Alfonso and Jonás Cuarón discuss cinema's future and 'Gravity' at Busan festival
On their first visit to the Busan International Film Festival, Alfonso and Jonás Cuarón spoke about the future of theatrical cinema, their work on 'Gravity' and their admiration for Korean film.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1Alfonso Cuarón and his son Jonás Cuarón appeared at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on their first visit, speaking about the future of cinema, upcoming projects and Korean film. DeadlineN “shared their thoughts on the future of the theatrical experience, teased a few details of upcoming projects and discussed Korean cinema during their first visit to Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) today.” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2The festival hosted an IMAX screening of 'Gravity', which the pair co-wrote, and the Asian premiere of Jonás Cuarón's 'Campeón Gabacho', about a Mexican immigrant in New York, which premiered at SXSW this year. DeadlineN “a special IMAX screening of Gravity, the Oscar-winning movie that the father and son filmmakers co-wrote, and the Asian premiere of Jonas Cuarón’s most recent film, Campeon Gabacho” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “Jonas also brought “Campeón Gabacho” to Busan for its Asian premiere in the World Cinema section.” Read at Variety ↗ Mixed · 2Alfonso Cuarón said he believes theatrical cinema will continue but will coexist with more forms, adding that he is both pleased and afraid and wants to learn from the new generation of filmmakers. DeadlineN ““I believe that the theatrical experience will keep on existing, and I hope so because I love the theatrical experience, but I think it’s going to coexist with more forms,”” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “Alfonso expressed an interest in making a comedy and learning from a younger generation of filmmakers.” Read at Variety ↗
Left · 1At his masterclass, he said film used to come first but life now does: "Life as an experience is what I now care about the most." VarietyLC ““When I was younger, film was everything and life was just part of it. Now it’s the opposite,” he said.” Read at Variety ↗ Centre · 1Cuarón said he had consciously pushed his son away from studying film, but came to see Jonás developing a language different from his own, one he could learn from, citing his son's still-photography first film and 'Desierto'. DeadlineN ““When he was growing up, I consciously pushed him away from studying or getting involved in film.”“From his first film, that was all done with still photography, and then his second film Desierto” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2Jonás Cuarón said he likes how genre, especially horror, connects with audiences, and that he is writing a script for a horror film; Variety reported he said he remained focused on his newly completed film while exploring different approaches to projects in development. DeadlineN “he’s currently working on a script for a horror movie” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “Jonas said he remained focused on his newly completed film while exploring different approaches to projects in development.” Read at Variety ↗
Mixed · 2Both men praised Korean cinema; Jonás cited 'The Host', 'Parasite', 'Hope' and 'No Other Choice' for tackling social issues through genre and humour, and Variety added his young son's enthusiasm for 'Train to Busan' made the trip especially exciting for his family. DeadlineN “A lot of movies that I really respect from The Host and Parasite, to recent Korean films like Hope and No Other Choice” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC “His young son’s enthusiasm for “Train to Busan,” he added, made the trip especially exciting for his family.” Read at Variety ↗ Left · 1On 'Gravity', Variety reported the pair discussed its theme of rebirth, Hitchcock's influence, long takes planned from the start, and a custom LED light box inspired by a Rolling Stones concert, used alongside robot-controlled cameras and extensive CGI. VarietyLC “The senior Cuaron recalled drawing inspiration from LED displays at a Rolling Stones concert.”“alongside robot-controlled cameras and extensive CGI.” Read at Variety ↗ Mixed · 2In a masterclass with Korean director Yeon Sang-ho, Alfonso Cuarón said he has had more projects fall apart than get made, and that those failures led to other well-received films; Variety also quoted him saying "It’s not about what you see but about what you don’t see," linking that to his view that virtual reality cannot replace cinema. DeadlineN ““I have way more projects fall apart than the projects I made” Read at Deadline ↗ VarietyLC ““It’s not about what you see but about what you don’t see.”” Read at Variety ↗
Centre · 1BIFF runs October 6-15, with its industry platform, the Asian Contents & Film Market, running October 10-13. DeadlineN “Busan International Film Festival is taking place October 6-15 at Busan Cinema Center and multiple venues across the city.” Read at Deadline ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Variety leads with Alfonso's personal reflection that life now matters more than film, and revisits Gravity's craft.
- Emphasis
- Gravity's themes, influences and technology (LED light box, long takes), father-son collaboration.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report the horror script or festival market dates; gives theatrical-future remarks only briefly via the VR comment.
- For example
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““Life as an experience is what I now care about the most.”” — Variety
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Deadline leads with the future of theatrical cinema and the Cuaróns' views on audiences, genre and Korean film.
- Emphasis
- Industry-facing themes: theatrical coexistence with other forms, failure and success, horror script, festival market dates.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Less on Gravity's technical making and Alfonso's life-over-film remark.
- For example
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““I believe that the theatrical experience will keep on existing, and I hope so because I love the theatrical experience, but I think it’s going to coexist with more forms,”” — Deadline
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The Cuaróns visited BIFF for the first time, with an IMAX screening of Gravity and the Asian premiere of Campeón Gabacho.
- Jonás Cuarón praised Korean films including The Host, Parasite, Hope and No Other Choice.
- Alfonso Cuarón spoke of learning from a younger generation of filmmakers.
Alfonso Cuarón person
Believes theatrical cinema will persist alongside other forms, wants to learn from younger filmmakers, and says life now matters more to him than film.
“But I want to learn from the new generation about how they take this new world and turn it into into art” — Deadline
“Life as an experience is what I now care about the most.” — Variety
Jonás Cuarón person
Favours genre cinema, including horror, for connecting with audiences, and admires Korean genre films that address social issues with humour.
“horror is a really great genre in that sense of connecting with the audience.” — Deadline
Busan International Film Festival event
Hosted the Cuaróns with an IMAX Gravity screening and the Asian premiere of Campeón Gabacho, and runs October 6-15.
“BIFF is hosting both a special IMAX screening of Gravity” — Deadline
Left1 article
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Sympathetic Reflective profile of the father-son collaboration on Gravity, led by Alfonso's life-over-film remark.
Centre1 article
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Neutral Straight festival report foregrounding the Cuaróns' views on theatrical cinema's future and Korean film.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 8 Oct 06:27 First DeadlineN Alfonso Cuarón & Jonás Cuarón On Future Of Cinema: “The Theatrical Experience Will Continue, But It Will Co-Exist With Many Different Forms”
- 8 Oct 09:58 +3h 32m VarietyLC Alfonso Cuaron Revisits ‘Gravity’ With Son Jonas at Busan: ‘Life as an Experience Is What I Now Care About the Most’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.