Jeon Soo-il (전수일)

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Esteemed director Jeon Soo-il rarely watches movies showing in theaters but always tunes into experimental works by novice filmmakers.

Those longing for something fresh can look forward to a film festival featuring films by students from the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA).

Thursday through Sunday at Sangsang Madang, Hongdae, the KAFA will present some 40 works by its 26th graduating class and aspiring directors from its feature-length research program.
The lineup includes 33 mid-length movies and four features by local students as well as a batch of works from prestigio...More

In a celebration of Korean film, a record 44 will screen at this year's 2009 International Film Festival of Marrakech. In addition, representatives from Korean government organizations, the Korean film industry: producers, directors, actors and film festival delegates will be in attendance. The festival, which began in 2000 has in the past focused on the national cinemas of Italy, Egypt and Spain. This year, signaling the growing importance of Korean film and certainly spurred by recent successes such as Bong Joon-ho's "Mother - 2009" and Park Chan-wook's "Thirst", the festival turns its ...More

North American Tour of Jeon Soo-il's Retrospective launches in
Montreal, accompanied by Canadian independent short films

Award-winning Korean filmmaker Jeon Soo-il arrives in Nov. 29th launching his acclaimed Retrospective Tour for the first time in North America!

Montreal, November 19, 2009 - Korean independent giant Jeon Soo-il's works will be introduced to the North American public for the first time at the Cinémathèque Québécoise from November 26 to December 2. Jeon's films have been awarded and featured internationally in film festivals, including the Cannes International Film Festival (Wind Echoing in My Being, 1997), Venice International Film Festival (With a Girl of Black Soil, 2007) and Pusan International Film Festival (Himalaya, 2008). His energetic creativity never stops while teaching film production in Kyungsung University and currently is in production for his 8th film.

This retrospective will showcase Jeon's six films at the Cinéma...More

"I Came From Busan", the latest feature by indie auteur Jeon Soo-il will screen in the Official Section competition of the 57th San Sebastian International Film Festival, running September 18 – 26 in northern Spain. It is one of 2 Asian features to compete in this year's festival, the other being Chinese director LU Chuan's "City of Life and Death".

JEON's previous films have fared well on the international festival circuit, with his 2007 feature "With a Girl of Black Soil" winning numerous prizes including at Venice, Pusan and Deauville. His...More

Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) unveiled the line-up of Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP). Korean directors Bong Joon-ho, Heo Jin-ho, Noh Kyeong-tae, Son Jae-gon, Han Jae-rim, and Lee Myeong-se are among the influential names in cinema who will present their upcoming project at the 2009 edition. PIFF calls this year's selection the "toughest ever due to the many quality projects".

BONG will attend PPP ...More