[Dispatch | Busan=Reporter Yuha] "Before I am a director, I am an audience member who loves film. I want to put the stories I want to see on the screen." (Director Alfonso Cuarón)

Alfonso Cuarón is a director who crosses boundaries of genre and space. From 'Love and History' to 'A Little Princess,' 'Great Expectations,' 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,' and 'Children of Men'—he has built a diverse filmography.

He has also achieved success at prestigious international film festivals. He won the screenwriting award at the Venice International Film Festival for 'Y Tu Mamá También' (2001). He has won the Academy Award for Best Director twice—for 'Gravity' (2013) and 'Roma' (2018). Notably, 'Roma' also won the Golden Lion, the highest prize at the Venice International Film Festival.

His son, filmmaker Jonas Cuarón, is also building his own cinematic world. He co-wrote the screenplay for 'Gravity' with his father. This time, he came to meet Busan audiences with his new film 'Cabacho Champion.'

Alfonso Cuarón and Jonas Cuarón set foot in Korea for the first time. They attended a press conference held on the morning of the 8th at the BiFan Hill of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan. They talked about their passion for film and their different directorial worlds.

◆ Father and Son | Different Languages of Cinema

The relationship between the two goes beyond that of father and son. They watched films, shared stories, and influenced each other. However, Alfonso revealed that from the beginning, he did not welcome his son taking the same path.

But Jonas's choice was firm. Jonas said, "My father loved film passionately. He naturally shared that passion with me," and emphasized, "Film has always existed in my life since childhood."

Alfonso praised his son's independent perspective. He said, "He was creating his own unique cinematic language, different from mine," and explained, "He tries to embed social themes within a clear narrative. He is a director who values the audience."

He mentioned Jonas's new film 'Cabacho Champion.' Alfonso said, "While attempting visual storytelling, he does not lose sight of the work's theme," and assessed, "He conveys stories through images and seeks to connect with the audience."

His father was Jonas's closest film teacher. Jonas recalled, "As a child, I was exposed to a variety of works—classics, thrillers, action films," and said, "My father's knowledge and passion for film also became nourishment for me."

◆ 'Gravity' | The Father and Son's First Collaboration

The two found a point of creative contact with 'Gravity.' It is a work depicting the survival of a person left alone in outer space. Alfonso Cuarón directed, and Jonas Cuarón participated as co-screenwriter.

Jonas said, "My father viewed my screenplay favorably," and recalled, "From brainstorming to each stage, we proceeded organically. It was a work from which I learned a great deal."

Alfonso and Jonas set aside their father-son relationship during the creative process. Alfonso said, "When making a film, we met as director and writer, not father and son," and laughed, "During lunch, we became father and son for a while."

Jonas spoke about why he is drawn to survival narratives: "In extreme environments, a character's psychology and choices are revealed transparently," and noted, "A woman left alone in space confronts her deep sorrow. The story is that she must overcome that to embrace hope."

'Gravity' won seven awards at the 86th Academy Awards, including Best Director. The two's collaborative work resulted in cinematic achievement. It became an opportunity to expand each of their directorial worlds.

◆ 'Cabacho Champion' | The Face of Immigrants

Jonas Cuarón presented his new film 'Cabacho Champion' at the Busan International Film Festival this time. It is a work about the lives of immigrants. He revealed that he wanted to show the issue of immigration not as a political slogan, but through the face and life of one human being.

Jonas said, "Immigration is often discussed only as a concept or number," and explained, "I wanted to capture the faces of people actually living within that. Stories of people who dream of a better life even amid hardship and violence."

He did not simply remain in recreating suffering. He focused on characters who do not abandon their dreams amid adversity and the community surrounding them. He explained, "I wanted to create a story about people pursuing dreams together even in circumstances where they are stigmatized."

Alfonso said, "In stories of immigrants, there exists not only tragedy and vulnerability. Even in difficult situations, they create joy, imagine, dream, and build community," and noted, "'Cabacho Champion' captures that."

Jonas expressed admiration, saying, "I like Korean films like 'The Host,' 'Parasite,' 'Hope,' and 'No Way Out,'" and said, "They weave social themes into genre, and incorporate humor. There is much to learn."

◆ Audience | "Film is Something Experienced Together"

What both directors emphasized in common was the audience. Though they possess different cinematic languages, they shared the belief that film must reach the audience.

Alfonso said, "Before I am a director, I am an audience member who loves film. When I write a screenplay, I think of a film I want to see," and confessed, "I consider what story I want to see on screen and whether I am the person who can make that story special."

Jonas spoke about the power of genre films. He said, "When watching a thriller, we experience the character's tension together. When watching a comedy, we laugh together," and noted, "In a theater, audiences can experience becoming a single community."

He also shared thoughts on changes in the film industry. Alfonso predicted that technological advancement and the emergence of new platforms will affect the future of film. However, he emphasized that the importance of watching film together in theaters remains.

He also shared news about his next project. Alfonso said, "I am writing a new screenplay. A story in the horror genre," and hinted, "It is very interesting."

The 31st Busan International Film Festival runs until the 15th at the Busan Cinema Center.

<Photo source=Song Hyojin Reporter (Dispatch), Busan International Film Festival>