Kim Eung-su (김응수)

10th JIFF Draws to Close

Source | 2009/05/18 | 0 comments | Permalink |

A Whole Host of Winners at JIFF 2009
Jeonju Film Festival Closes with Great Expectations
By Matthew Love
Associate Editor & Writer
Sherad Anthony Sanchez's "Imbrunal" winner of this years JIFF Woosuk Award for International Film

The Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) ended its nine day celebration of independent and art cinema on Friday night (May 9th) with Uberto Pasolini's latest feature "Machan" (2008).

The closing film, a comedy drama about a group of hapless young Sri-Lankan men trying to get to Europe, in search of a better life by forming a national handball team to compete in an international tournament, was an excellent finale to compliment a fine collection of work on exhibition at this years' JIFF dedicated to Sri Lankan cinema.

The JIFF, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, was its biggest and most successful year to date, with attendances from industry, foreign press and the general public substantially increased on previous years. A good nu...| More

Jeonju Unveils Korean Competition Films

Source | 2009/04/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The 10th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF), one of Korea's three major cinema showcases along with PIFF and PiFan, has revealed a selection of 11 new films for its Korean Feature Competition section that will vie for the JJ Star Award for top film, a cash award of 10 million Won.

Among the films selected are director SIN Dong-il's third feature, "Bandhobi", which tells about the relationship between a Bangladeshi laborer and a Korean high school girl. SIN debuted with the award-winning "Host and Guest" (2005) and followed it up with the critically praised "My Friend and His Wife" (2006).

Other notables include LIM Soon-rye's latest, "Fly, Penguin", a human-rights themed drama starring MOON So-ri; KIM Eung-su's HD feature "The Origin of Water" about a mysterious painting and a man who goes in search of the scenery depicted in it.

Feature debut directors are many, including CHO Kyeong-duk with "Sex Volunteer", SIM Sang-kook with "Where is Ronny... ", KIM Aaron with ...| More

In Jeonju, spring brings wonderful films

Source | 2008/04/19 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Nigel D'Sa
Contributing Writer

The 9th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) is nearing, and an impressive line-up of films has been announced for this year's event.

Set in its picturesque namesake city in Jeollabuk-do (province), JIFF runs May 1-9, bringing together innovative and independent films and filmmakers from around the world.

This year's program boasts a record total of 169 films with opening night going to Manda Kunitoshi's The Kiss in its International Premiere.

Japanese writer-turned-director Manda has already gained notice and won prizes at Cannes for his previous films, making this latest work highly anticipated.

JIFF's curtain-closer will be the Korean omnibus film "If You Were Me 4", produced by the National Human Rights Commission.

Each film in the series has a human rights issue as its theme with past concerns ranging from discrimination to forced surgery and bringing together a group of talented directors.

This year's project fe...| More

Korean Films Premiering at 9th JIFF

Source | 2008/04/16 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Ten Korean features will have their World Premiere at the Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) this spring. Now in it's 9th edition the festival will run May 1st – 9th in the attractive and historical city of Jeonju, in North Jeolla province.

Korean highlights include documentary director KIM Dong-won's latest, "63 Years On", about the 'comfort women' enslaved by the Japanese military in stations across Asia during WW2. The film provides an historical investigation along with interviews with victims still living in Korea, China, and the Philippines. KIM is best known for his 2003 film Repatriation which raised the documentary genre to commercial prominence in South Korea.

In the Korean Cinema on the Move section, presents 10 new independent features mostly by debut directors. Among the most interesting are "Synching Blue" by SEO Won-tae, a director whose shorts films have garnered praise for their visual arrangements. This HD feature is about a man who seeks comfort i...| More

'Bloody Reunion' [DVD Review] A competent slasher pic that could have been nastier

Source | 2008/01/20 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Kyu Hyun Kim (qhyunkim)

Six twenty-something characters are invited for a party by their elementary school classmate Mi-ja (Seo Young-hee, the neurotic landlady from "Jealousy is My Middle Name"), who has been caring for her former teacher Ms. Park (Oh Mi-hee), now infirm and wheelchair-bound. The guests turn out to be a motley crew of losers and basket cases, however.

Worse, each of them bears a serious grudge against Ms. Park. Sun-hee (Lee Ji-hyeon, Yeo Gyoon-dong's "La Belle"), traumatized by the teacher's public taunting of her baby fat, has become addicted to plastic surgery and suffers from bulimia. Park Hyo-joon ("A Dirty Carnival") ruined his leg while being punished by Ms. Park and had to fold his childhood dream of becoming an ace baseball player. Se-ho (Yeo Hyeon-soo, "Holiday") and Eun-young (Yoo Seol-ah), now a couple, is still struggling against the memories of insults and put-downs regarding their childhood poverty.

Even Myung-ho (Lee Dong-gyoo, Kim Eung-su's "D...| More