Kim Ji-woon (김지운)

Nominees for Grand Bell Awards Stir Controversy

Source | 2009/10/26 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The Grand Bell (Daejong) Awards, a prestigious film award in Korea, have stirred controversy yet again. The list of Best Leading Actress nominees that was announced October 21 includes Kim Min-seon ("Portrait Of A Beauty"), Soo-ae ("Sunny"), Kim Hye-ja ("Mother - 2009"), Choi Kang-hee ("Ae-ja") and Jang Nara ("Sky And Sea").

Nominees for the Best Picture award are "Mother", "Sky And Sea", "The Divine Weapon", "Haeundae" and "Take Off".

The controvery arose because actress Ha Ji-won of "Closer to Heaven" and "Haeundae", which drew more than 10 million vieiwers, and actress Kim Ha-neul of the hit movie "My Girlfriend is an Agent" were not included on the list. Morever, the movie "Thirst", which received the Jury Award at this year's Cannes Film Festival, and Kim Ji-woon's "The Good, The Bad, The Weird" also failed to be nominated for the Best Picture or the Best Director awards.

"Sky And Sea", which is to open on October 28 just a week before the awards ceremony, has been nomina...| More

'Haeundae' Director Set for International Shores

Source | 2009/10/16 | 0 comments | Permalink |

"Haeundae" writer and director Yoon Je-kyoon will direct an English language adventure comedy. The project will be produced by Youn's JK Film which also produced the mega-hit tsunami film that went on to screen at a number of territories around the world as well as pulling in 12 million admissions at home. To further guarantee a Western audience the film will come complete with an American cast and a (U.S) $10 million budget; big by Korean standards but hardly recognizable by Hollywood's.

The unique American/Korean story focuses on children who stay at a temple where ancient Korean ghosts come to visit and statues of Buddha come to life. This true, family film has been compared to other similar films such as Jumanji and the Night at the Museum franchise.

Director Yoon follows the footsteps of other Korean directors like KIM Ji-woon, who after the success of "The Good, The Bad, The Weird" has been recruited to direct an English version of Max et les Ferrailleurs in Philadelphi...| More

On heels of PIFF, festival featuring short films set to grab spotlight

Source | 2009/10/07 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Grab some popcorn and a soda, sit back and relax, as the season of film is upon us.

Fall is a great time for movie buffs in Korea, as the country plays host to the prestigious Pusan International Film Festival, one of the most influential movie events in all of Asia. Also known as PIFF, the event kicks off today in the southern port city of Busan, providing its biggest lineup ever.

While PIFF gets the lion's share of the attention, another film festival later in the fall is increasingly grabbing the spotlight as well.

This year's Asiana International Short Film Festival (AISFF), which runs from Nov. 5 to 10 at the Cinecube theater in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, will feature 79 films from 32 countries - an impressive tally by any measure.

"I urge moviegoers to turn their attention to AISFF as soon as PIFF ends", veteran actor Ahn Seong-gi, who is serving as director of the short film event for a fifth year, said in a press conference Tuesday.

The short film festival doe...| More

Son Ye-jin Picked for Asiana Short Film Fest Jury

Source | 2009/10/07 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Actress Son Ye-jin has been picked as a jury member for the seventh Asiana International Short Film Festival, organizers told reporters Tuesday. She follows Kim Hye-soo, who was on the jury last year.

Koo Hye-seon was at the press meet not as an actress but as director of "The Cheerful Caretaker", the official trailer for the festival.

The AISFF will be held for six days from Nov. 5 at Cine Cube in Gwanghwamun, Seoul.
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From left, actors Koo Hye-seon, Ahn Seong-gi, Son Sook and Son Ye-jin, and director Kim Ji-woon. The 7th AISFF committee pose for a photo at a press conference at the Kumho Art Hall in Seoul on Tuesday. ...| More

Chinese/Korean Film 'Season of Good Rain' to be Released

Source | 2009/09/18 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Korea and China has cemented its cinematic relations with the about to be released "Season of Good Rain". The film directed by HEO Jin-ho brings together the biggest actors of both countries Gao Yuanyuan (Beijing Bicycle 2001) and JEONG Woo-seong ("Daisy" 2006) and blends them into a multi lingual, trans-cultural melodrama. The shooting and the narrative of the film seem to be symbolic of the rising amount of film business between the two countries. KIM Ji-woon's "The Good, The Bad, The Weird", also incidentally staring JEONG was shot in Manchuria, CJ Entertainment's "Haeundae" is to be released in China and the same company is producing a big budget Chinese/Korean comedy, "Sophie's Revenge" staring Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon's (2003) Zhang Ziyi.

HEO Jin-ho has directed a slew of romantic melodramas including the internationally successful "Christmas in August" (1998) and "April Snow" (2005). This latest film, while definitely falling back into this genre is decidedly more up...| More