Part 6: Epilogue
Just before I finish up this rave, a word about the festival's 200-strong army of volunteers. Decked out in light blue T-shirts adorned on the back with I Am A Volunteer (Staff often wore black T-shirts that read: I Am A Staff). Mostly students from Seoul, these selfless smurfs (blue t-shirts) were out on the streets come rain or shine, ensuring that public and press and guests alike were kept happy, had the right tickets, or were boarding the right shuttle buses for the four different venues (buses were running from all venues and ran a loop that included Songnae train station.).
Most of the volunteers couldn't speak English, but they knew their limitations and would get you someone who could speak some form of English quicker than I could name my top five Korean directors. Most festival guests were, Schatzberg aside, mainly first time film-makers. Each guest was issued with a translator, while lowly journalists just had to pick on whoever was handy.
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