| 2010 Korean Cinema Lineup (Source) |
2009/12/27 |
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
The past year represented hope and revitalization for Korean cinema. While problems such as piracy linger on, the forecast for 2010 cinema appears promising with diverse projects in the making.
Cineastes are finding inspiration from the past and are bringing remakes of Korean classics as well as unique period movies. Big action flicks are gearing up for the 60th anniversary of the Korean War (1950-53) while much-anticipated sequels will cater to fans. Furthermore, a couple of Hollywood projects will head here for shoots.
2009 in Review
Both commercial blockbusters and unique indie films pulled the industry out of a three-year slump and cineastes made their mark near and far.
Kim Choung-ryoul's documentary "Old Partner" rewrote box-office history for the genre, while Yang Ik-joon's "Breathless" made waves by sweeping almost two dozen prizes at international festivals. Park Chan-ok's low-budget drama "Paju" was well-received among critics an... |More
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| 13th Director's Cut Awards Winners Announced (Source) |
2009/12/24 |
| 240 Korean directors have picked the best director, movie and actors for 2009. Most notably, PARK Chan-wook picked up the best director award for the Cannes winning "Thirst". Previous to this he had won the award for "JSA - Joint Security Area" (2000), "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" (2002) and "Old Boy" (2004). The long awaited "Thirst", as well as being eagerly received in Korea, played at the Fantasia Film Festival in Toronto and also had a limited U.S. release. For his performance in "Thirst", the ever present and hardest-working Korean actor SONG Kang-ho picked up his fifth actor of the year award. Previously he had won the award for, "Memories of Murder" (2003), "The Host" (2006), "Secret Sunshine" and "JSA - Joint Security Area" (2000) also directed by PARK Chan-wook. The best actress award went to KIM Hye-ja, the television drama acting stalwart for her passionately eccentric portrayal of a 'Mother - 2009' fighting for the rights of her son in BONG Joon-ho's film of the sam... |More
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| Park Chan-wook Picked Best Director (Source) |
2009/12/17 |
By Cho Jae-hyon
Staff Reporter
Korean directors picked Park Chan-wook, for his dark vampire thriller "Thirst" (Bakjwi), as the Best Director at the 12th Director's Cut Awards 2009, Thursday.
The Korea Film Director's Network awarded Best Actor to Song Kang-ho in recognition of his exceptional performance in "Thirst". Song played the lead role of a priest who, after receiving a mysterious blood transfusion, turns into a ravenous vampire.
The Best Actress award went to veteran actress Kim Hye-ja who played a major role in Bong Joon-ho's "Mother".She performed a remarkable role in the movie, playing a distraught mother who struggled to prove the innocence of her son who was framed for a neighbor's death.
Director-actor-producer Yang Ik-joon won the Independent Movie Director Award with his internationally-acclaimed "Breathless", a semi-indie flick about a victim of domestic violence who grows up to become an aggressive brute.
It marks the fourth time Park has won the honor... |More
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| Movies to Watch in 2010 (Source) |
2009/12/07 |
The film industry is already preparing for next year. Many renowned filmmakers have returned to Korea to produce movies about war and sequels to hit movies.
Director Im Kwon-taek will produce his 101st movie "Scooping Up The Moonlight". Directors Kim Tae-yong and Im Sang-soo will produce remakes of "Late Autumn" by Lee Man-hee and "The Housemaid" of Kim Ki-young, respectively. Films about war will also be introduced to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.
◇The return of maestros
"Scooping Up The Moonlight", which will be produced under the auspices of the Jeonju City government, is Im Kwon-taek's first film to be shot with digital cameras. It is a story about seventh-grade public servant Jong-ho, who wants to become a fifth-grade official. To achieve his dream, he takes charge of the traditional Korean paper "hanji" at the municipal government and becomes completely mesmerized by it. Jong-ho is played by actor Park Joong-hoon, who will appear in a Lim productio... |More
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| Mother KIM Hye-ja crowned internationally again (Source) |
2009/12/04 |
KIM Hye-ja triumphed again, this time she won the best actress award at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA). APSA bestowed her the honor for her performance in BONG Joon-ho's "Mother - 2009", the film which was showered with critical acclaim at Festival de Cannes.
"A Brand New Life" won APSA's best children's feature film's award. The tale of an adoptee girl is directed by Korean-French adoptee Ounie Lecomte and is produced by LEE Chang-dong. (Director of "Peppermint Candy", "Oasis", and "Secret Sunshine")
Director BAEK Seung-bin received the NETPAC award for "Members of the Funeral". Multi-awarded YANG Ik-joonepicked up another honor in the form of a high commendation for his acting in "Breathless", the film he also wrote, directed, and produced.
KIM was recently crowned best actress by China's major film awards institute China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival as well. Busan Critic's best actress award also went to KIM for her debut feature film role.
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