The Ghost Theater (2006) - 삼거리 극장 (Sam-geo-ri Geuk-jang)

2008/04/19 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

By Nigel D'Sa
Contributing Writer

The 9th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) is nearing, and an impressive line-up of films has been announced for this year's event.

Set in its picturesque namesake city in Jeollabuk-do (province), JIFF runs May 1-9, bringing together innovative and independent films and filmmakers from around the world.

This year's program boasts a record total of 169 films with opening night going to Manda Kunitoshi's The Kiss in its International Premiere.

Japanese writer-turned-director Manda has already gained notice and won prizes at Cannes for his previous films, making this latest work highly anticipated.

JIFF's curtain-closer will be the Korean omnibus film "If You Were Me 4", produced by the National Human Rights Commission.

Each film in the series has a human rights issue as its theme with past concerns ranging from discrimination to forced surgery and bringing together a group of talented directors.

This year's project fe...

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2008/04/16 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Ten Korean features will have their World Premiere at the Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) this spring. Now in it's 9th edition the festival will run May 1st – 9th in the attractive and historical city of Jeonju, in North Jeolla province.

Korean highlights include documentary director KIM Dong-won's latest, "63 Years On", about the 'comfort women' enslaved by the Japanese military in stations across Asia during WW2. The film provides an historical investigation along with interviews with victims still living in Korea, China, and the Philippines. KIM is best known for his 2003 film Repatriation which raised the documentary genre to commercial prominence in South Korea.

In the Korean Cinema on the Move section, presents 10 new independent features mostly by debut directors. Among the most interesting are "Synching Blue" by SEO Won-tae, a director whose shorts films have garnered praise for their visual arrangements. This HD feature is about a man who seeks comfort i...

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2007/08/03 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Between last summer and this summer, a number of musical and music-driven Korean films were released, defining an important new trend towards the genre for local audiences. This month the 3rd Jecheon International Music and Film Festival (JIMFF) showcases that trend, bringing 7 music-themed Korean features to the lakeside event in North Chungcheong province.

Highlighted are last summer's musicals, the kinky high-school comedy Dasepo Naughty Girls ("Dasepo Girl") by Lee Jae-yong in a new Director's Cut version, and "The Ghost Theater", a musical-fantasy by debut director JEON Kye-soo. From Fall '06 are LEE Joon-ik's "Radio Star", an uplifting drama about a fallen rock star (PARK Joong-hoon) who finds fulfillment and fame on the radio, and the "The Fox Family" a full-tilt musical and the feture debut of screenwriter LEE Hyeong-gon.

From the winter of 2007 are two music-themed hits about personal transformation, the extremely successful "200 Pounds Beauty", starring KIM Ah-joon...

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2007/08/02 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Like a movie: The Third Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF) will take place at the breathtaking lakeside city in North Chungcheong Province, Aug. 9-14. / Courtesy of JIMFF

Dive Into Summer Film Festivals at Scenic Places!

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Still wondering where to spend those precious days off? Dive into the ultimate cinema experience by enjoying quality films at scenic getaways. The Ninth Jeongdongjin Independent Film & Video Festival (JIFF9) will screen innovative independent films outdoors at one of the most well-known seaside sites in the country until Aug. 5. The Third Jecheon International Music & Film Festival celebrates melodious movies at the picturesque lakeside city of Jecheon Aug. 9-14.

Co-organized by Gangneung Cinematheque and the Korean Film Archive, the three-day festival explores the creativity and courage of the independent spirit. This year's lineup includes 17 shorts and two full-length feature films, comprising documentary p...

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2007/06/12 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Seven South Korean features and one short film will be presented at this year's 10th anniversary edition of the Shanghai International Film Festival. China's top film event opens June 16th for a nine-day run.

Of the seven features, two have been selected in competition sections. Director LEE Joon-ik's "Radio Star" (2006) is nominated for the Jin Jue Award, while KWON Hyeong-jin's debut feature "For Horowitz" ("My Piano") is nominated for the Asia New Talent Award.

In the Panorama section a variety of genres in Korean film will be showcased including comedy sequel "Mapado 2: Back to the Island", director YOO Ha's gangster-drama "A Dirty Carnival", gothic-cult-musical Night Ballad For "The Ghost Theater", melodrama "Lost in Love" starring SEOL Kyeong-gu, and youthful comedy "Miracle on 1st Street" by YOON Je-Kyoon.

The short film selected is Soeyoun by KIM Jin-man, an environmentally-themed work using animation techniques. Korean star LEE Joon-ki ("The King and the Clown...

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