Showing posts with label Bong Joon-ho. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bong Joon-ho. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Bong Joon-ho to Set Sail as Producer with Sea Fog, Song Joong-ki in Talks to Star
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Korean Cinema News (07/12-07/18, 2012)
PiFan is upon us and once it gets underway tomorrow I dare say I won't have time for anything else. This means that there will be no Korean Cinema News next week but don't worry I'll double the week after the fest!
PIFAN
Final two previews from James Marsh and I over at Twitch:
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Korean Cinema News (03/01-03/07, 2012)
A very busy week for Korean cinema news with lots of big announcements, but first and foremost we are in the midst of the brilliant Korean Blogathon, the links of which can be found below.
In other news I also had the great fortune of bumping into Bong Joon-ho at London Luton Airport last Thursday on my way to the East Winds Symposium + Festival and he told me he was in town to meet some actors for Snow Piercer. So things seem to be heating up for that very exciting project which is set to start production in a few weeks.
Enjoy!
Korean Film Festival in Australia (KOFFIA) Expands to Brisbane in 2012
KOFFIA is heading to Brisbane this September, so spread the word! 3 years, 3 cities, 3 times the fun! No word on the line-up yet, but Sydney can certainly look forward to a full calendar of Korean films in the meantime. The second season of the Korean Cultural Office’s Cinema on the Park has also launched. (The Reel Bits, February 28, 2012)
Nameless Gangster Emerging as Hottest Korean Movie of the Year
Nameless Gangster has attracted over 4 million spectators in just 26 days of its release, emerging as the first film to sell so many tickets in such a short time this year. It achieved the feat on Monday. The success of Nameless Gangster is even more notable as it was achieved in February, considered the low season for movies, and is rated R, excluding younger viewers and families. (The Chosun Ilbo, February 29, 2012)
From the Makers of Chawz Comes New Korean Supernatural Thriller
In The Fortune Tellers, bespectacled cutie Kang Ye-won heads to a remote village where a grand exorcism is about to take place. Chawz was a bit overly long but it did a great job balancing comedy, pathos, and wild creature sequences so we should expect great things from The Fortune Tellers. From these pictures, it certainly looks like it’ll be a lot of fun. The film opens in South Korea later this year. (City on Fire, March 2, 2012)
Gorilla to Play Baseball in Korean Sports Comedy Mr. Go
Filming has already begun for Mr Go 3D, a sports comedy based on a popular manhwa (Korean comic) by Heo Yeong-man - his other works has also been adapted for Le Grand Chef. The story is about a gorilla from a Chinese circus that is trained to play professional baseball in Korea. Budgeted at $20 million, the ambitious live action film is being shot in stereoscopic 3-D and will utilize a combination of motion capture performances and digital effects à la Rise of the Planet of the Apes. (Twitch, March 6, 2012)
So Ji-sub Stars in Korean Hitman Thriller A Company Man
Korean heartthrob So Ji-Sub turned heads around the world with his role in 2008's Rough Cut. Already a star of television dramas, Rough Cut put So back on the map in Korea after a couple years away while he did his mandatory military service and he has been very selective with his roles since, appearing in big budget TV drama Cain and Abel and Chinese feature Sophie's Revenge. And soon he will be back on the big screen at home thanks to his lead part in Lim Sang-yoon's A Company Man. (Twitch, March 6, 2012)
Busan Plans for New Studio Complex
In other news I also had the great fortune of bumping into Bong Joon-ho at London Luton Airport last Thursday on my way to the East Winds Symposium + Festival and he told me he was in town to meet some actors for Snow Piercer. So things seem to be heating up for that very exciting project which is set to start production in a few weeks.
Enjoy!
KOREAN CINEMA NEWS
Outside of Josh Brolin the casting has not come particularly quick or easy for the Spike Lee directed remake of Oldboy. For the female lead both Rooney Mara and Mia Wasikowska have been offered and rejected the part and Twitch has now learned that the role of Marie has been offered to Elizabeth Olsen. (Twitch, February 28, 2012)
KOFFIA is heading to Brisbane this September, so spread the word! 3 years, 3 cities, 3 times the fun! No word on the line-up yet, but Sydney can certainly look forward to a full calendar of Korean films in the meantime. The second season of the Korean Cultural Office’s Cinema on the Park has also launched. (The Reel Bits, February 28, 2012)
Nameless Gangster has attracted over 4 million spectators in just 26 days of its release, emerging as the first film to sell so many tickets in such a short time this year. It achieved the feat on Monday. The success of Nameless Gangster is even more notable as it was achieved in February, considered the low season for movies, and is rated R, excluding younger viewers and families. (The Chosun Ilbo, February 29, 2012)
In The Fortune Tellers, bespectacled cutie Kang Ye-won heads to a remote village where a grand exorcism is about to take place. Chawz was a bit overly long but it did a great job balancing comedy, pathos, and wild creature sequences so we should expect great things from The Fortune Tellers. From these pictures, it certainly looks like it’ll be a lot of fun. The film opens in South Korea later this year. (City on Fire, March 2, 2012)
Filming has already begun for Mr Go 3D, a sports comedy based on a popular manhwa (Korean comic) by Heo Yeong-man - his other works has also been adapted for Le Grand Chef. The story is about a gorilla from a Chinese circus that is trained to play professional baseball in Korea. Budgeted at $20 million, the ambitious live action film is being shot in stereoscopic 3-D and will utilize a combination of motion capture performances and digital effects à la Rise of the Planet of the Apes. (Twitch, March 6, 2012)
Korean heartthrob So Ji-Sub turned heads around the world with his role in 2008's Rough Cut. Already a star of television dramas, Rough Cut put So back on the map in Korea after a couple years away while he did his mandatory military service and he has been very selective with his roles since, appearing in big budget TV drama Cain and Abel and Chinese feature Sophie's Revenge. And soon he will be back on the big screen at home thanks to his lead part in Lim Sang-yoon's A Company Man. (Twitch, March 6, 2012)
Busan, the South Korean city that is already home to one of Asia's leading film festivals, has moved forward with its plans to build a world-class film studio. The KOFIC facility would be the second set of new studios to be built in the city, after the Busan Film Commission's on-going redevelopment project. Late last month the city authorities signed an agreement with the Korean Film Council, (KOFIC) that is expected to see the two bodies jointly finance the new studios. (Film Business Asia, March 7, 2012)
Quirky New Film Makes the Most of a Hairy Mess
Love Fiction, the new film by Jeon Kye-su, has a quirky element that is generating a buzz on the Internet: armpit hair. Since before the film’s release on Wednesday, the phrase has become one of the top searches on major Web portals. But there’s more to this film than that. The Korea JoongAng Daily recently caught up with Jeon and talked with him about his insightful and unconventional romantic comedy. (The Joong Ang Daily, March 2, 2012)
Kim Min-hee Anything But Helpless in New Movie Role
Actress Kim Min-hee, who stars in the film Helpless, which is scheduled to be released next Thursday, fell in love with the movie as soon as she read the script. "I love films about characters with checkered lives, so I thought this role would give me a chance to show what I am capable of as an actress because it fits my style," she said. (The Chosun Ilbo, March 3, 2012)
Interview with Fox International Production Creative Executive Paul Huh
Will this be a source of new energy for the Korean film industry, or a new era in which it will have to compete with Hollywood’s studio system in making Korean-language films? Fox International Production (FIP), part of the 20th Century Fox Entertainment group, has declared it is officially entering the Korean film production market. Dohoon Kim met with FIP’s Korean Creative Executive Paul Huh to talk about their plans. After studying finance in New York, Huh started working in the Korean film industry first at MK Pictures's international sales team and later became a producer. (KoBiZ, March 6, 2012)
Doomsday Book
Over My Dead Body
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 (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site.
