Korean movie news

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

Rookies and vets compete for kudos and cash

A week from now the Ninth Jeonju International Film Festival is scheduled to kick off, its mission to search out creative films from around the world and give audiences an experience unavailable at most movie theaters: the chance to see experimental films.
One of the main events is the international competition that selects the festival's best film.
Twelve films have reached the final stage of the contest.
The movies were chosen from 1,204 submissions, including 815 from South Korea and the rest from overseas.
Sponsored by Woosuk University and Daum Communication, the festival's top film will be awarded the Woosuk Award plus a cash prize worth $10,000.
Second place gets $7,000 and the Daum Special Jury Prize.
The selection committee comprises a five-member jury: Bong Joon-ho, who directed "The Host" (2006), which was seen by more than 12 million cinemagoers; the writer and film critic Chris Fujiwara; Abolfazl Jalili, who received th...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

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

Singer Se7en will perform in front of a live audience prior to his official debut in the U.S.

Se7en will sing three songs, which are included in his U.S. debut album, at the preview party to be held at Highlands, a famous nightclub in Hollywood, Los Angeles on May 2.

"Darkchild" Rodney Jerkins, a renowned American music producer will personally introduce Se7en on stage. Jerkins has produced one of the songs in Se7en's album entitled "Girls".

In March, Se7en held a preview party in the iro Ballroom of the Maritime Hotel in New York. At the time, a DJ played the three songs but at the upcoming L.A preview party, Se7en will perform the songs live on stage with his backup dancers. Reports say a number of famous musicians from the U.S. pop music industry have been invited to the event.

U.S. mobile communications company Verizon will also take part in the party as Se7en's official sponsor. According to the singer's management agency YG Entertainment, Verizon has highly rated Se7e...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

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

Actor Ji Seong is planning an official trip to Japan for the first time after his mandatory military service.

He became very popular in Japan after his part in the TV drama, "All In". After his 2-year military service, he made a successful comeback into the spotlight with the MBC drama "New Heart" (Teleplay by Hwang Eun-kyeong, Directed by Park Hong-gyoon). Next month, Ji Seong will be holding a large-scale event with fans at the JCB Hall of Tokyo Dome City.

"New Heart" was a huge success and brought Ji Seong significant attention along with various requests for commercial deals.

Re-runs of "New Heart" have been airing at the primetime hour of 9:00 pm (Mondays and Tuesdays) on the Hallyu entertainment cable channel Mnet since last month. The number of re-runs has increased due to the show's immense popularity in Japan....

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

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

In the last few years, Korean films, TV dramas and pop music have become immensely popular abroad, a phenomenon known as the Korean Wave. This is the 33rd in a series of essays by a select group of scholars and journalists looking at the spread of Korean pop culture in Southeast Asian countries and beyond. - Ed.

Following is an email interview with Tom Larsen, president of YA Entertainment, the largest distributor of Korean TV drama DVDs in the United States. - Ed.

The Korea Herald: What is the current market position of Korean TV dramas in the U.S. market? How are they perceived in comparison with mainstream U.S., Chinese and Japanese programming?

Tom Larsen: Like most other TV programming from international markets, Korean TV dramas are generally considered a specialty entertainment niche here in the United States. Having said that, the popularity of Korean TV dramas in the United States has grown dramatically over the past five years. Korean TV dramas are now widely recogni...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

I am in LOVE with Korean Dramas!!!!!!! fighting 2008-04-25 20:47:50

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

The 12th Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival begins its five-day run on May 21, hosting a string of exhibitions and animation screening events to appeal to both fans and industry delegates.

SICAF -- the country's biggest event of its kind -- will take place at two separate venues, where cartoonists and animators from around the world will show off their artistic talent. The animated films will be screened at Lotte Cinema near Konkuk University. Other exhibitions, forums and related events at the Seoul Trade Exhibition & Convention.

The Animated Film Festival will showcase 300 projects from 30 countries -- 137 works in the competition category and 163 projects in the non-competition category.

The finalists were selected after a record 1,307 films from 63 countries were submitted to the competition category, organizers said at a news conference held on Tuesday.

"Just like last year, the European countries continued to show a high level of quality, but we saw a re...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

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

Korean star JANG Hyeok's English language debut film Dance of the Dragon's premiere is imminent. Building up to the release of the big budget film, its director John Radel compared JANG to James Dean.

