So Ji-sub, Kong Hyo-jin Receive 'Rising Star' Award

Actor So Ji-sub and actress Kong Hyo-jin received the Rising Star Asia Award at the New York Asian Film Festival on June 24. The awarding ceremony was co-organized by the New York Asian Film Festival and the U.S. film industry magazine Hollywood Reporter at the IFC Center. The event also marked the 30th anniversary of the New York Korean Culture Center. In the photos, So and Kong are shown at a news conference after the award ceremony.

Kong, who became the first recipient of the award, received the Best Leading Actress award in Korea for her role in the movie "Crush and Blush", while So received the New Actor award at the Blue Dragon Festival for his role in the movie "Rough Cut".

The award ceremony was attended by ethnic Koreans living in the U.S., film industry representatives and journalists from renowned U.S. and Asian media outlets such as Hollywood Reporter. A ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the Korean Culture Center and the Korean Film Night were also held on the sidelines of the event.

Kong said she was honored to become the first to receive an award at a film festival that was dedicated to Asian films and pledged to do her best as an actress. So also extended his gratitude for the award and attributed his feat to the production team and movie fans.

The New York Asian Film Festival, which marks its eighth anniversary this year, will be held through July 5 at the IFC Center and Japan Society. Korean movies to be screened at the festival include "Rough Cut", Crush and Blush", "Antique" and "Go Go 70s". Famous movies from China, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong will also be shown.

The Korean Culture Center will hold a festival of Korean short films on June 26 and 27 to showcase 10 short films that had received awards at the Mise-en-scene Short Film Festival, which is highly regarded in Korea.