To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
INTERVIEWS
Love Fiction, the new film by Jeon Kye-su, has a quirky element that is generating a buzz on the Internet: armpit hair. Since before the film’s release on Wednesday, the phrase has become one of the top searches on major Web portals. But there’s more to this film than that. The Korea JoongAng Daily recently caught up with Jeon and talked with him about his insightful and unconventional romantic comedy. (The Joong Ang Daily, March 2, 2012)
Actress Kim Min-hee, who stars in the film Helpless, which is scheduled to be released next Thursday, fell in love with the movie as soon as she read the script. "I love films about characters with checkered lives, so I thought this role would give me a chance to show what I am capable of as an actress because it fits my style," she said. (The Chosun Ilbo, March 3, 2012)
Will this be a source of new energy for the Korean film industry, or a new era in which it will have to compete with Hollywood’s studio system in making Korean-language films? Fox International Production (FIP), part of the 20th Century Fox Entertainment group, has declared it is officially entering the Korean film production market. Dohoon Kim met with FIP’s Korean Creative Executive Paul Huh to talk about their plans. After studying finance in New York, Huh started working in the Korean film industry first at MK Pictures's international sales team and later became a producer. (KoBiZ, March 6, 2012)
TRAILERS
Doomsday Book
Over My Dead Body
BOX OFFICE
(Modern Korean Cinema, March 5, 2012)
To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Korean Cinema News (01/19-01/25, 2012)
More casting news for Snow Piercer this week as Jamie Bell and John Hurt are added (though MKC originally reported the latter a few weeks ago). A number of great features this week including one from VCinema (a site to which I contribute). Another big piece of news is the status of Korean films at the local box office which broke the 50% mark last year, more on this in the box office section. Finally a new section detailing Upcoming Releases of Korean films (which can be found in the above tabs) has been added to MKC and will be updated regularly.
The Celluloid Traveler: In Search of The Host on the Han River
The Han River splits the city of Seoul neatly in two. North of the river lies the city’s past: huge, stately palaces; winding neighborhoods full of handsome hanok (traditional Korean houses); and monolithic gates that mark where defensive walls once stood. South of the Han is Seoul’s future: Yeoido, the financial center of Korea; endless high-rise apartment buildings marching through what just a few decades ago was sleepy farm land; and some of the most expensive real estate on the peninsula. The Han River is where Seoul’s ten million plus inhabitants go to unwind on a weekend afternoon, taking advantage of the myriads of parks and recreational facilities that line its banks. It’s also where Bong Joon-Ho set some of the key scenes in his 2006 film The Host. (VCinema, January 24, 2012)
Bleak Blockbusters
Korea had a bad 20th century. First Japan occupied the country, then Allied forces occupied it, then a war ripped it in half, then North Korea became a dictatorship, then South Korea experienced a coup followed by a decade of military rule, followed by another decade of martial law, followed by the assassination of the president, another coup, another military regime, and, finally, in 1987, a return to constitutional government. (Slate, January 18, 2012)
Jamie Bell in Talks to Join Bong Joon-ho's Snow Piercer
Well, well. Bong Joon-ho's upcoming post apocalyptic feature Snow Piercer is shaping up to have quite a cast. We've known for a long time that Bong regular Song Kang-ho would have a part and just days ago came word that Chris Evans was in talks to join the adaptation of French graphic novel Le Transperceneige. And now here come two more, with Variety reporting that both Tilda Swinton and Jamie Bell are in talks for the picture as well. (Twitch, January 18, 2012)
Kelly Masterson Shining up the Snow Piercer
Sometimes a fresh set of eyes is all you need to punch up and polish a script, and that's exactly what's happening when it comes to the latest film from the makers of The Host (2006), Snow Piercer. According to Variety, the flick will now get a rewrite before it goes into production this spring. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) scribe Kelly Masterson is doing the rewrite of the film that stars Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, and Jamie Bell. (Dread Central, January 18, 2012)
Jeonju Digital Project 2012 Trio Announced
The 13thJeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) has announced the three directors for this year’s Jeonju Digital Project short film omnibus. Raya Martin, one of the most prominent young filmmakers of the Pinoy cinema renaissance, Vimukthi Jayasundara, “a visionary poet” of contemporary Sri Lankan cinema, and Ying Liang, one of the most promising directors on the Chinese digital independent filmmaking scene. (KoBiz, January 20, 2012)
Rotterdam Lab to Welcome Four Korean Producers
The International Film Festival Rotterdam has announced the final 78 young film producers who will take part in the 12th edition of the Rotterdam Lab at CineMart to include four Korean producers. These are Dahci Ma of Real Black Chicken Film, Lee Young-mi of Film Front, Dave Kim of Rainbow Factory and Han Sunhee of BOL Pictures. Started in 2000, the Jeonju Digital Project is an annual production by the festival which gives KW50 million (about US $44,000) each to three directors to make short films. (KoBiZ, January 19, 2012)
Udine Plans 70s Korean Film Showcase
The 14th Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy has announced a retrospective of South Korean cinema entitled “The Darkest Decade: Korean Filmmakers in the 1970s”. Curated by Korean cinema expert Darcy Paquet (who is also a frequent writer on the KoBiz site and Contributing Editor to Korean Cinema Today), the retrospective will feature ten films that have yet to be screened in the West. (KoBiz, January 19, 2012)
Four Korean nominations at the Asian Film Awards
The 6th Asian Film Awards has announced nominations in 14 categories including one for Park Hae-il, the star of period action thriller War of the Arrows, and three nominations for South Korea’s Academy Award Best Foreign Language Film submission The Front Line. (KoBiZ, January 18, 2012)
Smartphones Help Directors Look at Films from New Angles
It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it’s accessible. Welcome to smartphone-filmmaking, which has become the new trend for both amateur and professional filmmakers in the past year. The trend – which started about a year ago upon the domestic release of Apple’s iPhone 4 and its local carrier KT’s aggressive-creative promotion of the products – is becoming even bigger as more capital and talents are getting involved. (The Korea Herald, January 20, 2012)
Goo Hye Sun's Short Length Film You to Premiere in Russia
The actress Goo Hye Sun’s short length film You will premiere in Russia. The film was given an invitation to show at the Moscow “Korean Short Film Special Showing Event” that will be held from January 19-22. The group that runs the event “Cool Connections Art Group” is planning to introduce Korean films to Russia. Out of the event if a film is chosen, it will also be shown in 5 different Russian cities. (soompi.com, January 18, 2012)
John Hurt Joins Snow Piercer
Bong Joon-ho's train-set thriller Snow Piercer continues to gain momentum with news that legendary English actor John Hurt has joined the cast that already includes Captain America: The First Avenger star Chris Evans and internationally heralded chameleon Tilda Swinton. (Cinema Blend, January 23, 2012)
Movie Sheds Light on Distrust in Judiciary
The release of a new movie that is based on a “crossbow terror” case in 2007, in which a judge was attacked by a professor, is causing controversy among the general public and the judiciary here. (The Korea Times, January 20, 2012)
Choked (eng sub)
Tarbosaurus 3D (eng subs)
Local-made films grabbed more than half of the South Korean box office last year, the first time in six years. According to preliminary data from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, South Korean films enjoyed a market share of 51.9% in 2011, up from 46.5% the previous year. (Film Business Asia, January 23 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 (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site.
