On the Occasion of Remembering the Turning Gate (Movie - 2001)

PiFan Launches 2 New Awards

Source | 2009/07/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The 13th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival, taking place July 16 – 26, has announced the launch of 2 new awards this year, the NETPAC and the Fujifilm Eterna award. Both awards will be presided over by juries, with the former going to an Asian film and the latter to a Korean film.

The NETPAC award will be given out to the best Asian film in the 'Off the Fantastic' section which introduces new offbeat genre films from throughout Asia. PiFan has created the Fujifilm Eterna Award for the purpose of promoting Korean independent feature films. As a prize, 8000ft of Fujifilm Eterna will be awarded to the best Korean independent feature film.

Award-winners will be announced July 23 at the Closing Night Ceremony, although screenings will continue until the 26th. Heading this year's Puchon Choice Jury which presents awards in five categories is Tony Rayns, a British specialist in Asian cinema, festival programmer and contributor to Sight and Sounds magazine.

Acclaimed Ko...| More

HONG Sang-soo casts MOON So-ri

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

2002 Venice Film Festival's Best actress winner MOON So-ri will challenge herself this time with a leading role in director HONG Sang-soo's next project. Details about HONG's film are sparse. The celebrated indie director is known for improvisation, writing and rewriting while filming.
 
KIM Sang-kyeong has been cast in the male leading role. It will be KIM's third film with HONG after "On the Occasion of Remembering the Turning Gate" in 2002, and "Tale of Cinema" in 2005. KIM also worked with directors like BONG Joon-ho ("Memories of Murder") and KIM Ji-hoon ("May 18").
 
HONG's latest feature film "Like You Know it All" was invited by Festival de Cannes. HONG's films are conveted by film festivals around the world. He garnered acclaim from his first films "The Day a Pig Fell into a Well" and "The Power of Kangwon Province" on.
 
MOON So-ri is well known for her acting skills which attracted LIM Soon-rye ("Forever the Moment") and KIM Tae-yong ("Family Ties" - "The Birth of a Fa...| More

"May 18" Tops 7 Million Admissions

Source | 2007/09/04 | 0 comments | Permalink |

According to the latest box office, historical-tragedy "May 18", has surpassed 7 million ticket sales as of September 3, making it the highest grossing Korean-language film of the year. The Korean-produced but English-language D-War is thus far the overall box office champion of 2007. "May 18" is directed by KIM Ji-hoon, previously responsible for "Mokpo, Gangster's Paradise" (2005).

On "May 18", 1980 the government under then military general CHUN Doo-hwan, sent in troops to put down a civilian uprising. The repressive policies of general CHUN, who had ordered the shut down of universities, outlawed protests, censored the press, and arrested his political opposition, resulted in the Gwangju Uprising. Troops entered the city and fired into the crowds killing hundreds of civilians.

While several films have dealt with issues surrounding the Gwangju Massacre, including "The Old Garden" (2006), "Peppermint Candy" (1999), and "A Petal" (1995), "May 18" is the first to directly fo...| More

"May 18th" to Open July 26th

Source | 2007/06/26 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Dealing with the events leading up to one of the tragedies in Korean history known as the Gwangju Massacre, "May 18th", directed by KIM Ji-hoon, will be the second big-budget historical film released this year following "Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007", released earlier this month.

On May 18th, 1980 the government under then military general CHUN Doo-hwan, sent in troops to put down a civilian uprising. The repressive policies of general CHUN, who had ordered the shut down of universities, outlawed protests, censored the press, and arrested his political opposition, resulted in the Gwangju Uprising. Troops entered the city and fired into the crowds killing hundreds of civilians.

While several films have dealt with issues surrounding the Gwangju Massacre, including "The Old Garden" (2006), "Peppermint Candy" (1999), and "A Petal" (1995), May 18th is the first to directly focus on the actual events leading up to that tragic day as experienced by Gwangju residents. The film is about...| More

Feature Film Directorial Debut of Cannes Residence Program Selectee

Source | 2007/06/19 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Female Korean directors are in short supply, but their ranks gained a valuable addition with director KIM Hee-jung's debut feature film. "The Wonder Years" (YeolSesal, Sooa) depicts a high school girl who is unsatisfied with her life and mother, and creates an alternative take on her life.

KIM's short films got her noticed by the renowned Cannes Residence Program which selected her for their 2005 edition. There she developed "The Wonder Years", her first feature film.

The film premiered last week and offers an alternative for the big-budget summer fare. "The Wonder years" opened at ten in last weekend's box office.

Teenage actor LEE Se-yeong plays the protagonist girl. Her credentials include "Lovely Rivals" and "When I Turned Nine". The mother is played by CHOO Sang-mi ("On the Occasion of Remembering the Turning Gate", "A Smile"").

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