| 'Money' Comes Up Rather Short (Source) |
2009/09/03 |
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Ten rising South Korean filmmakers present seriocomic stories about money matters in the omnibus project "Short! Short! Short! 2009": Show Me the Money.
As much as the opening film for the 10th Jeonju International Film Festival is about money, the tight budget for the project ($5,000 per director) is most palpable. The screaming individuality and experimentalism of each episode compensate, but commercial prospects seem slight and the flick will most likely find a small niche in arthouse cinemas.
The omnibus reel opens with Choi Ik-hwan's one-cut flick "Our Last Words, Live". The "Life Is Cool" director offers a mock home video featuring two despairing young men, who, defrauded, bankrupt and about to get arrested for false charges, try to assert their innocence by recording their last words on tape before committing suicide. But life ― and death ― are often beyond one's control.
In "A Tip for Cigarettes" by Nam Da-jeon, a news rep... |More
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| Indie Culture Redeems Past Glory (Source) |
2009/02/26 |
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
The local film and music industries are complaining of unprecedented slumps prompted by easier access to free downloads on the Internet that preludes the demise of the industries, separate from the global economic downturn.
However, the indie scene is turning the tables. Tens of thousands of people are flocking to theaters to see the low-budget film "Old Partner" everyday, while youngsters are queuing up to attend concerts by indie bands and buying their albums near the area around Hongik University known as Hongdae.
Why now? Partly it seems mainstream culture requires an infusion of new ideas and certainly the Internet has made even fringe culture easily available. But it is more plausible to say that people are eager to consume new and diverse content.
Rise of Indie Culture
Indie is a scene or an entire genre that includes music, movies and other facets of culture. It is characterized by its separation from commercial institutions and ... |More
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| The Fruits of Korean Independent Film Support (Source) |
2007/10/31 |
Consistent support provided for independent films by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) in order to diversify Korean films is bearing various significant results.
First of all, a new venue 'INDIE SPACE' will open in Myeong-dong's Spongehouse (3rd floor of the old Joongang Cinema building). This is the result of a project to develop and promote an independent film theater network to secure screens to show indie films and enliven distribution and production. Films to be shown at INDIE SPACE will focus on independent feature films produced domestically, promising at least 2 weeks of screening, and also on introducing outstanding foreign films. There are also plans for special projects showcasing diverse independent films.
As its first event, an Opening Film Festival is to be held from Nov. 8~21, promoting INDIE SPACE. Films chosen for the festival include "Life Track" by JIN Guang-Hao who received the New Currents award at PIFF, and director YOON Seong-ho's "Milky Way Liberation Fro... |More
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| Who's That Knocking at My Door? Local Release (Source) |
2007/10/23 |
After screening in the Korean Cinema Today – Visions section of the 12th Pusan International Film Festival, "Who's That Knocking at My Door?" became one of the Korean highlights, receiving very positive mentions from both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, the two top US entertainment trade magazines. Premiering at the 8th Jeonju International Film Festival earlier this year, Knocking won the Audience Critics' Award which made it the recipient of the CJ-CGV Releasing-Support Project for Korean Feature Film.
The English title of the film appears to pay homage to Martin Scorcese's first feature film which shares the same title and a similar theme involving rape. The 28 year old director YANG Hae-hoon also wrote the screenplay which revolves around a young loner, Je-hwi, who was tormented by a classmate named Pyo in high school. Now a young adult, Je-hwi begins to open up after meeting Jang-hui, his girlfriend. However, a revenge plot he had hatched against Pyo with a stranger he ... |More
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| [BRIEFLY] 'Dear Rosseta' to go to Cannes (Source) |
2007/05/14 |
"Dear Rosseta", a 10-minute-long film by independent movie director Yang Hae-hoon that details a girl named Jang-Hee fleeing from her father, will compete for the short film award at the 60th Cannes International Film Festival May 16 to 27.
The movie was also a candidate for the Korean Short Film Award at the 8th Jeonju International Film Festival that took place from April 26 to May 4.
Director Yang's first feature film "Who's That Knocking At My Door?" depicting a troubled teenage boy entering adulthood, won the CGV Korean Independent Feature Film Distribution Support Award and the Audience Critics Award at the Jeonju film festival. ... |More
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