Radel also praised the versatility JANG displayed, including martial arts and dance skills while maintaining a high level of acting during his first English language role. Radel predicted a bright international career for JANG after people all over the world will see him in Dance of the Dragon.

Dance of the Dragon is a co-production between South Korea, Singapore and the U.S., starring JANG, Fann Wong (Singapore), and Jason Scott Lee (U.S.). JANG and Lee's characters are rivals for the love of Fann. The love story mixes ballroom dancing with action.

The world premiere party will take place on May 1 in Singapore. JANG arrived in Singapore prior to the premiere for promotional activities and interviews.

JANG already entered international markets through the success of his Ko...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

Jang Hyuk, I am there..... And i am singaporean. You know? Hope can see u again in Singapore. And hope you'll love love singapore very much. Jan Jan 2008-04-24 08:28:00

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

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) will screen KIM Ki-duk films from April 23 until May 8 to New York City audiences. Fourteen films of the maverick filmmaker will be on display, making it the first complete retrospective of KIM's repertoire in the U.S. and some of the films will have their U.S. premiere at MoMa.

MoMa describes KIM's body of work as "sensuous, sensational imagery and wild and haunting narratives" and praises his "sweeping camera movements and long, richly composed shots".

Among KIM's best known films in the U.S. are "the libidinous "The Isle" (2000), the Buddhist-inflected "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring" (2003), and an elliptical treatise on invisibility, "3-Iron" (2004)".

The retrospective is organised by MoMa's Department of Film Senior Curator Laurence Kardish, and HAHN Dong-sin of Open Work, New York. The showcase is made possible through numerous parties, including the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). MoMa previously organised retrospectives of IM...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

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

Senior high school student JEON Hyeong-min's short film Cheongookboda Meon Seoul (English translation: "Seoul is further than heaven") has been invited by the Manhattan based Asian American International Film Festival. His film will feature in the teenagers' competition section For Youth By Youth.

JEON wrote, produced, directed and edited the short film, and shot his film with a borrowed 6 mm camera and the help of seven friends who helped out and act in the film. The ten minute film portrays a group of high school students who live in the Korean city Ansan. Even though Seoul is only an hour away by train, psychologically, Seoul is out of reach.

Filming took over two months around their high school and Ansan Station. Cheongookboda Meon Seoul deals with teenagers' sense of alienation and anxiety because of the boundaries in their young lives.

Cheongookboda Meon Seoul is JEON's second work. He previously made the five minute long Sonyeonui Gobaek (English translation: "confess...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

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

The third week of May traditionally equals one of the most prestigious film festivals. This year's Festival de Cannes will include "I Come with the Rain", LEE Byeong-heon's English language film debut. Director BONG Joon-ho will return to Cannes with his short film "Shaking Tokyo", part of a project titled Tokyo!

LEE Byeong-heon might also feature at Cannes with KIM Ji-woon's "The Good, the Bad, and the Weird" (Joheun Nom, Nappeun Nom, Isanghan Nom). However, it is still uncertain whether KIM's film will make Cannes, the much sought after film is still in the final stages of production.

After delivering stellar films as "A Tale of Two Sisters" (Janghwa Hongryeon) and "A Bittersweet Life" (Dalkomhan Insaeng), KIM's star-studded "The Good, the Bad, and the Weird" – the lead actors are LEE Byeong-heon, SONG Kang-ho, and JEONG Woo-seong – promises to be a highlight of 2008.

"I Come with the Rain" is directed by Tran Anh Hung who also makes his English language film debut. The Vi...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?

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

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Young, stylish director Yoon Jong-bin is releasing "The Moonlight of Seoul" (aka. "Beastie Boys"), his second feature film starring Ha Jeong-woo. The gleaming cast also includes singer-turned-actor Yoon Kye-sang and up and upcoming actress Yoon Jin-seo.

Director Yoon and Ha reunite for another guy movie dealing with a provoking subject matter after their critically acclaimed homosexual soldier story "The Unforgiven" (2006), which made both of them landmarks on the cinematic map.

Away from army barracks, "Moonlight" takes us to the posh strip of Cheongdam-dong in the heart of downtown Seoul. When night falls, the glitzy Louis Vuitton road shop and high-end art galleries go into deep slumber and another world awakens.

But "Moonlight" goes beyond your idea of a thrilling nightlife. It's about excessive partying in all its capitalistic glory: rich but lonely ladies (mostly 30-something businesswomen) flock to an upscale "room salon" (bar with pri...

To participate to HanCinema, you must sign up or log in. Sign up, Why ?