Hong Sang-soo (홍상수)

Korean Films At Karlovy Vary 2008

2008/06/24 | Source | Permalink |

Three South Korean features were invited to screen at the 43rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF). The festival is one of the oldest in the world and has become the most prominent film event in Eastern Europe. It runs July 4 – 12 in the picturesque city of its namesake, also known as Carlsbad, in the Czech Republic.

This year, KVIFF's Horizons section will screen "Night and Day" by one of Korea's art house and festival favorites, director HONG Sang-soo. His latest feature had its premiere in competition at the 58th Berlinale in February. It is HONG's first HD feature and also the first to be shot outside of Korea, mainly in Paris.

In KVIFF's experimental section 'Another View', screens director JEON Soo-il's "With A Girl of Black Soil", a minimalist but moving portrait of a young girl struggling with a hard-drinking father and mentally handicapped brother. It had its premiere at Venice in 2007 and has traveled on to many other festivals including Edinburgh a...| More

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Complex thrillers lead the pack in annual film awards

2008/06/11 | Source | Permalink |

The biggest event in the Korean film industry is back.

On June 27, the 45th Daejong Film Awards will take place at COEX, southern Seoul. This year one of the Korean films under the spotlight is "The Chaser", a film about a serial murderer.

The film drew audiences of more than 5 million, and as of April it is the most successful Korean film of 2008, according to the Korean Film Council.

"Forever the Moment" trailed behind "The Chaser" with over 4 million viewers.

"The Chaser" currently is nominated in 11 categories, hoping to win the hearts of film critics as well.

This year thrillers are garnering the most interest in Chungmuro, Korea's Hollywood.

Currently the top three films on the most nominated lists are from this genre.

"Seven Days", a thriller about a child who gets kidnapped, is second in the number of nominations.

The film is nominated in all 10 categories. "Shadows in the Palace", a thriller that takes place within the palace of the Joseon Dynasty, is n...| More

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KOREAN FILM COUNCIL ANNOUNCES MENTORS AND SUCCESSFUL FINALISTS FOR FILMMAKERS' DEVELOPMENT LAB 2008

2008/06/03 | Source | Permalink |

June 3, 2008 (Los Angeles) - Now in its third year, the Korean Film Council's Filmmakers' Development Lab confirmed today the appointment of this year's Mentors, and also announced the five successful finalists who are this year's Fellows.

The Filmmakers' Development Lab (FDL) is an initiative of the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) to pair industry professionals and emerging filmmakers from Korea and the Korean diaspora to help realize their English language projects. The Fellows are chosen from open application and project submission process.

The program begins with one-on-one mentoring at an intensive one-week script development Lab which will be held in late June in Jeju Island, Korea.

The Fellows and their projects are then brought to Independent Film Week (previously IFP Market) in New York in September, and to the Co-Production Forum at the Pusan International Film Festival and Asian Film Market in Korea in October.

Throughout, Fellows are given opportunities to netwo...| More

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No Wave, just a Korean breeze in Poland

2008/04/28 | Source | Permalink |

The Korean Wave has been spreading Korean pop culture across Asia and beyond for more than a decade, although it has barely reached Poland, in the centre of Europe. It is sad to admit, but Korean culture (traditional as well as the "new wave") does not exist in Polish minds as a distinctive identity. It is often mixed in with Chinese and Japanese cultures, which are more defined in Poland yet still often confused with each other.

Still, it is trendy nowadays in Poland to go to an East Asian restaurant, buy Chinese souvenirs, own Japanese-style furniture, follow feng-shui rules, watch an Asian movie or send kids to taekwondo or karate classes.

Although Polish knowledge of Korean culture is minimal, the present article aims to show that there is a gentle Korean wind that is blowing into Poland faster than the mainstream Wave.

There is, however, still no trace of: (1) the Korean entertainment industry invading the Polish media market; (2) any Polish fans adopting the lifestyles o...| More

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RYOO Jang-ha's comeback stars YOO Ji-tae and LEE Yeon-hee

2008/04/21 | Source | Permalink |

Director/writer RYOO Jang-ha makes his comeback after his 2004 "Springtime" (Kkotbineun Bomi Omyeon) featuring CHOI Min-sik, with the romantic drama Soonjeongmanwha (English translation: "pure comic strip") starring YOO Ji-tae and LEE Yeon-hee.

The film's about a thirty-year-old office employee and a female student who run into each other every morning at an elevator. Both are secretly in love with each other.

Filming commenced on the first day of April. The film is scheduled for a release in the fall. The romantic drama is produced by Let's Film.

YOO Ji-tae played CHOI Min-sik's character's nemesis in PARK Chan-wook's "Old Boy". He also starred in the period piece "Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007" and HONG Sang-soo's "Woman is the Future of Man" (Yojaneun Namjaui Miraeda). In addition, YOO directs short films.

LEE Yeon-hee is seen in LEE Myeong-se's "M" opposite of KANG Dong-won and the romantic teen film "A Millionaire's First Love" (Baekmanjangjaui Cheotsarang). She's one ...| More

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