Wednesday, October 10, 2012

KCN: BIFF Opens, Korean Film Fests Galore, Pieta to Play US (10/04-10/10, 2012)

The 17th Busan International Film Festival is in full swing while other Korean film fests get ready to unspool their programs and Pieta acquires US distribution.

KOREAN CINEMA NEWS

Discuss the Future of Asian Film
Asian Film Policy Forum 2012, Asia’s only film policy where various Asian countries get together to discuss film policies and aim at development of Asian film industry through improvement of systems, and the 12th Busan International Film Commission and Film Industry Expo, where information about location shooting of each country and up-to-date video technology are available, will be held at Bexco Haeundae in Busan from October 8th to 11th. (KoBiz, October 9, 2012)

Drafthouse Acquires Kim Ki-Duk’s Pieta
The distribution unit of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has picked up all North American rights to the 2012 Golden Lion winning film, it was announced. The first Korean movie to ever win the top prize at the Venice International Film Festival, Pietà profiles the relationship between a loan shark and the woman who claims to be his long-lost mother. (Deadline, October 9, 2012)

London Korean Film Festival 2012 Schedule
Paul Quinn over at Hangul Celluloid gives us the lowdown on the upcoming London Korean Film Festival. Full schedule and program available.
(Hangul Celluloid, October 9, 2012)

More Chances Open to ‘Small Films’?
So called the ‘Pieta Act’, focusing on support for foundation of independent films’ exclusive screens to secure more chances for independent and artistic films to meet audiences, will be proposed. (KoBiz, October 9, 2012)

The Duumvirate of the BIFF
Actors Lee Byung-hun, Ryu Seung-ryong and Jang Kwang as well as the director Choo Chang-min of Masquerade, which collected 8.2 million viewers in 25 days since the release, heated up the city of Busan on October 6th. (KoBiz, October 8, 2012)

Landing of a Korean Film in Atlanta
The very first Atlanta Korean Film Festival is being held in Atlanta, the biggest city in the state of Georgia. With the opening on October 5, from Oct. 6-12, 17 Korean films including My Way, As One, Helpless are to be screened in cities like Atlanta, Sandy Springs and Athens. As the opening film, Masquerade currently making a hit in Korea has been chosen. (KoBiz, October 8, 2012)

Busan 2012: Korean Film Report Stirs Debate
A summary report of the Korean film industry submitted to South Korea’s National Assembly last week by the Korea Film Council contained rare surveys on the country’s film distribution system by local film professionals. In the report — part of the mandatory documents for an annual audit hearing held every fall — 86.6% of 492 film professionals said Korean multiplex theater owners are “unfair” in selecting films between their affiliates and other producers. (The Hollywood Reporter, October 7, 2012)

The Hollywood Reporter caught up with the edgy South Korean auteur and discussed his Oscar chances and the alternate ending to his controversial BIFF entry. (The Hollywood Reporter, October 7, 2012)

Men Are Meant to Be Fancier in Autumn
Autumn is often said to be the ‘masculine season’. New films with variety and bountiful fun factors are ready to be released in October. Here are 4 films with leading actors who will catch your attention. Lee Je-hoon is to show off his new charm in Ghost Sweepers. So Ji-sub, to fascinate you with fabulous action will play a role of A Company Man. As he never has, Ryoo Seung-bum won’t let you down in Perfect Number. Forget about Song Joong-ki until yesterday. now he is A Werewolf Boy. (KoBiz, October 5, 2012)

University to Host the Country's First Independent Korean Film Festival
“Gangnam Style,” with its catchy beats and infectious dance moves, has thrust Korean pop culture into mainstream global society. But for those weary of the electro K-pop hit who may be interested in discovering the obscure side of Korean entertainment, the University is hosting the first ever Independent Korean Film Festival in the United States. (The Michigan Daily, October 5, 2012)

A New Record is put into Lee Byung-hun’s Filmography
Masquerade has attracted over 7 million moviegoers to theater by October 3rd. This record was made the day after it had sold 6 million tickets and 21 days after it was released. It was possible because the film dominated screens during the Chuseok holidays and the National foundation Day of Korea. (KoBiz, October 5, 2012)

New History Made
The Thieves finally topped Korean box office. By drawing 13,029,393 viewers to theaters, The Thieves beat The Host, the previous title holder that was loved by 13,019,740 viewers in 2006. While it took 106 days for The Host to sell 13,019,740 tickets, The Thieves broke that record in 70 days, which shows how well selling it has been. Besides that it achieved a new record in 6 years, people are curious what final score The Thieves will end up with. (KoBiz, October 5, 2012)

Busan 2012: Can Korean Film Go Global on Psy's Coattails?
With the rise of pop star Psy and his U.K. and U.S. chart-topping "Gangnam Style" number, Korean popular culture is again on the cusp of an international breakthrough – and the country’s filmmakers are now hoping for a similar westward shift in the export of their works. (The Hollywood Reporter, October 5, 2012)

Spectacular opening of the 17th Busan International Film Festival
The 17th Busan International Film Festival with the theme ‘Diversity of Asian Films’ has opened on October 4. The opening ceremony was held at the outdoor stage of BIFF Square from 7 pm with the host, Korean actor Ahn Sung-ki and the hostess Chninese actress Tang Wei. Prior to the opening, a number of Korean wave celebrities Jung Woo-sung, Lee Byung-hun, Yoo Ji-tae and many other stars from all over Asia walked the red carpet amid the applause of the audiences and heated up the atmosphere. (KoBiz, October 5, 2012)

Colloquium Explores Korean Film Theory
Four scholars who specialize in Korean film and media participated in a colloquium this Monday titled “Film Theory and National Publics in Divided Korea.” Michelle Cho, postdoctoral fellow in international humanities, organized the colloquium as a follow-up to a large international conference last week at the University of Michigan. “I really wanted to frame a conversation for Brown as well,” Cho said. (The Brown Daily Herald, October 4, 2012)

Meet Korean Films in Tokyo
‘Korean Cinema Week 2012’, which has established as a Korean film festival in Japan, will be held at Hanmadang Hall located on the 2nd floor of Korean Cultural Center in Tokyo for 4 days from October 20th to 23rd. Korean Cinema Week is an annual Korean film festival co-hosted by Korean Cultural Center of Korean Embassy in Japan and the Tokyo International Film Festival. (KoBiz, October 4, 2012)

South Korea Invites Northern Neighbour to Film Festival
A South Korean film festival that is among Asia's showcase cinematic events will screen a North Korean film for the first time in almost a decade as well as six classic Afghan movies that were hidden in a wall to save them from the Taliban. (The Guardian, October 3, 2012)

First-Ever Atlanta Korean Film Festival Kicks Off This Friday
Korean cinema has truly blossomed in the past ten years, but it's a renaissance that may not be readily apparent to the average Atlanta movie buff. Outside of the screening of the occasional breakout hit like the 2006 monster movie The Host, it's difficult for Atlanta cinema-goers to get a comprehensive look at the new Korean cinema, which is spread across a broad range of genres and styles. (Creative Loafing, October 3, 2012)


POSTERS

Mai Ratima (BIFF Poster)


BOX OFFICE


(Modern Korean Cinema, October 7, 2012)


Korean Cinema News is a weekly feature which provides wide-ranging news coverage on Korean cinema, including but not limited to: features; festival news; interviews; industry news; trailers; posters; and box office. It appears every Wednesday morning (Korean Standard Time) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Korean ReviewsReviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site. 

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