movie entered and won the competition in the festival’s 18 years of running. 

Three Mongolian directors entered films into the Festival; “Light bay colt” by Ch.Khoroldorj, “The call” by L.Bat-Erdene and “Remote control” by S.Byamba.

Busan International Film Festival Award winning director S.Byamba is well-known for his documentary “Passion”  which was screened at Dubai IFF, Goteborg IFF, San Fransisco IAAFF, Pusan IFF, Taiwan IDF. He is also known for numerous other films and documentaries including: "Poets of Mongolia" (documentary, international film festivals in Brussels, Paris and Bombay, 1999), "Real Man Eat Meat" (short fiction, international film festivals in Clermont-Ferrand/France and Tampere/Finland, 1998) and "State of Dogs" (documentary, many international film festivals worldwide, 1997).

S.Byamba is the 1999 winner of the "Goo Maral" award for the best documentary film of Mongolia for "Poets of Mongolia". In 1997 he was the winner of numerous prizes for "State of Dogs" including: "Grand Prix Nyon" (Switzerland), "Critics Award" (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and "Special Jury Award" (St. Petersburg, Russia).

During the Busan International Film Festival  300 films and documentaries by over 70 directors were presented and over 200,000 foreign visitors came to South Korea during the Festival.