Jang Sun-woo (장선우)

MOON Seong-geun Cast in SONG Il-gon Horror

2008/02/26 | Source | Permalink |

Acclaimed actor MOON Seong-geun will take the lead role in "Sahwa" (meaning 'Royal Massacre') a horror from Cannes winning director SONG Il-gon. MOON has been a notable figure in the Korean film industry since the 1990's, when he starred in films by top new wave directors, PARK Kwang-soo ("Black Republic"), JANG Sun-woo ("Road to the Racetrack"), and in LEE Chang-dong's debut film "Green Fish".

MOON also provided memorable performances in such films as HONG Sang-soo's "Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors" and PARK Chan-ok's "Jealousy is My Middle Name". He came late to his acting career, having first spent time as a business man in Saudi Arabia. Throughout the 90's he was deeply involved in supporting the Korean film industry and served as Vice-chairman of the Korean Film Council in 1999.

In SONG's fifth feature, a Chosun dynasty-set tale of bloody power games between rival families, MOON will play the central role of a king beset by curses and vengeful murders. Supporti...| More

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KOFIC issues new books on JANG Sun-woo and leading producers/investors in Korean cinema

2008/02/14 | Source | Permalink |

The Korean Film Council is pleased to announce the publication of two new books this month.

First, a new volume on director JANG Sun-woo has been added to the Korean Film Directors series, which provides in-depth appreciations and analysis of leading Korean filmmakers. Written by Tony RAYNS, the book contains an essay on the cinema of Jang Sun-woo titled "The Essence of Contradiction"; five interviews with the filmmaker; a collection of writings by Jang Sun-woo; a collection of "Critical Miscellany" by Korean and foreign critics; plus a biographical note and filmography.

Tony RAYNS is a well-known UK-based critic and programmer who in 2002 directed the documentary The Jang Sun-Woo Variations.

Meanwhile, KOFIC has also released the first volume in its new "Who's Who in the Korean Film Industry" series, which will provide profiles of key figures in Korean cinema. The first edition focuses on producers and investors, and provides not only filmographies, contact numbers and b...| More

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7th Gwangju Int'l Film Festival opens November 29

2007/11/30 | Source | Permalink |

The seventh edition of the Gwangju International Film Festival opened on November 29 with a screening of Chinese film Western Trunk Line by LI Jixian.

A total of 40 films from 8 countries will be shown at the event, which has downsized in recent years after a reduction in public funding. The closing film, to be screened on December 3, will be the winner of the audience award.

The festival's program consists of four main sections. "World Cinema Best" consists of five films from Europe and Asia including one Korean title, the recent horror film Epitaph. "Cinema on 518" is a collection of films about the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, including LEE Jeong-guk's "The Song of Revival", JANG Sun-woo's "A Petal", LEE Chang-dong's "Peppermint Candy", LIM Sang-soo's "The Old Garden", and KIM Ji-hoon's recent hit "May 18". Meanwhile there will also be a retrospective of Italian filmmaker Luchino Visconti, and an "Animation Special" devoted to Daniel Greaves and Simone Massi.

More informati...| More

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HONG Sang-soo Added to Korean Film Directors Series

2007/11/06 | Source | Permalink |

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 ...| More

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Book Review : The LEE Chang-dong Edition

2007/06/18 | Source | Permalink |

Among Korean directors, LEE Chang-dong has maintained an integrity and a seriousness few aspire to. While having completed only four films in ten years, he is perhaps Korea's most consistent and valuable director, continually taking risks and challenging his audiences. In step with the release of his latest film "Secret Sunshine", a 2007 Cannes competitor that brought home a Best Actress Award for JEON Do-yeon, KOFIC/ Seoul Selection have published a welcome addition to the Korean Film Directors series. LEE Chang-dong is one of three retail volumes published this year. The other two in the series are on IM Kwon-taek and KIM Ki-young.

The present volume provides an overview of LEE's work, a biography, a compilation of several interviews, and synopses and analyses of his first three films. For anyone approaching LEE's films for the first time, this book offers valuable context and historical grounding for each of the director's features. It is clear that the book's author, note...| More

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