Blue Swallow (Movie - 2005)

Fajr Film Fest Hosts Korean Retrospective

Source | 2009/01/14 | Permalink |

Iran's major annual film event, the 27th Fajr International Film Festival (FIFF), held in Tehran, will showcase a retrospective of contemporary Korean films. 13 features produced from the years 2000 through 2008 will screen in the Persian capital, January 30 to February 10, 2009.

Along with the retrospective, JEON Soo-il's "With a Girl of Black Soil" (2007) was selected in the line-up of the Asian Cinema competition section. It will vie alongside North Korean film "A School Girl's Diary" by JAN In-hak and 11 other features from across Asia.

Among selections in the retrospective are titles such as PARK Chan-wook's "JSA - Joint Security Area" (2000), BAEK Woon-Hak's "Tube" (2003), KIM Ji-woon's "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" (2008), JOO Kyeong-joong's "A Little Monk" (2002), and SHIM Hyung-rae's "D-War" (2007).

In previous year's a number of Korean films have won awards at FIFF, including YOON Jong-chan's "Blue Swallow", which won the Best Screenplay award for Asian Cinema ...| More

The parlous state of the movie industry

Source | 2008/10/09 | Permalink |

'Investment has been too hasty in the past and that has caused problems. But the problem now is a lack of creativity'.

BUSAN - Dark clouds overshadowed the opening of this year's Pusan International Film Festival. The suicide of one of Korea's most beloved actresses, a perceived crisis in the nation's once booming film industry and tensions in the global economy were a distraction that muted the festivities.

When news broke on Day 1 of the festival that the actress Choi Jin-sil had tragically killed herself and rumors circulated as to the cause and the circumstances, several reporters and celebrities canceled their trips at the last minute or returned to Seoul shortly after the festival opened. The sense of loss and despondency in the southern port city was palpable.

A visit to the Asian Film Market, which took place during the festival, seemed to sum up the mood. Last year, 460 film production companies came to Busan - "Busan" was formerly "Pusan" and the film festival reta...| More

Cinephiles unite for Busan film festival

Source | 2008/10/03 | Permalink |

The 13th Pusan International Film Festival places its focus on regions that have been overlooked in the past. Twenty-two selections from Central and Southeast Asia have been invited to compete.

Chosen for their storytelling merit, most are films without the flash and extravagance usually afforded to better-funded films. It was the power of their story that attracted the attention of PIFF organizers.

In addition to reaching further into newer territories, the festival will carry a sort of support group atmosphere within the domestic film community.

Participants and visitors watch "The Gift to Stalin" by Khazakstan`s Rustem Abdrashev that kick-started the 13th Pusan International Film Festival at the Suyoungman Yacht Stadium in Busan on Thursday evening. [Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald]

Even the festival slogans, "The discovery and unearthing of new territories" and "Get back on your feet, Korean films!" are reflected upon the choices of the opening and closing films. The Kaz...| More

PIFF sets sail with a record

Source | 2008/10/01 | Permalink |

13th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) announced that the Kazakh opening film The Gift to Stalin sold out online in an impressive record of 1 minute and 30 seconds. Closing film I am Happy took only 7 minutes and 6 seconds to sell its last seat.

The Gift to Stalin is the first Kazakh film to open PIFF. The film is directed by Rustem Abdrashev. The Gift to Stalin celebrates its world premiere at Pusan. The feel-good film promotes the "positive values of love and trust standing above nationality and age".

PIFF's curtain will be draped by the Korean film "I am Happy" by director YOON Jong-chan. The film is based on the original short story Mr. Mandeuk Choi by the late writer LEE Cheong-joon. YOON previously directed "Sorum" and "Blue Swallow".

The record was partly made possible by a more efficient internet sales system which made online booking of tickets more stable. The tickets went on sale through the internet on September 22. 300 tickets of both the opening and clo...| More

Actress Jang Jin-yeong Diagnosed with Cancer

Source | 2008/09/29 | Permalink |

Actress Jang Jin-yeong (34) has been admitted to a hospital after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.

"Jang Jing-yeong has been admitted to a hospital in Seoul for further examination", said her agent from Yedang Entertainment. "We are not sure of what stage she's in, but we heard that her cancer should be curable", they explained.

Jang has starred in movies such as "The Scent of Love" (2003), "Singles" (2003), "Blue Swallow" (2005) and "Between Love and Hate (2006)" ("The Unbearable Lightness of Dating"). She has been in numerous commercials as well, and last October she was the star of the SBS TV drama "Lobbyist"....| More