Bong Joon-ho (봉준호)

Filmfest offers a summer haven for indie fans

2008/07/17 | Source | Permalink |

Sultry summer days drive people to seek shelter.

Getting a comfy seat at an air-conditioned movie theater is a fine choice; watching indie-style films is an excellent choice.

The second annual Nextplus Summer Film Festival is targeting those who want some cinematic relief from the sizzling weather. Nextplus will kick off on July 25, featuring 220 films that tend to push the artistic envelope on the silver screen.

"Although art-house films do not attract a huge crowd in Korea, we believe that such high-quality movies deserve an important place in the country's culture industry", said Korean Film Council deputy director Shin Sung-min at a news conference Tuesday.

The filmfest, jointly organized by the Korean Film Council and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, will be held in the Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi areas from July 25 through Aug. 7, while theaters in other areas are scheduled to join the festival Aug. 1-14.

Unlike other festivals that involve only a handful of thea...| More

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

The Good, the Bad, the Weird's U.S. release

2008/07/17 | Source | Permalink |

KIM Ji-woon's latest film "The Good, the Bad, and the Weird" (Joheun Nom, Nappeun Nom, Isanghan Nom) will open in the U.S. in the first half of 2009, according to its distributor CJ Entertainment. The Korean flavoured western will play in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and three more major U.S. cities.

New York's Independent Film Channel agreed a deal with CJ Entertainment about Korea's most expensive film (US$ 17 million). Previously, "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" was applauded by enthusiastic audiences at Festival de Cannes. The film will open on Thursday July 17 in Korea.

The kimchi western – a pun referring to the spaghetti westerns – boosts an impressive line-up with LEE Byeong-heon, SONG Kang-ho, and JEONG Woo-seong leading the cast. The three are among several people interested in a map, without anyone really knowing what they will find at the specified location.

The Korean release is imminent and according to Korean Film Council (KOFIC) figures, "The Good, the Bad...| More

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

Bong Joon-ho "Won Bin is youthful country style"

2008/07/03 | Source | Permalink |

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

"The Host" Sequel Set for China

2008/06/27 | Source | Permalink |

"The Host" was a Korean box office blockbuster directed by Bong Joon-ho and, while its Korean sequel is in the works, a Chinese sequel is also in its early stages.

Last week, Chungeorahm Films met with director Ning Hao, his production company Stone Man Films, and producer Daniel Yu. They signed an agreement stating a joint production of the Chinese sequel to "The Host".

Director Ning Hao has introduced the unique stories of Chinese films such as "Scent", "Mongolian Ping Pong", and "Crazy Stone". "Crazy Stone" was the closing film for the 2006 Pusan International Film Festival.

Ning is currently working on the script. Chungeorahm Films and Stone Man Films are planning to begin filming early next year, and hope to release the Chinese sequel by late 2009.

"We are taking the lead in the production and filming of the Chinese sequel to 'The Host'", said a Chungeorahm representative. "This is a much more significant process than simply selling remake copyrights or exporting our f...| More

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

KIM Ki-duk's "Dream" to compete in San Sebastian

2008/06/26 | Source | Permalink |

"Dream" (Korean title: "Bimong"), the fifteenth film by director KIM Ki-duk, has been selected to compete at the 56th San Sebastian International Film Festival, to be held from September 18-27.

The film, which stars Japanese heartthrob ODAGIRI Joe and Korean actress LEE Na-young, centers around a man who experiences a startlingly realistic dream about a car accident, and later discovers that the accident occurred in real life.

KIM's previous films have premiered at Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Locarno, Karlovy Vary and Moscow, but this will be the first time for him to compete at the prestigious Spanish festival. Other Korean films that have competed at San Sebastian in recent years include BONG Joon-ho's "Memories of Murder" (2003), SONG Il-gon's "Spider Forest" (2004), HEO Jin-ho's "April Snow" (2005), LIM Sang-soo's "The Old Garden", and KIM Mi-jeong's "Shadows in the Palace" (2007).

In 2003, KIM's Spring, "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... And Spring" screened out of competiti...| More

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