No Regret (Movie - 2006)

Six filmmakers confront the struggle of the second time

Source | 2009/10/22 | 0 comments | Permalink |

'These budding directors shot their first films when Korean cinema was at its peak, so it's no wonder they now feel pressure'. -PIFF programmer

The "sophomore slump" refers to when a second effort fails to meet the standards or expectations of the first. It affects bands, performers and artists of all types - and movie directors are no exception.

Six emerging Korean directors discussed the pressure and the anxiety they felt while making their second films, as well as the challenges of dealing with the changing landscape of filmmaking in Korea at "Open Talk No. 2" during the Pusan International Film Festival, which closed its nine-day run last Friday.

The six directors - Park Chan-ok, Lee Song-hee-il, Lee Seong-han, Lee Hae-joon, Kim Tae-sik and Kim Dong-won-I - first gained recognition for their debut features at previous Pusan film festivals, and returned to this year's event with their second works.

"I feel like I keep growing through filmmaking, even though growing up is...| More

Korea's Prolific Production of Gay Themed Cinema Continues

Source | 2009/10/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

A soon to be released feature is about to join the ranks of Korea's burgeoning cannon of queer cinema. "Hello My Love", KIM Aaron's debut feature, comes at an end of a decade that has seen a relative explosion of new queer cinema. In this short space of time highlighted by such films as "Bungee Jumping of Their Own" (2001), "The King and the Clown" (the number one box office hit of 2005) and even "No Regret" (2006) the first gay film directed by and out gay director, Korean audiences have embraced this relatively taboo topics at least on a cinematic level.

"Hello My Love", like a lot of other Korean gay themed films presents the thorny issue of homosexuality through the well worn romantic comedy genre with a generous amount of melodrama and acceptable, comic stereotypical characters. This typical trendy take on the familiar threesome happens when popular radio host Ho-jeong welcomes back her childhood sweet heart, Won-jae from a two year trip in France. In tow however, is Won-jae...| More

[ChanMi's star news] Kim Nam-gil, the new Ha Jeong-woo?

Source | 2009/09/20 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Actor Kim Nam-gil is a rising actor! He has been Bidam in the drama, "Queen Seon-deok" and has been talked about a lot!

He is currently the number one wanted as cast in film!

It is known that there are two films that might be starring him already!

The film industry say that it is like Ha Jeong-woo in 2007 because ...| More

'Money' Comes Up Rather Short

Source | 2009/09/03 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Ten rising South Korean filmmakers present seriocomic stories about money matters in the omnibus project "Short! Short! Short! 2009": Show Me the Money.

As much as the opening film for the 10th Jeonju International Film Festival is about money, the tight budget for the project ($5,000 per director) is most palpable. The screaming individuality and experimentalism of each episode compensate, but commercial prospects seem slight and the flick will most likely find a small niche in arthouse cinemas.

The omnibus reel opens with Choi Ik-hwan's one-cut flick "Our Last Words, Live". The "Life Is Cool" director offers a mock home video featuring two despairing young men, who, defrauded, bankrupt and about to get arrested for false charges, try to assert their innocence by recording their last words on tape before committing suicide. But life ― and death ― are often beyond one's control.

In "A Tip for Cigarettes" by Nam Da-jeon, a news rep...| More

The 11th Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Opens in Seoul

Source | 2009/06/05 | 0 comments | Permalink |

After the initial festival was closed down by police in 1997, the Seoul Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Film Festival (SELFF) celebrated more than 10 years of existence opening on Wednesday the 3rd of June. However, the festival which was then deemed as 'objectionable' by authorities has still faced unabated challenges. This year, due to the financial crisis its already meager budget has been severely cut back. Despite this, organizers at the opening party in a cozy bar in Seoul's Jongno district emphasized the quality of the relatively small numbers of films on show.

Even with diminished funds, the festival has been able to secure films from all over the globe including Japan, Germany, Taiwan, the U.S., Spain, France, Thailand, Norway, Mexico, Australia and Israel. It also includes a number of Korean premieres. Highlights include documentary Lesbian Jeonchidojeongi ("The Era of Lesbian Political Challenge") about open lesbian Choi Hyeon-sook who last year unsuccessful...| More