To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
The Han River splits the city of Seoul neatly in two. North of the river lies the city’s past: huge, stately palaces; winding neighborhoods full of handsome hanok (traditional Korean houses); and monolithic gates that mark where defensive walls once stood. South of the Han is Seoul’s future: Yeoido, the financial center of Korea; endless high-rise apartment buildings marching through what just a few decades ago was sleepy farm land; and some of the most expensive real estate on the peninsula. The Han River is where Seoul’s ten million plus inhabitants go to unwind on a weekend afternoon, taking advantage of the myriads of parks and recreational facilities that line its banks. It’s also where Bong Joon-Ho set some of the key scenes in his 2006 film The Host. (VCinema, January 24, 2012)
Bleak Blockbusters
Korea had a bad 20th century. First Japan occupied the country, then Allied forces occupied it, then a war ripped it in half, then North Korea became a dictatorship, then South Korea experienced a coup followed by a decade of military rule, followed by another decade of martial law, followed by the assassination of the president, another coup, another military regime, and, finally, in 1987, a return to constitutional government. (Slate, January 18, 2012)
Well, well. Bong Joon-ho's upcoming post apocalyptic feature Snow Piercer is shaping up to have quite a cast. We've known for a long time that Bong regular Song Kang-ho would have a part and just days ago came word that Chris Evans was in talks to join the adaptation of French graphic novel Le Transperceneige. And now here come two more, with Variety reporting that both Tilda Swinton and Jamie Bell are in talks for the picture as well. (Twitch, January 18, 2012)
Kelly Masterson Shining up the Snow Piercer
Sometimes a fresh set of eyes is all you need to punch up and polish a script, and that's exactly what's happening when it comes to the latest film from the makers of The Host (2006), Snow Piercer. According to Variety, the flick will now get a rewrite before it goes into production this spring. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) scribe Kelly Masterson is doing the rewrite of the film that stars Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, and Jamie Bell. (Dread Central, January 18, 2012)
The 13thJeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) has announced the three directors for this year’s Jeonju Digital Project short film omnibus. Raya Martin, one of the most prominent young filmmakers of the Pinoy cinema renaissance, Vimukthi Jayasundara, “a visionary poet” of contemporary Sri Lankan cinema, and Ying Liang, one of the most promising directors on the Chinese digital independent filmmaking scene. (KoBiz, January 20, 2012)
The International Film Festival Rotterdam has announced the final 78 young film producers who will take part in the 12th edition of the Rotterdam Lab at CineMart to include four Korean producers. These are Dahci Ma of Real Black Chicken Film, Lee Young-mi of Film Front, Dave Kim of Rainbow Factory and Han Sunhee of BOL Pictures. Started in 2000, the Jeonju Digital Project is an annual production by the festival which gives KW50 million (about US $44,000) each to three directors to make short films. (KoBiZ, January 19, 2012)
The 14th Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy has announced a retrospective of South Korean cinema entitled “The Darkest Decade: Korean Filmmakers in the 1970s”. Curated by Korean cinema expert Darcy Paquet (who is also a frequent writer on the KoBiz site and Contributing Editor to Korean Cinema Today), the retrospective will feature ten films that have yet to be screened in the West. (KoBiz, January 19, 2012)
Four Korean nominations at the Asian Film Awards
The 6th Asian Film Awards has announced nominations in 14 categories including one for Park Hae-il, the star of period action thriller War of the Arrows, and three nominations for South Korea’s Academy Award Best Foreign Language Film submission The Front Line. (KoBiZ, January 18, 2012)
It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it’s accessible. Welcome to smartphone-filmmaking, which has become the new trend for both amateur and professional filmmakers in the past year. The trend – which started about a year ago upon the domestic release of Apple’s iPhone 4 and its local carrier KT’s aggressive-creative promotion of the products – is becoming even bigger as more capital and talents are getting involved. (The Korea Herald, January 20, 2012)
Goo Hye Sun's Short Length Film You to Premiere in Russia
The actress Goo Hye Sun’s short length film You will premiere in Russia. The film was given an invitation to show at the Moscow “Korean Short Film Special Showing Event” that will be held from January 19-22. The group that runs the event “Cool Connections Art Group” is planning to introduce Korean films to Russia. Out of the event if a film is chosen, it will also be shown in 5 different Russian cities. (soompi.com, January 18, 2012)
Bong Joon-ho's train-set thriller Snow Piercer continues to gain momentum with news that legendary English actor John Hurt has joined the cast that already includes Captain America: The First Avenger star Chris Evans and internationally heralded chameleon Tilda Swinton. (Cinema Blend, January 23, 2012)
Movie Sheds Light on Distrust in Judiciary
The release of a new movie that is based on a “crossbow terror” case in 2007, in which a judge was attacked by a professor, is causing controversy among the general public and the judiciary here. (The Korea Times, January 20, 2012)
INTERVIEW
Spotlighting South Korean Cinema
Kyung Hyun Kim spent his childhood in Indonesia and the Middle East due to the career demands of his father, a petroleum engineer for a South Korean oil company. He turned to movies at an early age to escape the stress of frequent moves and new schools. “I think because of their unfamiliarity with American culture, my parents let me watch a lot of movies that weren’t made for children,” says Kim, a UC Irvine associate professor of East Asian languages & literatures and film & media studies. (uci.edu, January 2012)
Kyung Hyun Kim spent his childhood in Indonesia and the Middle East due to the career demands of his father, a petroleum engineer for a South Korean oil company. He turned to movies at an early age to escape the stress of frequent moves and new schools. “I think because of their unfamiliarity with American culture, my parents let me watch a lot of movies that weren’t made for children,” says Kim, a UC Irvine associate professor of East Asian languages & literatures and film & media studies. (uci.edu, January 2012)
2012 Sundance Filmmakers: Kangmin Kim
Hyphen continues its interviews with the Asian American filmmakers attending this year's Sundance film festival. Kangmin Kim, like Andrew Ahn, is also a CalArts grad. While Ahn's interest is in social realist cinema, Kangmin's interest occupies the completely opposite end of the cinematic spectrum -- stop motion animation. (Hyphen Magazine, January 20, 2012)
Hyphen continues its interviews with the Asian American filmmakers attending this year's Sundance film festival. Kangmin Kim, like Andrew Ahn, is also a CalArts grad. While Ahn's interest is in social realist cinema, Kangmin's interest occupies the completely opposite end of the cinematic spectrum -- stop motion animation. (Hyphen Magazine, January 20, 2012)
TRAILER
Choked (eng sub)
Tarbosaurus 3D (eng subs)
POSTER
BOX OFFICE
(Modern Korean Cinema, January 22, 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 (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site.
