Jang Joon-hwan (장준환)

2008/01/02 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

By Chun Su-jin

Director Park Chan-wook declared last week that cinema is "growing worse slowly and steadily as time goes by". This film director who earned international acclaim with "Old Boy" (2003) was speaking before the press last Wednesday in support of Seoul Art Cinema which specializes in independent films. What consoles Park is the existence of the Seoul Art Cinema under the Korean Association of Cinematheques.
Park, who won several international festival awards for "Old Boy", including the grand prize at Cannes, is reputed to be the main supporter of the arthouse cinema. His enthusiasm has become the basis for the launch of festivals under the name "Friends of the Cinematheque", which show classic films recommended by directors like Park and other film industry people. Park, who is also the leading organizer of the festival, announced that the the third festival will open next Tuesday, and is slated to run through Feb. 3 at the Seoul Art Cinema in Jongno, central Seoul. ...

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2007/11/06 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

An English book on director HONG Sang-soo, one of the most renowned auteurs at the Korean film scene, has been published following books on director IM Kwon-taek, KIM Ki-young, LEE Chang-dong and KIM Dong-won.

When HONG Sang-soo's debut work, "The Day a Pig Fell into the Well", was released in May 1996, the nation's film critics were thrown into shock. The cinematic language in the film was unprecedented in Korean film history. Since then, HONG has continued to show his own distinctive style with near perfection in his following works. This book, written by HUH Moon-yung, one of the most distinguished film critics in Korea, is intended to help readers to better understand the cinematic world of HONG Sang-soo. The book also includes analyses by prominent film critic, David Bordwell and renowned French film director, Claire Denis.

The publication is part of the 'Korean Film Directors Series', a project initiated by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) to internationally promote Korean ...

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2007/10/05 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

BUSAN - The arrival of cool air in this port city in October does not just signal the change of season. It also means that it is time for the Pusan International Film Festival, which began its nine-day voyage on a sea of films yesterday.
Some 2,000 filmmakers, actors and moviegoers filled the Suyeongman Yacht Center near Haeundae beach for the opening. The lineup on the red carpet included stars from both home and abroad, from world-acclaimed film music composer Ennio Morricone to celebrated Korean filmmakers Im Kwon-taek and Lee Chang-dong.
Actress Moon So-ri and director Jang Joon-hwan, a married couple, hosted the ceremony, which was followed by the screening of the opening film, "Assembly", by the Chinese director Feng Xiaogang. Korean harmonica player Jeon Jae-deok played Morricone's well-known tunes during the opening ceremony, paying homage to the composer. Some 140 journalists from 17 countries are covering the festival.
The opening film is based on the 1948 civil war in ...

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2007/10/04 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's "Assembly" opened the 12th Pusan International Film Festival on the Haeundae outdoor theater in Busan yesterday.

"Assembly" is the latest film from Feng, who gained nation-wide fame in China after making such films as "The Banquet", "A World Without Thieves", and "A Sigh".

PIFF, one of Asia's biggest film festivals, features 247 films from 64 countries along with various events designed to raise awareness about innovative Asian filmmakers and nurture new talents.

Director Jang Joon-hwan and award-winning actress Moon So-ri hosted the opening ceremony attended by special guests from all over Asia. Congratulatory programs included a harmonica performance by Jeon Jae-deok, who has emerged as the country's top-rated musician after overcoming a physical handicap. Jeon played together with the Busan Symphony Orchestra, featuring famous cinema sound tracks, including scores by Ennio Morricone, who also participated in the opening ceremony.

Numerous...

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2007/06/26 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Opening June 27th at Yongsan CGV in central Seoul, the 6th edition of the Mise-en-scene's Genre Film Festival (MGFF) will run until July 3rd, screening over 60 short films. This year's slogan is "Beyond the Barrier of Genres", the event will celebrate films that challenge conventional genres.

MGFF began six years ago when a group of young directors collaborated on a festival that would support emerging cinematic talent. This year 10 of Korea's top directors joined hands to curate and program the festival. Known both at home and internationally, they are KIM Seong-su ("Musa", "Please Teach Me English"), HEO Jin-ho ("Christmas in August"), KIM Ji-woon ("A Bittersweet Life"), OH Seung-wook (Kilimanjaro), Lee Jae-Yong ("Untold Scandal"), KIM Dae-seung ("Blood Rain"), BONG Joon-ho ("The Host"), JANG Joon-hwan ("Save the Green Planet"), RYOO Seung-wan ("The City of Violence"), and SONG Hae-seong ("Failan"). Directors LEE Hyeon-seung ("Il Mare") and PARK Chan-wook ("Vengeance" trilogy...

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