Driving With My Wife's Lover (Movie - 2006)

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

Manilla's Korean Film Festival Kicks Off

Source | 2009/10/01 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Manilla's 2009 Korean Film Festival opened Sept 23, offering free screenings to the public during its one week run. Sponsored by the Korean Embassy and held at Shangri-La Plaza, the fest showcases seven Korean features and celebrates the "Philippines-Republic of Korea Friendship Year".

The program features some of the most artistically accomplished films in Korean cinema over the last 9 years, including renowned and emerging directors. Korean TV dramas are already popular in the Philippines, but audiences have yet to be exposed to Korean feature filmmaking.

The seven films in the program are "Old Boy" (PARK Chan-wook), "Barking Dogs Never Bite" (BONG Joon-ho), "Sa-Kwa" (KANG Yi-kwan), "Beyond the Years" (IM Kwon-taek), "The Show Must Go On" (HAN Jae-rim), "Forbidden Quest" (KIM Dae-woo) and "Driving with My Wife's Lover" (KIM Tae-sik).

Nigel D'Sa (KOFIC)...| More

Korean Films Premiering at 14th Pusan Fest

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

A number of high-profile Korean features will have their World Premiere at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) including opening film "Good Morning President" by writer-director JANG Jin. It stars top Korean actor JANG Dong-gun, who is expected to greet the opening night crowd when the fest kick offs October 8 for a 9-day run.

Making it's Gala World Premiere is "The Fair Love" by director SHIN Yeon-shick, a drama starring veteran lead AHN SEONG-ki about an unstoppable romance between an old bachelor in his 50s and a college girl in her 20s. Also in the Gala program is "In My End Is My Beginning" by MIN Gyoo-dong, the director of "All for Love" ("My Lovely Week", 2005) and "Antique" (2008). The new film stars UHM Jung-hwa and KIM Hyo-jin and is an extension of MIN's contribution to the omnibus feature "Five Senses of Eros", released earlier this year.

Another highlight is the return of award-winning director SONG Il-gon ("The Magicians", "A Feather"), who will pr...| More

Daytime Drinking North American Rights Sold

Source | 2008/10/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

In what can be seen as a breakthrough for independent Korean cinema, local sales outfit Fine Cut sold all North American rights to NOH Young-seok's "Daytime Drinking" during the Asian Film Market (Oct. 3 – 6) at the Pusan International Film Festival.

Japan's Eleven Arts signed the title and plans to release it in up to 30 cities across the US and Canada. Noh's film recently screened in Toronto, Locarno where it won special mention and the NETPAC award, and Jeonju where it won the JJ Star Korean Cinema Award.

The low-budget film, made for US$ 10,000, has already recouped its initial investment in festival prize money. The film has yet to receive a domestic release.

Also during PIFF's Market, Korea's Mirovision sold remake rights to KIM Tae-sik's 2007 feature "Driving With My Wife's Lover" to US production company Circle of Confusion. Mirovision was highly active during the fest, generating interest in its horror title "Death Bell" as well as announcing a project it plans t...| More

The parlous state of the movie industry

Source | 2008/10/09 | 0 comments | 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