The Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) has chosen 4 South Korean projects, including the latest by director
Na Hong-jin (
"The Chaser"), for its high-profile project market, taking place March 23 – 25, 2009 alongside the Hong Kong International Film Festival (March 22 – April 13).
NA will present his new project, titled
"The Yellow Sea", the tale of a man who is forced to become a murderer through physical necessity. The director's debut film
"The Chaser" was an unexpected hit at the Korean box office, becoming the second-highest grossing film of 2008.
Korea's top action director
Ryoo Seung-wan will bring "The Enforcer", his seventh feature project to HAF. The director is known for such popular hits as "
Arahan" (2004), "
Crying Fist" (2005) and "
The City of Violence" (2006).
Also invited were
Lim Pil-seong with a project called "The Flower of Evil" and
Lee Jeong-beom with "A Secret Boy". LIM debuted with 2005 feature "Antarctic Journa"l followed by fairy-tale horror "
Hansel and Gretel" (2007). LEE debuted with gangster-drama "Cruel Winter Blue"s (2006).
HAF selected a total of 27 projects, with an emphasis on those that find a common ground between art house and commercial values. Noticeable also was the selection of star newcomers like NA and Taiwan's Wei Te-Sheng (Cape No.7). Asian projects comprise 26 of those selected.
Nigel D'Sa (KOFIC)