To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Top 10 Korean Film Stories of 2011
I started the weekly Korean Cinema News feature at the beginning of April of this year and over the past nine months it has become more comprehensive, grown more popular, and I hope better. As pleased as I am with its success more than anything it;s been a thrill to cover the wide-ranging news related to the ever-expanding Korean film industry. It's been a huge year for Korean film news and in 38 weeks of reporting, Modern Korean Cinema has featured nearly 1000 news items, festival reports, articles, interviews, trailers, posters, and box office analyses.
In considering 2011 as a year in Korean film I decided to work up a top 10 for the year's most important pieces of news. I've stayed within the exclusive scope of Korean film so major stories that are somewhat related, like the continuing global Hallyu takeover or Kim Jong-il's death, have been omitted. Each entry is followed by a selection of interesting articles that appeared throughout the year.
As always, if you have any comments or think I've missed something, please get in touch.
Enjoy and Happy New Year from Modern Korean Cinema!
1. Reversal of Fortune at the Korean Box Office
The year's biggest story has been the reversal of fortunes at the Korean box office. Looking at the slate of films in early 2011 for the year ahead, there were a number of blockbusters well-positioned to end the year on or near the top. Chief among them were CJ's 3D Imax monster feature Sector 7 and the 30 billion won WWII, pan-Asian blockbuster My Way. Sector 7 was immediately savaged by critics and audiences alike and was quickly out of theaters. It may be early days for My Way as it has only been released for a week, but the prognosis at this stage is not good and there is a palpable danger that it will not recoup its enormous production costs. There were also other blockbusters that failed to meet expectations, like Quick and The Front Line, and a great number of star vehicles that did not manage to draw big crowds, like Hindsight and Countdown.
The vast majority of the year's biggest successes turned out to be mid-level productions that boasted strong scripts with an absence of marquee names which struck a chord with audiences. Sunny had a decent start but an extraordinary word of mouth effect kept it in the top 3 for 11 consecutive weeks as it powered its way to 7,375,110 admissions. Other mid-size productions that far exceeded expectations included Detective K, Silenced, and Punch, which all landed around the 5 million mark. Even more unexpected films crossed the 2 million mark, including Meet the In-laws, Blind, Leafie, A Hen Into the Wild, The Client, and Spellbound.
The controversy surrounding the release of Silenced (aka The Crucible/Dogani) probably generated more international press coverage than any other Korean film item this year. The film was based on a non-fiction book of the same by prominent female writer Gong Ji-young which chronicles the serial abuse of deaf children at a school for the hearing-impaired in Gwangju between 2000-2005. The perpetrators were put on trial six years ago but received light sentences and some even went back to work in the school.
Following the uproar which ensued after Silenced's release, the school was finally shut down. After viewing the film, South Korean president Lee Myung-bak called for measures to protect the vulnerable from sexual attack. The film inspired a wave of anger which was reported in the world's major publications such as The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and many more.
Korean cinema is see as a strong producer of films that span a number of genres and formats. Animation is one of the few production modes that Korean filmmakers have failed to successfully mine, at least that was the case before 2011. This year was the dawning of a new era for Korean animation, led by the huge success of local animation Leafie, A Hen Into the Wild. Many other Korean animated films have found success at festivals this year, such as The House, King of Pigs, Earth Rep Rolling Star, and I'm Sorry. Korean animators of late have also found enormous success abroad, especially Jennifer Yuh, who directed Kung Fu Panda 2 for Dreamworks, incidentally the film became the second-highest grossing non-Korean film of the year.
CJ Entertainment, Korea's largest studio and head of the country's primary exhibition chain, CGV (CJ-Goldstar-Village Roadshow), has made its aims for the future very clear. It more or less amounts to world domination as the corporation is: trying to revolutionize cinema with 4D film screening technology (which adds sensations like smell, fog, and vibrations to enhance cinema viewing); launching direct distribution in Vietnam and Thailand; producing a $100 million budget Rob Cohen Korean War film; clinching a raft of film presales; engaging in a $110 million Korean entertainment project; and keeping strong ties in Korea as well as helping develop emerging talent by partnering with the Korean Academy of Film Arts.
CJ has not been timid about its ambitions and I'm sure that more plans are in the works. Its CGV theater in LA is getting more popular as are a lot of its international operations and now that its claws are getting stuck into Hollywood, more people may become familiar with their catchy opening logo before long.
Recently Korean films have seen their presence increase dramatically in mainland China as numerous works were sold there and have been breaking records. The Man From Nowhere had a strong showing earlier this year, despite its 18 certificate. Sector 7 is currently enjoying the best Chinese release of any Korean film, though it has only been released for a few weeks. Ha Ji-won's K-Drama Secret Garden was immensely popular in China and she is said has become quite a celebrity in the country.
In other news, Kwon Sang-woo and Song Hye-kyo have signed onto Chinese productions and many below the line technicians have been hired into Chinese film crews. Chinese action and special effects film crews in particular seemed to be populated by Korean professionals. It would also seem that president Hu Jintao is Hallyu fan, having had very good things to say about Jewel in the Palace, the landmark 2003 K-Drama.
7. Korean Directors Abroad
A number of Korea's most well-known filmmakers have embarked on foreign productions, including: Park Chan-wook, who recently wrapped Stoker (2012), starring Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska, and Matthew Goode; Kim Jee-woon, who is currently shooting The Last Stand (2013) with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rodrigo Santoro, Forest Whitaker, Peter Stormare, and Johnny Knoxville; Bong Joon-ho, who is getting prepped for Snow Piercer (2013) which will shoot in March in Hungary with John Hurt and Song Kang-ho; and Ryoo Seung-wan, who is going to shoot his new spy thriller The Berlin File (2012) in Germany with Han Suk-kyu, Ha Jung-woo, Jeon Ji-hyeon, and Ryoo Seung-beom.
As in previous years, the Korean Film Council has been involved in a lot of projects and initiatives designed to promote, improve, and aid the Korean film industry. It has: offered rebates for foreign films shooting in Seoul; subsidized labour costs on low-budget films; acted as guarantor for films with overseas potential; invested in contents funds; attempted to stop the illegal circulation of films online; and opened a new independent theater.
