By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Acclaimed Korean director
Park Chan-ok was named "Female Cineaste of the Year" by an organization of female film professionals.
Park, who directed
"Paju", received the award Tuesday during a ceremony of the organization Women in Film Korea, held at Cine Cube in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Women in Film Korea is a non-profit organization of female professionals working in the film industry.
"Paju", which premiered at the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) in October to critical acclaim, won the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) Award there.
The film was also recently selected to open the 39th International Film Festival Rotterdam in January, the first time a Korean film has been selected for the honor.
"Paju", starring
Lee Seon-gyoon and
Seo Woo, is a drama about a complicated relationship between young girl and her brother-in-law.
Meanwhile, actress
Kim Hye-ja received the Best Actress award from the organization for her portrayal of a mother fighting to clear the name of her son in
Bong Joon-ho's
"Mother - 2009". Kim had recently won the award for best actress at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, China Golden Rooster Awards and Hundred Flowers Film Festival.
Actress Do Geum-bong, who died in June at the age of 78, received a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award. Do was a famous actress in the 1950s and '60s, and made more than 283 films in her career.
