KWAK's "Cyborg She" to Open Yubari

Director kwak Jae-Yong, known best for his pan-Asian hit "My Sassy Girl" (2001), will present his big-budget sci-fi-rom-com "Cyborg She" as the opening film of the 2008 Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival. The fest, which had been suspended since 2006 when Yubari city ran into financial trouble, re-launches this year with the help of private donations, and will hold its 18th edition, March 19 – 23, on the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan.

KWAK's new film, which he also wrote, is a US$ 8.5 million feature, produced and shot in Japan with a Japanese cast and crew. It stars actress Haruka Ayase, (Crying Out Love in the Center of the World) and actor Keisuke Koide of TV drama Nodame Cantabile. The story involves a beautiful cyborg who appears before a dull university student. Although she likes him she can't feel human emotions and the relationship falters until one day she returns to save his life during an earthquake and in that moment begins to feel human.

KWAK is known to Japanese audiences for "My Sassy Girl" and "Windstruck" (2004), both starring Korean new wave star Jeon Ji-hyeon. The former film won a grand prize at Yubari in 2002 in the Young Fantastic category. The latter film earned an impressive $ 15.2 million in its 2005 release across Japan.

"Cyborg She", produced by Japanese firm Amuse, will be released in both Korea and Japan sometime this summer. Meanwhile, KWAK has another completed film, shot before Cyborg, whose release has been delayed since last summer. "My Mighty Princess", starring Sin Min-ah and On Joo-wan is a rom-com about a beautiful martial arts female prodigy, set in college. Produced by Podo films and distributed by Prime Entertainment, a new release date has yet to be announced.

Nigel D'Sa (KOFIC)