The Contact (Movie - 1997)

Jeon Do-yeon Awarded Top French Honor

Source | 2009/10/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Cannes award-winning actress Jeon Do-yeon is being honored by the French government with the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres medal.

The award was established in 1957 by France's Minister of Culture to recognize noteworthy contributors to the arts and literature.

Past recipients include J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, and actors George Clooney, Lee Byeong-heon, Sharon Stone and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Jeon has moved audiences with her passionate performances in numerous films, including "The Contact (1997)", "Happy End (1999)", "Untold Scandal (2003)" and "Secret Sunshine (2007)", and in TV soap operas such as "Lovers in Prague" (2005). With "Secret Sunshine", Jeon won the Best Actress Award at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, gaining worldwide fame.

The medal is presented on Saturday during the 14th Pusan International Film Festival currently being held in Korea's southern port city of Busan....| More

Actress Jeon to Get French Knight Order

Source | 2009/10/08 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The French government will award Korea's highly-acclaimed actress Jeon Do-yeon, with the title of the Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honor, France's highest (Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur), her agency said Thursday.

Launched in 1802 by Napoleon, the Legion of Honor is granted regardless of the nationality of its recipient.

The title recognizes Jeon's contribution to the culture and art fields, especially her efforts to promote Korean cinema in France. She won the Best Actress Award for her leading role in Lee Chang-dong's "Secret Sunshine" at the 60th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in 2007.

The award ceremony will take place at the French Night event on the sideline of the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), which started on Thursday in the nation's largest southern port city.

Jeon spent five years starring in television dramas before achieving instant star status with her film debut opposite Han Seok-kyu in "The Contact". She has established ...| More

Still room for movie theaters in a high-tech world

Source | 2009/07/03 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Trekking out to a movie theater might seem a bit quaint in today's high-tech world, where it's often easier and cheaper to watch films over the Internet or on DVD players and portable video devices.

But there's a distinct - and rather important - difference between viewing films from your couch and catching a new release in a packed theater, according to internationally acclaimed Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

"It is like the difference between listening to Rolling Stones songs by yourself in your house and going to their live concert. The contact with the people is what really generates emotion", Inarritu said June 26 during a press conference to promote the opening of a cinema program at the Prada Transformer at Gyeonghui Palace in downtown Seoul. "I think that cinema is a communal experience. The energy of the room and the feeling that people in the room are connected are not something you can get watching a film on a TV or DVD in your house".

Inarritu and U....| More

[Talk of the town] Big names to open Jeonju fest

Source | 2009/04/17 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Actors Kim Tae-woo, 38, and Lee Tae-ran, 34, were selected to host the opening ceremony at this year's Jeonju International Film Festival. The JIFF, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, will run from April 30 to May 8 this year.

Kim is best known for his roles in movies such as "The Contact" (1997), "JSA - Joint Security Area" (2000) and "The Naked Kitchen" (2009).

Lee has featured in TV dramas such as "Famous Princesses". In 2007, she made her film debut as the star of "Love Exposure".

"Kim is one of those actors who can really own a movie, whether it's commercial or experimental", Min Byung-lock, JIFF's festival director, remarked in a press release.

Min said that he is looking forward to Lee's future work. "I can feel [Lee's] passion and strength when she is on the screen", he said.

The opening ceremony will take place at Sori Arts Center's Moak Hall in Jeonju, North Jeolla, at 6:30 p.m.

The event will also include a screening of the opening film "Short! Sho...| More

Festival Dates and Entry Information of 14th Pusan International Film Festival

Source | 2009/02/03 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Entering it's 14th year, Pusan International Film Festival welcomes the talented filmmakers from around the world Pusan International Film Festival announced that the 14th edition of festival will be held from Oct 8th to 16th, 2009.

Also, Pusan International Film Festival has set this year's deadlines of submitting films for official programs as well as of Asian Cinema Fund(ACF), Asian Film Academy(AFA), and Pusan Promotion Plan(PPP).

The below is the detailed information for each.
Film submissions for PIFF2009

1. Eligibility
Pusan International Film Festival accepts features films, documentaries, short films and animation.

Regarding the festival screening format, 35mm, 16mm, HD (only 24p), Digital Beta, Betacam and Digital Video (either PAL or NTSC) are acceptable. However, we do not accept DVC PRO, DVD, and non-24p HD in any case.

The film has to be produced no earlier than Oct 2008. The festival program gives priority to world or international premiere screenings an...| More