Montblanc Honors Kim Dong-ho for Helping Mold the Korean Film Industry
The 11th Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award has been presented to Kim Dong-ho - founder of Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) - for helping develop the Korean Film Industry, along with other contributions. The awarding has taken place at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza on July 23.
According to Montblanc Cultural Foundation chairman, Lutz Bethge, Kim Dong-ho possesses the "vision to make Korean film the center of the Asian film industry". The director is also known for establishing the Culture and Arts promotion Act, the Korea Culture and Arts Committee, and Dankook University's Graduate School of Cinematic Content.
Montblanc is a company based in Germany. It manufactures accessories, writing instruments and leather items. Through the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award, formed in 1992, honors individuals or business representatives - called 'true arts patrons' - who support their country's arts and culture. Given annually to 11 patrons from 10 nations around the world, it is the company's main global project. It grants recipients exclusive edition fountain pens and 15,000 euros ($16,400), who can then pick an arts institution or group whom they'll donate the prize money.
For Kim, the perfect organization is the Players' Welfare Foundation of Korea, which is supported - along with other local theater performers - by the Arts Council Korea.
"There are many genres in the arts, including film and music, but [...] I personally believe the artists in the country's theater industry lead tough lives", says Kim.
Montblanc established the award system to concentrate on its support and belief on arts and culture, saying, "Patrons are indispensable for patrons, and this is why we decided to establish the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award". Overall, the company's contributions arise mostly from its brand's emphasis on writing. It aims "to tell the world why supporting arts and culture is so important to modern life".
"We also wanted to [...] inspire younger people, other people who listen to those famous patrons, like Chairman Kim [Dong-ho], and maybe get inspired to do something similar", says Bethge.