Bong Joon-ho (봉준호)

Korea culture to be on the screen at 4th London Korean Film Festival

Source | 2009/11/06 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The fourth London Korean Film Festival 2009 runs from Nov. 1 to 18 and already some of the big name directors in Korea have flown to the United Kingdom to promote Korean movies. Prior celebrations and functions aside, the actual first screening was on Thursday (Nov. 5).

This year's film festival, with 25 feature films and four animations from Korea, is organized by the Korean Cultural Center in the United Kingdom and the Korea Creative Content Agency, with the support of the Korean government.

The films will be screened at the BFI (British Film Institute) from Nov. 1 to 14; the London Barbican Centre from Nov. 5 to 12; Manchester Cornerhouse from Nov. 7 to 9; and Nottingham Broadway Cinema from Nov. 16 to 18.

Some award-winning directors from Korea, namely director Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho will visit London with their respective works, "Thirst" (2009) and "Mother - 2009" (2009). The Thirst, which won a Jury Prize at the 62nd Cannes International Film Festival this year,...| More

Interview: Director Park Chan-wook of 'Thirst'

Source | 2009/11/06 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Director Park Chan-wook, who received the Jury Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his movie "Thirst", says that Korean films can gain global recognition by improving their artistic expression and setting new trends.

In an interview with the Yonhap News ahead of the screening of "Thirst" at the London Barbican Centre as the opening film of the 4th London Korean Film Festival, Park said that Korean movies can be exported overseas not only by producing them in English but also by setting new trends.

The festival will run through November 18 at the London Barbican Centre and the British Film Institute. A total of 29 Korean films will be screened, including "Thirst" as well as "Mother - 2009" by Bong Joon-ho.

Interview with director Park Chan-wook.

-- Did the film face a lot of red tape because it deals with Christianity?

- We had a hard time designing its posters. In Korea, we had to take out the image of the lead actress's legs from the poster because they were said to l...| More

Kim Hye-ja Named Best Actress in China Festival

Source | 2009/11/06 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Veteran actress Kim Hye-ja was named Best Actress in the foreign film category of China's top film festival for her role in "Mother - 2009", the film's local producer announced Friday.

The China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival (Jinji Baihua) opened its 18th edition this year in Nanchang from Oct. 14 to 17, with 155 films competing for 18 awards.

It has been screening and awarding foreign films since 2005. Prizes are unique in that they compile votes by both jury members and the audience.

Kim is known as South Korea's quintessential mother figure through her TV roles. Bong Joon-ho's crime thriller marked the 68-year-old's big screen debut, and she surprised fans with her intense performance of an obsessive mother who becomes involved in a murder case.

She was also named Best Actress at three local awards including the Busan Film Critics' Award

Past Korean winners in the foreign film category of the Chinese festival inclu...| More

Koo Hye-seon, Won Bin and Lee Min-ho join forces for 'Good Downloader Campaign'

Source | 2009/11/02 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Top starts such as Koo Hye-seon, Lee Min-ho, Im Soo-jeong and Won Bin team up to promote legal download. Following declaration ceremony of 'Good Downloader Campaign' held during Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), an event titled, 'Good Downloader Supporters Day', takes place with10 stars in support of the initiative proposed by the campaign at Myung-dong Avenuel, Lotte Cinema on Nov. 10.

Divided into 4 teams, under the leadership of actor Ahn Seong-gi, chairman of the Good Downloader Committee, a total of 10 leading directors and actors and actresses join the event. They include director Jang Jin of 'Good Morning President' and Koo Hye-seon of 'The Madonna', director Bong Joon-ho and actor Won Bin of 'Mother - 2009', director Park Chan-wook and actress IOm Soo-jeong of 'I`m a Cyborg, but That`s OK', and director Park Gwang-choon and actor Kim Soo-ro, Lee Min-ho and Park Bo-yeong of 'Our School ET'.

Especially, those star supporters charged no fee for their participation...| More

46th Annual Daejong Film Awards Nominees

Source | 2009/10/23 | 0 comments | Permalink |

46th Annual Daejong Film Awards Nominees

- Best Movie: "Take Off", "Mother - 2009", "The Divine Weapon", "Sky and Sea", "Haeundae"

- Best Director : Kim Yong-hwa ("Take Off"), Yoon Je-kyoon ("Haeundae"), Jeon Yoon-soo ("Portrait of a Beauty"), Jeong Gi-hoon ("Ae-ja"), Bong Joon-ho ("Mother - 2009")

- Best Actor : Kim Myeong-min ("Closer to Heaven"), Kim Yoon-seok (Running Turtle), Seol Kyeong-gu ("Haeundae"), Jeong Jae-yeong ("The Divine Weapon"), Ha Jeong-woo ("Take Off")

- Best Actress : Kim Min-seon ("Portrait of a Beauty"), Kim Hye-ja ("Mother - 2009"), Soo-ae ("Sunny"), Jang Nara ("Sky and Sea"), Choi Kang-hee ("Ae-ja")

- Best Supporting Actor : Kim In-kwon ("Haeundae"), Jin Goo ("Mother - 2009"), Jeong Kyeong-ho ("Sunny"), Jang Geun-seok ("The Case of Itaewon Homicide"), Kim Nam-gil ("Modern Boy")

- Best Supporting Actress : Kim Bo-yeon ("Living Death"), Kim Hae-sook ("Thirst"), Kim Yeong-ae ("Ae-ja"), Choo Ja-hyeon ("Portrait of a Beauty"), Nam Neung-mi ("Clos...| More