9. The Return of Kim Ki-duk
After abruptly disappearing from the director's chair in 2008 following his film Dream and a lengthy attack against distributors' poor handling of independent features, Kim Ki-duk reappeared seemingly out of thin air early in 2011. His name first appeared in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes film festival where his new, self-reflexive documentary Arirang won an award. Shortly after, Poongsan, directed by his latest protege Jung Jai-hong, a film he wrote and produced, opened to positive reviews and a solid performance in domestic theaters. Then in August, another new Kim Ki-duk film, Amen, opened at the San Sebastian International Film Festival.
Kim is a controversial figure in Korean cinema who frequently disparages the establishment and has been part of an acrimonious feud with his former protege Jang Hoon whom he believes has sold out. Both his new films this year have had a strong presence at international film festivals but have been met with mixed reviews.
Yun Jung-hee, who has astounded audiences the world over this year with her wonderful performance in Lee Chang-dong's Poetry, received some significant accolades from various international sources. Earlier this year she was awarded the French Cultural Order by French culture minister Frederic Mitterand and recently the Los Angeles Film Critics Association deemed her performance in Poetry the best of the year.
In considering 2011 as a year in Korean film I decided to work up a top 10 for the year's most important pieces of news. I've stayed within the exclusive scope of Korean film so major stories that are somewhat related, like the continuing global Hallyu takeover or Kim Jong-il's death, have been omitted. Each entry is followed by a selection of interesting articles that appeared throughout the year.
As always, if you have any comments or think I've missed something, please get in touch.
Enjoy and Happy New Year from Modern Korean Cinema!
1. Reversal of Fortune at the Korean Box Office
The vast majority of the year's biggest successes turned out to be mid-level productions that boasted strong scripts with an absence of marquee names which struck a chord with audiences. Sunny had a decent start but an extraordinary word of mouth effect kept it in the top 3 for 11 consecutive weeks as it powered its way to 7,375,110 admissions. Other mid-size productions that far exceeded expectations included Detective K, Silenced, and Punch, which all landed around the 5 million mark. Even more unexpected films crossed the 2 million mark, including Meet the In-laws, Blind, Leafie, A Hen Into the Wild, The Client, and Spellbound.
(The Hollywood Reporter, May 13, 2011)
Rookies Directors on the Rise, Stars Lack Drawing Power
(The Chosun Ilbo, July 8, 2011)
Rookies Directors on the Rise, Stars Lack Drawing Power
(The Chosun Ilbo, July 8, 2011)
2. The Silenced Controversy
Following the uproar which ensued after Silenced's release, the school was finally shut down. After viewing the film, South Korean president Lee Myung-bak called for measures to protect the vulnerable from sexual attack. The film inspired a wave of anger which was reported in the world's major publications such as The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and many more.
(The Wall Street Journal, September 27, 2011)
(Joong Ang Daily, October 5, 2011)
(The Dong-a Ilbo, October 1, 2011)
(arirang.co.kr, October 4, 2011)
(The Economist, October 11, 2011)
(The New York Times, October 17, 2011)
(The Washington Post, October 28, 2011)
3. Korean Animation Has Its Biggest Year
3. Korean Animation Has Its Biggest Year
With numerous awards and international sales under its belt, Korean animation is looking strong for the near future.
Resurgence of Korean Animation
(Joong Ang Daily, May 6, 2011)
Hollywood Inundated with Korean Animators
(Joong Ang Daily, May 6, 2011)
Hollywood Inundated with Korean Animators
(animation Magazine, November 28, 2011)
4. CJ Poised for World Domination
4. CJ Poised for World Domination
CJ has not been timid about its ambitions and I'm sure that more plans are in the works. Its CGV theater in LA is getting more popular as are a lot of its international operations and now that its claws are getting stuck into Hollywood, more people may become familiar with their catchy opening logo before long.
(Film Business Asia, October 13, 2011)
KAFA Partners With CJ E&M and CJ CGV
(KOBIZ, December 19, 2011)
Route One Films Enters $110 Million Korean Entertainment Partnership
(The Hollywood Reporter, December 15, 2011)
Lots of Korean Presales as CJ Readies for Cannes
(Screen Daily, May 11, 2011)
CJ's 4D Cinemas to Launch in Thailand
(Bangkok Post, June 14, 2011)
Rob Cohen to Direct Korean War Film Produced by CJ
(indieWIRE, July 29, 2011)
CJ E&M Harbors Global Ambitions
(Asian Media Journal, August 11, 2011)
KAFA Partners With CJ E&M and CJ CGV
(KOBIZ, December 19, 2011)
Route One Films Enters $110 Million Korean Entertainment Partnership
(The Hollywood Reporter, December 15, 2011)
Lots of Korean Presales as CJ Readies for Cannes
(Screen Daily, May 11, 2011)
CJ's 4D Cinemas to Launch in Thailand
(Bangkok Post, June 14, 2011)
Rob Cohen to Direct Korean War Film Produced by CJ
(indieWIRE, July 29, 2011)
CJ E&M Harbors Global Ambitions
(Asian Media Journal, August 11, 2011)
5. A New-look BIFF Unveils
The 16th edition of Korea's largest film festival opened with a new name, a magnificent new venue, a new director, and a new image. Previously called the Pusan International Film Festival, the renamed BIFF (Busan International Film Festival) began on October 6 in the brand new $150 million Busan Cinema Center, designd by Coop Himmelblau of Austria. More than ever, the event, often dubbed the 'Asian Cannes', was seen as a showcase for the emerging strength of Asian film industries. The event was a flurry of news beginning with the center and the selling out of the opening film in a record seven seconds.
There was much discussion over the new venue (including rain leaks), the type of films being shown, the sales in the film market, the direction the festival was taking, and more. Every major entertainment news agency ran multiple pieces on the event.
(The Chosun Ilbo, September 20, 2011)
BIFF's Opening Film Sells Out in Seven Seconds
(enewsworld.net, September 27, 2011)
Busan: Fest Maps New Future
(Variety, October 3, 2011)
How a New Cinema Center Could Change the Busan Film Festival
(The Hollywood Reporter, Ocotber 1, 2011)
Busan Festival Takes a Bold Step, But Is Asian Cinema Ready?
(The Japan Times, October 14, 2011)
BIFF Organizers Clash Over Festival Expansion
(The Hankyoreh, October 19, 2011)
A New Era for Asia’s Biggest Film Festival
(Joong Ang Daily, October 21, 2011)
BIFF's Opening Film Sells Out in Seven Seconds
(enewsworld.net, September 27, 2011)
Busan: Fest Maps New Future
(Variety, October 3, 2011)
How a New Cinema Center Could Change the Busan Film Festival
(The Hollywood Reporter, Ocotber 1, 2011)
Busan Festival Takes a Bold Step, But Is Asian Cinema Ready?
(The Japan Times, October 14, 2011)
BIFF Organizers Clash Over Festival Expansion
(The Hankyoreh, October 19, 2011)
A New Era for Asia’s Biggest Film Festival
(Joong Ang Daily, October 21, 2011)
6. Korean Films Find a Foothold in China
In other news, Kwon Sang-woo and Song Hye-kyo have signed onto Chinese productions and many below the line technicians have been hired into Chinese film crews. Chinese action and special effects film crews in particular seemed to be populated by Korean professionals. It would also seem that president Hu Jintao is Hallyu fan, having had very good things to say about Jewel in the Palace, the landmark 2003 K-Drama.
