Yoo Ha (유하)

Korean Films to Return in April

Source | 2009/03/26 | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

South Korean cinema offers only a handful of releases this month, but a big lineup of homegrown films awaits moviegoers in April.

Some 10 domestic titles are slated for release next month, of which a majority are mainstream franchises that will play in theaters nationwide.

Leading the pack is "Private Eye", coming to screens April 2, starring Hwang Jeong-min as a private detective and Ryoo Deok-hwan as a young medical trainee who try to solve a serial murder case during the Japanese colonial era (1910-45). A special preview of the film with English subtitles is taking place at 7 p.m. tonight at CINUS Myeongdong Theater. The subtitled film will be available on the official release date at the venue, as well as CINUS Gangnam.

A week later, Kang Hye-jeong, the charming heroine of "Welcome to Dongmakgol", will return to the big screen opposite Park Hee-soon ("Seven Days") in "Urijibe Wae Watni" ("Why Did You Come to My House - Movie"), a quirky t...| More

Daytime Drinking, The Chaser, A Frozen Flower's internationally release

Source | 2009/03/25 | Permalink |

With support from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), the three Korean films "The Chaser", "Daytime Drinking", and "A Frozen Flower" will soon be available to international audiences.

NOH Young-seok's "Daytime Drinking"'s U.S. distribution rights have been acquired by Eleven Arts Inc. and tentatively scheduled to enter U.S. cinemas on 10 April. The humorous independent film revolves around an unfortunate man who is dumped by his girlfriend, stood up by his friends, and the 'victim' of Korea's drinking culture.

Belgian Cineart pursued the rights to NA Hong-jin's "The Chaser". Belgians will be able to view last year's multi-awarded gritty thriller from 22 April.

YOO Ha's "A Frozen Flower" will premiere in Taiwanese cinemas on 27 March. The epic historical drama's distribution rights were coveted by Infinity International.

YI Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)...| More

Korean Indie Film Wins at French Film Fest

Source | 2009/03/17 | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

"Breathless" by director Yang Ik-joon won both the grand prize (Le Lotus du meilleur film) and the international critic's award at the 10th Deauville Asian Film Festival in France, which came to a close, Sunday. This is another feat in the international film circuit by the South Korean indie film, which recently won the top award at the 38th International Film Festival Rotterdam.

This is the second consecutive year the two coveted prizes went to a Korean movie at the esteemed event, following Jeon Soo-il's "With a Girl of Black Soil".

Numerous other local works appeared at the festival. Baek Seung-bin's "Members of the Funeral" competed in the competition section alongside "Breathless"; Na Hong-jin's hit film "The Chaser" and Kim Yoon-jin's big budget epic "The Divine Weapon" were shown in Action Asia; and Yoo Ha's controversial "A Frozen Flower" and Yoon Jong-bin's noir drama "The Moonlight of Seoul" were screened in the Panorama section.

The...| More

"A Frozen Flower" Sold to 7 Countries

Source | 2009/02/13 | Permalink |

Korean historical film "A Frozen Flower" was sold to seven countries at the European Film Market held during the reputed Berlin International Film Festival. The film's Korean distributor, Showbox, announced that the film was sold to Spain, Czechoslovakia, Thailand, Russia, Turkey, Singapore and Brazil. At the American Film Market held prior to the one in Berlin, it was sold to three other countries - Japan, Germany and the Benelux Economic Union, consisting of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxemburg. Showbox said that foreign buyers were captivated by beautiful photography and the subject matter, which dealt with the forbidden love between the king and his chief bodyguard.

Directed by Yoo Ha and starring Jo In-seong and Joo Jin-mo, this visually stunning historical movie set against the last days of the Goryeo Dynasty was released late last year and is still going strong, nothing up four million in ticket sales so far. ...| More

Korean Films sell well at Berlin's EFM

Source | 2009/02/11 | Permalink |

Korean company Fine Cut as well as CJ Entertainment can both claim success at this years EFM in the Berlin Film Festival. Fine Cut leads the pack selling 11 films alone to one company, Scandinavia's Non Stop Television. It also sold gay themed "Antique" (MIN Gyoo-dong) to Thailand's Rose Media, and surprise hit thriller "The Chaser" (NA Hong-jin)to Latin America, several Eastern Block countries including Yugloslavia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria. Both films have already sold well in other territories.

CJ Entertainment on the other hand have sold YOON Jong-seok's "Marine Boy", Korea's current number one box office hit and have also done well selling films as yet unreleased in at home. Two of these films however represent directors that already have international recognition including PARK Chan-wook's highly anticipated vampire movie "Thirst" staring Korea's biggest star SONG Kang-ho. PARK Chan-wook is well known for his Vengance Trilogy as well as BONG Joon-ho for th...| More