| BAE Doona in Koreeda film (Source) |
2008/10/10 |
Renowned Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda told reporters at Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) that he will work with actress BAE Doona on his next project. Koreeda said that he highly regards the Korean actress and that he is a fan. Koreeda watched all her films and named "Barking Dogs Never Bite", "Take Care of My Cat", and "The Host".
Koreeda praised BAE for her acting and comedy skills, rather than being just a pretty face, to motivate his choice for BAE in a leading role in his fantasy melodrama with touches of comedy. The story will be about a non-human form of life which learns the language and emotions like love while living among humans.
Korean film company Barunson Entertainment is also involved in the project. According to Barunson, the project has no confirmed title as yet and that more details about the project are still pending. The film is scheduled to start filming in December.
BAE previously played in the Japanese film Linda Linda Linda (Nobuhiro Yamas... |More
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| Women's Film Festival in Seoul Turns 10 (Source) |
2008/03/13 |
The Women's Film Festival in Seoul (WFFIS) celebrates its 10th edition this year with a kick-off ceremony April 10th featuring an HD omnibus as its opener. Called Ten Ten, the movie features six 15 minute short films from five Korean female filmmakers (BYEON Yeong-joo, LEE Soo-yeon, JANG Hee-seon, LIM Sung-min, Helen Lee) and one German female director (Ulrike OTTINGER).
Running until April 18, WFFIS will screen a record 141 films from 30 countries under its banner motto "See the World through Women's Eyes". New this year, however, is a section titled Open Cinema in which feminist films by male directors will also be screened. Other sections of interest include Politics of the Body, which looks at how women's bodies are depicted and exploited, and the Fantastic Female Movie section, which highlights the imaginative side of the female psyche.
Festival organizer have named Korean director LIM Soon-rye recipient of its first Park Nam-ok Award for outstanding accomplishment. ... |More
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| SONG Il-gon Horror to Shoot this Spring (Source) |
2008/01/09 |
Director SONG Il-gon is in pre-production on his latest project, an historical horror set in the Joseon Dynasty. The film is being budgeted at around US$4 million and is titled Sahwa – meaning 'royal massacre'. No word on who will star in the feature and casting is currently ongoing.
The production company behind the film is Masulpiri Co. which produced "Family Matters" (2006), "A Tale of Two Sisters" (2003), and JEONG Jae-eun's "Take Care of My Cat" (2001).
"Sahwa" is about a bloody power game between rival families. When the Park family massacres the Shin family, and takes the throne, a child, Wan, is born to them that very same night of the killings. Seven years later, an attack on the king's family leaves everyone but young Wan dead. Wan grows deadly ill, and the king tries to save him but curses, strange happenings, and mysterious murders draw nearer.
The film will be SONG's fourth feature, following the critical success of "The Magicians" (2006), "Feathers in t... |More
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| KOFIC and UK Film Council Announce Deal (Source) |
2007/10/17 |
In an important pact between the two countries, the UK Film Council and its Korean counterpart KOFIC signed a Co-Distribution Agreement during this year's Pusan International Film Festival. Beginning in November 2007, distributors of UK and Korean films will be eligible for print and advertising support in each other's territories.
The reciprocal agreement is designed to diversify the range of films available to UK and Korean audiences by supporting distribution and promotion. KOFIC will create a US$200 000 fund to support prints and advertising costs of UK films distributed in Korea over a two year period. The UK Film Council will reciprocate with the same level of support for Korean titles.
The first two years of agreement will allow the two countries to exchange data and measure the market potential within each other's territories. Korea currently has the fifth largest theatrical market in the world and one that is still growing, making it a highly sought after export ... |More
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| "May 18" Tops 7 Million Admissions (Source) |
2007/09/04 |
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
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