(Korean Cinema Today, November 1, 2011)
Korean Crews in China
(Korean Cinema Today, November 8, 2011)
Sector 7 Hits Box Office Record in China
(KOBIZ, December 20, 2011)
Local Films Foray Into Chinese Market
(The Korea Times, December 26, 2011)
Sky's the Limit for Kwon Sang-woo as He Targets China, Hollywood
Korean Crews in China
(Korean Cinema Today, November 8, 2011)
Sector 7 Hits Box Office Record in China
(KOBIZ, December 20, 2011)
Local Films Foray Into Chinese Market
(The Korea Times, December 26, 2011)
Sky's the Limit for Kwon Sang-woo as He Targets China, Hollywood
(The Chosun Ilbo, August 31, 2011)
7. Korean Directors Abroad
(Korean Cinema Today, November 9, 2011)
8. The Korean Film Council in 2011
8. The Korean Film Council in 2011
(Screen Daily, April 14, 2011)
KOFIC Opens New Independent Film Theater
(KOBIZ, May 6, 2011)
KOFIC's Keys to Industry Development
(KOBIZ, May 6, 2011)
Interview with KOFIC Chairman Kim Eui-suk
(KOBIZ, May 6, 2011)
KOFIC to Offer 25% Rebate for Filming in Korea
(Korean Cinema Today, May 13, 2011)
Mandatory Screening Times Could Be Altered
(The Korea Times, July 21, 2011)
Normalization for Online Film Distribution Demanded by Chungmoro
(hancinema.net, August 2, 2011)
KOFIC Opens New Independent Film Theater
(KOBIZ, May 6, 2011)
KOFIC's Keys to Industry Development
(KOBIZ, May 6, 2011)
Interview with KOFIC Chairman Kim Eui-suk
(KOBIZ, May 6, 2011)
KOFIC to Offer 25% Rebate for Filming in Korea
(Korean Cinema Today, May 13, 2011)
Mandatory Screening Times Could Be Altered
(The Korea Times, July 21, 2011)
Normalization for Online Film Distribution Demanded by Chungmoro
(hancinema.net, August 2, 2011)
9. The Return of Kim Ki-duk
Kim is a controversial figure in Korean cinema who frequently disparages the establishment and has been part of an acrimonious feud with his former protege Jang Hoon whom he believes has sold out. Both his new films this year have had a strong presence at international film festivals but have been met with mixed reviews.
(The Korea Herald, May 16, 2011)
Kim Ki-duk Picks up Award at Cannes
(Joong Ang Daily, May 23, 2011)
Kim Ki-duk Produced Film Set for June
(The Korea Times, May 26, 2011)
Kim Ki-duk on the Benefits on Low-Budget Filmmaking
(The Korea Times, Junes 14, 2011)
Jang Hoon Explains The Front Line and Tensions with Mentor Kim Ki-duk
(hancinema.net, June 16, 2011)
Kim Ki-duk's Latest to Premiere at San Sebastian
(Film Business Asia, August 17, 2011)
10. Yun Jung-hee's Global Accolades
Kim Ki-duk Picks up Award at Cannes
(Joong Ang Daily, May 23, 2011)
Kim Ki-duk Produced Film Set for June
(The Korea Times, May 26, 2011)
Kim Ki-duk on the Benefits on Low-Budget Filmmaking
(The Korea Times, Junes 14, 2011)
Jang Hoon Explains The Front Line and Tensions with Mentor Kim Ki-duk
(hancinema.net, June 16, 2011)
Kim Ki-duk's Latest to Premiere at San Sebastian
(Film Business Asia, August 17, 2011)
10. Yun Jung-hee's Global Accolades
(YonHap News Agency, April 6, 2011)
Yun Jung-hee Wins LA Film Critics Award
(KOBIZ, December 13, 2011)
Yun Jung-hee Wins LA Film Critics Award
(KOBIZ, December 13, 2011)
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 (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site.
To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Korean Cinema News (11/17-11/23, 2011)
A wealth of fantastic interviews this week and a variety of trailers, features, and festival news items to boot.
Enjoy!
KOREAN CINEMA NEWS
Big Budget Movie Yeongasi Begins Filming
Filming for big-budget disaster movie Yeongasi commenced on Sunday, November 13th in Gyeongbuk province in eastern Korea. The film, inspired by real-life parasites called Yeongasi or "horsehair worms", is top-billed by award-winning actor Kim Myeong-min (Detective K, 2011; Beethoven Virus, 2008), who plays Jae Hyuk, a pharmaceutical agent who struggles to save his family from the epidemic caused by the mutated worms. (hancinema.net, November 16, 2011)
Veteran Actor Kim Chu-ryeon Found Dead
Actor Kim Chu-ryeon, who starred in classic films including Lovers in the Rain (1976) and Winter Woman (1977), was found dead in his apartment on Tuesday 8th November in an apparent suicide. (Hanguk Yeonghwa, November 13, 2011)
Two Different Gay Films to Arrive on K-Film Scene
A Mixed Review for Lee Man-hee, the Classic Film Director for LKFF 2011
Colin Firth Acknowledges Being 'Approached' for Oldboy
Academy Award-winning actor Colin Firth (The King's Speech, 2010; A Single Man, 2008; Love Actually, 2005) acknowledged in an interview with the Moviefone website that he was "approached" to star in Spike Lee's remake of Park Chan-Wook's live-action film Oldboy (2003). However, he stayed mum on whether he agreed to the role or even if he and the producers are in active discussions. (animenewsnetwork, November 19, 2011)
Recorder Exam wins DGA Student Filmmaker Award
Korean filmmaker Bora Kim-s The Recorder Exam won the Directors Guild of America (DGA) award for Best Woman Student Filmmaker in the East Region. A 28-minute short film, The Recorder Exam follows a nine-year-old girl as she learns to play the recorder for a test. The film portrays the contradictions in Korean society in 1988, conflict between family members, and the girl’s inner development. (KOBIZ, November 16, 2011)
Rotterdam Claims Asian Trio
A trio of Asian films are among the first five films announced for competition at the upcoming International Film Festival Rotterdam (25 Jan – 5 Feb 2012). It includes the festival's first 3-D film in competition, A Fish, also a first feature, by South Korea's Park Hong-min. The film, an absurdist tale about a man seeking his shaman wife, first played in last month's Busan International Film Festival.
