Action Boys (Movie - 2008)

Lifting the Lid on Stuntmen "Action Boys" Screens at the Hot Docs Festival in Toronto

Source | 2009/05/08 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Canada will yet again see why there is a 75% attrition rate at the Seoul Action School through documentary "Action Boys" 2008. The film profiles the lives of 8 stuntmen who together graduated from the school in 2004. Their dream is to not only be pushed, pulled punched prodded and kicked but also to do the same to others. This acclaimed documentary is also infamous for revealing the death of one of the lead stunt men on Kim Ji-woon's "The Good, The Bad, the Weird" (2008).

Action Boys, Jeong Byeong-gil's first feature, won the Audience Choice award at last year's Jeonju International Film Festival and is playing in this year's festival. It has also played at the New York Asian Film Festival. The film is screening at The Toronto Hot Docs Festival on May the third and the forth. ...| More

Indie flicks and digital dramas for Jeonju fest

Source | 2009/04/03 | 0 comments | Permalink |

There is something for everyone at this year's Jeonju International Film Festival, which is celebrating its 10th birthday this year.

JIFF, as the festival is commonly known, will be featuring around 200 films from 42 countries from April 30 to May 8, and the final program was announced this week.

The opening title will be "Short! Short! Short! 2009", a omnibus feature created by 10 promising young Korean filmmakers.

The closing show will be the comedy "Machan" by Italian director Uberto Pasolini about a Sri Lankan handball team.

"The omnibus feature Short! Short! Short! 2009 started out as a project in 2007 to support short films in Korea and help them reach the overseas market", said Min Byung-lock, the festival director. "There are ten directors involved to symbolize the JIFF's 10th anniversary".

The festival organizers are justly proud of their decade-long festival.

"JIFF has been growing successfully over the past ten years, maintaining a focus on original, high-q...| More

"Old Partner" to Be Played in Canadian Film Festival

Source | 2009/03/26 | 0 comments | Permalink |

A moving documentary, "Old Partner", will be presented at the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival held in Toronto, Canada from April 30 through May 10. The largest documentary festival in North America is an annual even that shows distinguishing documentaries from all over the world.

Having so far drawn nearly 3 million moviegoers, "Old Partner" was invited to the International Spectrum category. Together with "Old Partner", other independent Korean documentary films - "Action Boys" about movie stunt men, "Black Badge" directed by Choi Jung-min, "Farmer's Song" about Korean farmers predicament at the impending market opening, "Grandmother's Flower" about a troubled family's history, and "Children of God", an in-depth look at Hindus – were invited to the festival's "Made in South Korea" program. Hot Docs explores the documentaries of specific nations each year and South Korea is the program focus for this year.

The festival hopes to present some of the unique and tradition...| More

Directors select KONG Hyo-jin and HA Jeong-woo

Source | 2008/12/19 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Korean directors favoured the performances of KONG Hyo-jin and HA Jeong-woo as 2008's best. The 11th Director's Cut Awards for Best actress went to KONG for her acting in "Crush and Blush". HA earned the Best actor award in recognition of his role in "The Chaser".

Both films are directed by first-time feature film directors, illustrating the prominence of new talented directors in 2008. LEE Kyoung-mi guided KONG Hyo-jin in "Crush and Blush" and HA landed a leading role in NA Hong-jin's "The Chaser". HA also acted this year in "My Dear Enemy".

Best director became an established director, KIM Ji-woon won the Best director nod for "The Good, the Bad, the Weird", this year's box office champion.

Best new actor and actress became YOO Ah-in ("Antique") and SEO Woo ("Crush and Blush"). JEONG Byeong-gil received the Independent Movie Director Award. JEONG filmed young stuntmen for his documentary "Action Boys". Their passion and dreams make the stuntmen committed to the underpaid ...| More

Ha, Kong Win Director's CUT Awards

Source | 2008/12/11 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Korean directors picked actor Ha Jeong-woo and actress Kong Hyo-jin as the Best Actor and Best Actress for the 11th Director's CUT Awards 2008.

The Korea Film Director's Network chose Ha and Kong as the year's best performers for their outstanding film roles.

Ha was given recognition for his exceptional performances in the hit films "My Dear Enemy" and "The Chaser". In 2005, Ha was awarded Best New Actor for "The Unforgiven" at the Director's CUT Awards.

Kong was cited for her role as a frumpy high school teacher suffering from a bad case of blushing and delusions in "Crush and Blush". Kong, who has always had a stylish image, had surprised many with her transformation into an unattractive Miss Hongdangmu (carrot) in the film.

The Best Director Award was given to Kim Ji-won who directed the acclaimed "kimchi Western", "The Good, the Bad, the Weird". Director Na Hong-jin received the New Director Award for his work on the gripping t...| More