60th Berlinale Invites 9 Korean Films

Asian films will highlight the 60th anniversary of the Berlin International Film Festival, both bookending the main program and dominating the Forum section of the top-tier fest. While films from China and Japan open and close the fest (Feb 11 – 20), Korean films show a strong presence throughout with a total of 7 features and 2 shorts selected.

In the festival's Forum sidebar are 3 Korean features. Among them So Sang-min's "I'm in Trouble!" (winner of Pusan's 2009 New Currents award) and Ryoo Hyeong-gi's "Our Fantastic 21st Century" were both produced by KOFIC's Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA). Korean-Japanese director Yonghi Yang's second feature documentary "Goodbye, Pyeongyang" also screens in Forum.

In the Panorama section is Lee Jae-yong's fifth feature "Actresses" with six of Korea's top female talent playing themselves. In the new Culinary Cinema section is Hong Ji-young's debut feature "The Naked Kitchen", a comedy ménage à trois set in a restaurant. Both directors E. and HONG are alumni of KAFA.

In the Generation K-Plus and 14-Plus section are 2 Korean features about youth. French-Korean director Ounie Lecomte's autobiographical drama "A Brand New Life", which screened in Cannes 2009, is in the K-Plus section and Korean-Chinese director Zhang Lu's sixth feature "Dooman River" screens under 14-Plus. Both films are France – Korea co-productions.

The Berlinale Shorts section will present 2 Korean short films. KAFA alumni JUNG Yu-mi's "Math Test" will screen along with actress-turned director Lee Ran-hee's Perm. LEE previously starred in Korean indie-hit "Daytime Drinking" (2008). Her directing debut, "Perm", screened last fall in Pusan's Wide Angle section. It was the recipient of an independent film grant from KOFIC.

Nigel D'Sa (KOFIC)