(Film Business Asia, November 21, 2011)
Opening Gala + K-pop Concert, London Korean Film Festival 2011
Cinema Nouveau Welcomes the Korean Film Festival
As the only dedicated ‘Art House’ movie complex in South Africa, Cinema Nouveau will screen independent, alternative and art cinema content from cultures all across the world. As such, Cinema Nouveau presents the 'Korean Film Festival', releasing exclusively at the Brooklyn Cinema Nouveau on 28 November and the V&A Cinema Nouveau on 5 December. (mediaupdate.co.za, November 22, 2011)
South Korea’s Silenced Speak
South Korea’s patriarchal society has often pressured victims of sexual crimes to keep quiet. But a blockbuster movie revealing the abuse of children could help change this. (The Diplomat, November 22, 2011)
LKFF: Ryoo Seung-wan Interview
Since the release of his first feature film, Die Bad, in 2000, Ryoo Seung-wan has regularly been referred to as the "Action Kid" of Korean Cinema. However, though a number of his subsequent features could generally be described as action films, that description ultimately does the director and his work rather a dis-service. (Hangul Celluloid, November 18, 2011)
Listening to Korean Cinema: Podcast Without Honor and Humanity
Launched in early 2011 Podcast Without Honor and Humanity hasn’t even celebrated its first anniversary but having reached its 39th episode has managed to spawn more episodes than some podcasts produce in two or three years. A consistently entertaining show which has the occasional guest-host but is often helmed solely by self-effacing host Jake Feltner (aka Jake McHugeLarge), Podcast Without Honor and Humanity provides a knowledgeable perspective on Asian cinema in a manner which manages to be both accessible and – on occasion – is unashamedly geeky. (New Korean Cinema, November 21, 2011)
Yunjeong Kim, Director of International Sales, Finecut
It’s been 11 years since Yunjeong Kim at Finecut, a Seoul-based film company specializing in overseas sales and financing, has joined the Korean film industry. From her earlier days at Cineclick Asia to her current title as the Director of International Sales, Kim still enjoys every bit of her job discovering new films. KOBIZ caught up with Kim after her recent trip to the American Film Market(AFM). (KOBIZ, November 18, 2011)
Animation Is the Future: Yeun Sang-ho
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 (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site.
To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
Enjoy!
KOREAN CINEMA NEWS
Big Budget Movie Yeongasi Begins Filming
Filming for big-budget disaster movie Yeongasi commenced on Sunday, November 13th in Gyeongbuk province in eastern Korea. The film, inspired by real-life parasites called Yeongasi or "horsehair worms", is top-billed by award-winning actor Kim Myeong-min (Detective K, 2011; Beethoven Virus, 2008), who plays Jae Hyuk, a pharmaceutical agent who struggles to save his family from the epidemic caused by the mutated worms. (hancinema.net, November 16, 2011)
Veteran Actor Kim Chu-ryeon Found Dead
Actor Kim Chu-ryeon, who starred in classic films including Lovers in the Rain (1976) and Winter Woman (1977), was found dead in his apartment on Tuesday 8th November in an apparent suicide. (Hanguk Yeonghwa, November 13, 2011)
Two Different Gay Films to Arrive on K-Film Scene
After this year’s success of Miracle of Jongno Street, the nation’s first gay-themed documentary, Korea’s film scene sees the arrival of two very different queer films. One is the feature debut of So Joon-moon, one of the four gay men featured in director Lee Hyuk-sang’s documentary released in June. (The Korea Herald, November 17, 2011)
Korean Film Festival Kicks Off at Alhamra
Korean Film Festival Kicks Off at Alhamra
A two-day Korean Film Festival kicked off at Alhamra here on Thursday. The event was organised by Embassy of the Republic of Korea and Lahore Arts Council (Alhamra). A large number of citizens were present at the occasion. (The Daily Times, November 18, 2011)
Spotlight on Contemporary Korean Cinema: Part 1
Strategically coinciding with the American Film Market and AFI Fest this year, the Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles (KOFFLA) organized a three-day spotlight on contemporary Korean cinema, sponsored by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). The spotlight consisted of a retrospective of young filmmaker-on-the-rise Jang Hun, who now has three feature films under his belt; two debut feature films, Ordinary Days (2010, Inan) and Re-encounter (2010, Min Yong-geun); and one of Lee Chang-dong’s more recent films, the award-winning Secret Sunshine (2007). (Next Projection, November 17, 2011)
Korea Film Awards Cancelled
Holiday season means awards season, but this year will have one less ceremony with the cancellation of the Korea Film Awards. Hosted by MBC, the show would have been in its ninth year after being established in 2002, but ran into issues with “sponsorship and other complicated problems.” (dramabeans, November 13, 2011)
Mark Morris on Lee Man-hee and the Flowering of Korean Film in the 1960s
Spotlight on Contemporary Korean Cinema: Part 1
Strategically coinciding with the American Film Market and AFI Fest this year, the Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles (KOFFLA) organized a three-day spotlight on contemporary Korean cinema, sponsored by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). The spotlight consisted of a retrospective of young filmmaker-on-the-rise Jang Hun, who now has three feature films under his belt; two debut feature films, Ordinary Days (2010, Inan) and Re-encounter (2010, Min Yong-geun); and one of Lee Chang-dong’s more recent films, the award-winning Secret Sunshine (2007). (Next Projection, November 17, 2011)
Korea Film Awards Cancelled
Holiday season means awards season, but this year will have one less ceremony with the cancellation of the Korea Film Awards. Hosted by MBC, the show would have been in its ninth year after being established in 2002, but ran into issues with “sponsorship and other complicated problems.” (dramabeans, November 13, 2011)
Mark Morris on Lee Man-hee and the Flowering of Korean Film in the 1960s
In order to get a Western perspective on Korean cinema, I visited the Korean Cultural Centre in London in an event which was part of the 2011 London Korean Film Festival, to listen to Dr. Mark Morris speak on the subject (Friday, November 11). Dr. Morris is from the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Cambridge University. He normally lectures on Japanese Cultural History, so I was interested in what he thought about Korean cinema. (London Korea Links, November 21, 2011)
Korean film PUNCH heading for the US
Korean film PUNCH heading for the US
If you’re Stateside, and perhaps just in the mood for something other than gore and things that go bump in the night (you know, those odd occasions) then news that the popular Korean comedy movie Punch, will be punching its way to a U.S theatre near you....may appeal. CJ entertainment is set to drop it into a nationwide release from Dec 2nd and all the release dates/locations are on the flicks official site. (24framespersecond.net, November 18, 2011)
The Crucible sets official English title as Silenced
Korean movie The Crucible has decided on its English title and is being released in North America.
Distributor CJ Entertainment revealed, The Crucible has been released as Silenced in 15 cinemas in major cities in North America. (hancinema.net, November 20, 2011)
Korean movie The Crucible has decided on its English title and is being released in North America.
