Na Hong-jin (나홍진)

2008/05/15 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

The 61st Cannes Film Festival has kicked off with fanfare, spicing up the festive mood for moviegoers all around the world. The ebullient mood remains largely the same here in Korea, but one thing is palpably different: There's no chance for a Korean movie or actor grabbing an award in the competition section this year.

Last year was special for the Korean film industry. Jeon Do-yeon won the prestigious best actress award for her impassioned role in the heart-wrenching flick "Secret Sunshine". This year, however, such dramatic development is unlikely to occur because no Korean film has been invited to the competition section.

But it is too early to shift attention from Korean filmmakers toward Hollywood stars. After all, five Korean movies are to be screened in various sections at Cannes, and all of them have a potential to charm foreign filmmakers, critics and media in various ways.

At the forefront stands director Kim Ji-woon's big-budget flick "The Good, the Bad, the Weird"...

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2008/05/15 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Leading talent NA Hong-jin's next film will be another thriller with socially critical undertones titled Sarinja (English translation: murderer). The project is still in the writing phase. The plot centres around a man who turns into a murderer to escape starvation.

Writer/director NA crafted the well made thriller "The Chaser" (Choogyeokja) which became a sleeper hit film after a modest release. His debut feature film, a social critique without major stars, is so far the most successful film of 2008 in Korea and is currently being screened at Festival de Cannes 2008.

"The Chaser"'s audience has already exceeded the five million mark. The film recently won PaekSang's Grand Prize and NA was awarded the Best New Director award. Warner Bros bought the remake rights of "The Chaser".

Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)...

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2008/05/08 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

CHOI Dong-hoon, the director of the major hit films "Tazza: The High Rollers" ("The War of Flower") and "The Big Swindle" is preparing his next project with the assistance of IM Soo-jeong and KANG Dong-won.

KANG is set to play an undisciplined womanising Taoist from the Joseon era (the name of Korea previous to the Japanese occupation) who ends up in present day Korea, causing mayhem with his knack for magic. IM will play a double role, portraying a Joseon woman and an aspiring actress in contemporary times.

KIM Yoon-seok will reunite with CHOI after their collaboration on "Tazza:The High Rollers" ("The War of Flower"), KIM will be fighting against KANG's character. KIM is currently highly successful with his leading role in NA Hong-jin's The Chaser.

CHOI is also responsible for the scenario and will start directing from August. The film will enter cinemas in 2009.

Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)...

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2008/04/27 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The world's premier film event, Festival de Cannes, will open for the 61st time May 14-25 in the southern French port city. While there are no Korean entrees this year in the main competition section, five films ― including the world premiere of the anticipated blockbuster "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" ― will shine in other sections of the festival.

"The Good, the Bad, the Weird", directed by Kim Ji-woon, will be shown in the Out of Competition section. This "oriental Western" features exciting horseback races and train rides in vast Mongolian plains.

It stars three of the hottest Korean actors ― hallyu star Lee Byeong-heon (TV soap "All In"), heartbreaker Jeong Woo-seong ("Daisy") and bona fide actor Song Kang-ho ("Secret Sunshine").

The film will receive its own gala event, complete with a red carpet event. It is anticipated to be a big highlight along with the premiere of films like Woody Allen's "Vicky Christina Barcelon...

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2008/04/24 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Korean TV and film stars gathered together for The 44th PaekSang Arts Awards Thursday evening in Seoul. The Awards honors filmmakers, TV actors and actresses, producers and programs that made distinguishing marks in the field of visual media arts.

In the film category, the grand prize went to "The Chaser" directed by Na Hong-jin, who also won the best new director award. "The Chaser" has attracted over 5 million filmgoers so far, winning the top-grossing film title for the first half of 2008. The best director award went to Lee Chang-dong of "Secret Sunshine" and the best picture award to "Forever the Moment", based on a true story of the Korean women's handball team. Im Chang-jeong of "Scout" was named the best actor and Kim Min-hee of "Hellcats" the best actress. Also hunky superstar Kwon Sang-woo and lovely Kim Jeong-eun won the popularity vote.

The grand prize in the TV category was given to Kang Ho-dong for his leadership in the "One Night Two Days" segment of the entertainm...

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