Lee Hae-joon (이해준)

KOFIC Korean Film Showcase at FILMEX

Source | 2009/11/19 | 0 comments | Permalink |

KOFIC Korean films showcase in Tokyo, will be held this year from November the 21st to the 30th as an official section of FILMEX. The annual event, designed to promote a diversity of Korean films to Japanese audiences will show everything from more commercial fare such as the current box office number one "Good Morning President" to art house films including the international film festival hit "Daytime Drinking" (2007). Other films include LEE Hae-joon's "Castaway on the Moon", LEE Yoon-ki's "My Dear Enemy" (2008) and the multi-ethnic independent "Bandhobi "directed by SIN Dong-il about a Bangladeshi migrant worker's relationship with a Korean girl. All in all, a total of 10 films will be screened over the FILMEX period.

Alongside other events will also be a seminar focusing on a strategy for expanding the domestic film market of both countries. Speaking at the seminar will be the Senior Vice President of CJ Entertainment, CHOI Joon-hwan whose company has vast international dis...| More

44 Korean Films at the 2009 Marrakech International Film Festival

Source | 2009/11/19 | 0 comments | Permalink |

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 eyes to South Korea.

A whole host of Korean directors will accompany their films to the festival: IM Kwon-taek, the godfather of Korean cinema with "Surrogate Mother" (1986), "Seopyeonjae" (1993) "Chihwaseon" ("Strikes of Fire" - 2002) and more; LEE Do-yong "The Oldest Son" (1984); LEE Chang-ho "The Man with Three" Coffins (1988); JANG Sun-woo "Lies" (1999) and other directors; PARK Chan-wook "T...| More

46th Annual Daejong Film Awards Nominees

Source | 2009/10/23 | 0 comments | Permalink |

46th Annual Daejong Film Awards Nominees

- Best Movie: "Take Off", "Mother - 2009", "The Divine Weapon", "Sky and Sea", "Haeundae"

- Best Director : Kim Yong-hwa ("Take Off"), Yoon Je-kyoon ("Haeundae"), Jeon Yoon-soo ("Portrait of a Beauty"), Jeong Gi-hoon ("Ae-ja"), Bong Joon-ho ("Mother - 2009")

- Best Actor : Kim Myeong-min ("Closer to Heaven"), Kim Yoon-seok (Running Turtle), Seol Kyeong-gu ("Haeundae"), Jeong Jae-yeong ("The Divine Weapon"), Ha Jeong-woo ("Take Off")

- Best Actress : Kim Min-seon ("Portrait of a Beauty"), Kim Hye-ja ("Mother - 2009"), Soo-ae ("Sunny"), Jang Nara ("Sky and Sea"), Choi Kang-hee ("Ae-ja")

- Best Supporting Actor : Kim In-kwon ("Haeundae"), Jin Goo ("Mother - 2009"), Jeong Kyeong-ho ("Sunny"), Jang Geun-seok ("The Case of Itaewon Homicide"), Kim Nam-gil ("Modern Boy")

- Best Supporting Actress : Kim Bo-yeon ("Living Death"), Kim Hae-sook ("Thirst"), Kim Yeong-ae ("Ae-ja"), Choo Ja-hyeon ("Portrait of a Beauty"), Nam Neung-mi ("Clos...| More

Six filmmakers confront the struggle of the second time

Source | 2009/10/22 | 0 comments | Permalink |

'These budding directors shot their first films when Korean cinema was at its peak, so it's no wonder they now feel pressure'. -PIFF programmer

The "sophomore slump" refers to when a second effort fails to meet the standards or expectations of the first. It affects bands, performers and artists of all types - and movie directors are no exception.

Six emerging Korean directors discussed the pressure and the anxiety they felt while making their second films, as well as the challenges of dealing with the changing landscape of filmmaking in Korea at "Open Talk No. 2" during the Pusan International Film Festival, which closed its nine-day run last Friday.

The six directors - Park Chan-ok, Lee Song-hee-il, Lee Seong-han, Lee Hae-joon, Kim Tae-sik and Kim Dong-won-I - first gained recognition for their debut features at previous Pusan film festivals, and returned to this year's event with their second works.

"I feel like I keep growing through filmmaking, even though growing up is...| More

Korean films strongly recovered in May

Source | 2009/06/12 | 0 comments | Permalink |

CJ/CGV, Korea's leading cinema chain, announced a 49.1% domestic market share for Korean films in May. Of the 16,322,551 million visitors, 8,018,465 people bought tickets to a Korean film. It is the highest May record for Korean cinema since 2005.

Since 2005, the highest percentage for Korean films in May was in 2006 when Korean films captured a 36.1% market share. Last year May, Korean films accounted for merely 7.8% of the box office.

50% of the top ten most popular films were Korean. BONG Joon-ho's "Mother - 2009", PARK Chan-wook's "Thirst", SIN Tae-ra's "My Girlfriend is an Agent", LEE Hae-joon's "Castaway on the Moon", and PARK Hee-gon's "Insadong Scandal", in respective order.

May 2009 recorded seven films which scored over 1 million attendees – a mark of success at the Korean box office – including the Korean films "My Girlfriend is an Agent", "Thirst", "Mother - 2009", and "Insadong Scandal". In comparison, last month April, only 2 films achieved the same, and last y...| More