Distributor CJ Entertainment revealed, The Crucible has been released as Silenced in 15 cinemas in major cities in North America. (hancinema.net, November 20, 2011)
Korean Cinema Today’s November Issue
The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has launched the November issue of the Korean Cinema Today webzine at http://koreanfilm.or.kr/webzine/ and it set to launch the iPad version on Nov. 28. In the November issue, Korean Cinema Today’s top featurelooks at the overseas projects of four leading Korean directors – Park Chan-wook’s Stoker , Bong Joon-ho’s Snowpiercer, Kim Jee-woon’s The Last Stand, and Ryoo Seung-wan’s The Berlin File. (KOBIZ, November 21, 2011)
The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has launched the November issue of the Korean Cinema Today webzine at http://koreanfilm.or.kr/webzine/ and it set to launch the iPad version on Nov. 28. In the November issue, Korean Cinema Today’s top featurelooks at the overseas projects of four leading Korean directors – Park Chan-wook’s Stoker , Bong Joon-ho’s Snowpiercer, Kim Jee-woon’s The Last Stand, and Ryoo Seung-wan’s The Berlin File. (KOBIZ, November 21, 2011)
Most years, the London Korean Film Festival aims to include some classic films, usually from the 1960s, within its schedule. This is a valuable feature for UK cinemagoers, some of whom may be of the impression that Korean film started with Shiri. This year Lee Man-hee was featured, with two films: A Day Off (1968) and Assassin (1969). (London Korean Links, November 20, 2011)
Colin Firth Acknowledges Being 'Approached' for Oldboy
Academy Award-winning actor Colin Firth (The King's Speech, 2010; A Single Man, 2008; Love Actually, 2005) acknowledged in an interview with the Moviefone website that he was "approached" to star in Spike Lee's remake of Park Chan-Wook's live-action film Oldboy (2003). However, he stayed mum on whether he agreed to the role or even if he and the producers are in active discussions. (animenewsnetwork, November 19, 2011)
With eight feature films and a fair few shorts under his belt, Park has established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the world cinema stage. He’s a risk-taker, confident enough to throw himself to the wolves knowing that he’ll come out unscathed. This is, after all, the man whose Berlin Golden Bear-winning short, Night Fishing (2011), was filmed entirely on an iPhone. Eager to scramble out of his comfort zone, he’s recently launched himself across to Pacific to direct his first English-language film, Stoker, starring Nicole Kidman. (heyuguys.co.uk, November 18, 2011)
Recorder Exam wins DGA Student Filmmaker Award
Korean filmmaker Bora Kim-s The Recorder Exam won the Directors Guild of America (DGA) award for Best Woman Student Filmmaker in the East Region. A 28-minute short film, The Recorder Exam follows a nine-year-old girl as she learns to play the recorder for a test. The film portrays the contradictions in Korean society in 1988, conflict between family members, and the girl’s inner development. (KOBIZ, November 16, 2011)
Rotterdam Claims Asian Trio
A trio of Asian films are among the first five films announced for competition at the upcoming International Film Festival Rotterdam (25 Jan – 5 Feb 2012). It includes the festival's first 3-D film in competition, A Fish, also a first feature, by South Korea's Park Hong-min. The film, an absurdist tale about a man seeking his shaman wife, first played in last month's Busan International Film Festival.
(Film Business Asia, November 21, 2011)
CGV has recently opened two brand new multiplexes equipped with IOSONO’s 3D sound systems. CGV Cheongdam Cinecity and CGV Yeongdeungpo become the flagship theaters for CGV’s 3D cinema sound. (Iosono Sound, November 15, 2011)
A video of the opening proceedings of the recently wrapped London Korean Film Festival, which included a SHINee concert and a War of the Arrows screening. (youtube.com, November 18, 2011)
Kim Ki-duk's Arirang and Amen Both to Come Out Soon
Kim Ki-duk's Arirang and Amen are being released side by side. This special event, which is being held at Cinecube in Seoul, will go on for two weeks from December 8th to the 21st. (hancinema.net, November 22, 2011)
Kim Ki-duk's Arirang and Amen Both to Come Out Soon
Kim Ki-duk's Arirang and Amen are being released side by side. This special event, which is being held at Cinecube in Seoul, will go on for two weeks from December 8th to the 21st. (hancinema.net, November 22, 2011)
Cinema Nouveau Welcomes the Korean Film Festival
As the only dedicated ‘Art House’ movie complex in South Africa, Cinema Nouveau will screen independent, alternative and art cinema content from cultures all across the world. As such, Cinema Nouveau presents the 'Korean Film Festival', releasing exclusively at the Brooklyn Cinema Nouveau on 28 November and the V&A Cinema Nouveau on 5 December. (mediaupdate.co.za, November 22, 2011)
South Korea’s patriarchal society has often pressured victims of sexual crimes to keep quiet. But a blockbuster movie revealing the abuse of children could help change this. (The Diplomat, November 22, 2011)
INTERVIEWS
LKFF: Ryoo Seung-wan Interview
Since the release of his first feature film, Die Bad, in 2000, Ryoo Seung-wan has regularly been referred to as the "Action Kid" of Korean Cinema. However, though a number of his subsequent features could generally be described as action films, that description ultimately does the director and his work rather a dis-service. (Hangul Celluloid, November 18, 2011)
Listening to Korean Cinema: Podcast Without Honor and Humanity
Launched in early 2011 Podcast Without Honor and Humanity hasn’t even celebrated its first anniversary but having reached its 39th episode has managed to spawn more episodes than some podcasts produce in two or three years. A consistently entertaining show which has the occasional guest-host but is often helmed solely by self-effacing host Jake Feltner (aka Jake McHugeLarge), Podcast Without Honor and Humanity provides a knowledgeable perspective on Asian cinema in a manner which manages to be both accessible and – on occasion – is unashamedly geeky. (New Korean Cinema, November 21, 2011)
In just a little over a decade, Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho has achieved no mean feat: with the most minimal filmography among his filmmaker colleagues – only four feature films – he has made his mark as one of the most exciting, articulate, and multifaceted directors, not only of his generation but of contemporary world filmmakers today. (asia pacific arts, November 18, 2011)
Yunjeong Kim, Director of International Sales, Finecut
It’s been 11 years since Yunjeong Kim at Finecut, a Seoul-based film company specializing in overseas sales and financing, has joined the Korean film industry. From her earlier days at Cineclick Asia to her current title as the Director of International Sales, Kim still enjoys every bit of her job discovering new films. KOBIZ caught up with Kim after her recent trip to the American Film Market(AFM). (KOBIZ, November 18, 2011)
Animation Is the Future: Yeun Sang-ho
It is a bright Wednesday morning in Seoul, and a man wearing a pair of thick-framed glasses walks into the quiet cafe near Hongdae. In spite of his toned-down manner and geek-like vibe, director Yeun Sang-ho cannot hide the twinkle of excitement in his eyes. (The Korea Herald, November 21, 2011)
Honorary BIFF Chief Awaits His Film Debut
He is soft-spoken, extremely polite and remembers your name only after a quick phone call. Meet Kim Dong-ho, the founding director of Busan International Film Festival and one of the pioneer figures in the Korean film industry. (The Korea Herald, November 23, 2011)
Honorary BIFF Chief Awaits His Film Debut
He is soft-spoken, extremely polite and remembers your name only after a quick phone call. Meet Kim Dong-ho, the founding director of Busan International Film Festival and one of the pioneer figures in the Korean film industry. (The Korea Herald, November 23, 2011)
TRAILERS
Merry Christmas North (eng sub)
POSTER
BOX OFFICE
(Modern Korean Cinema, November 21, 2011)
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 (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site.
To keep up with the best in Korean film you can sign up to our RSS Feed, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
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