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KOREAN CINEMA NEWS
The London Korean Film Festival
Korean film has always been an important player on the World cinema scene with many of the most acclaimed and successful directors and films coming from the country. Over the last ten years the industry has exploded with films from directors, Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, 2003), Bong Joon-ho (The Host, 2006) and Kim Jee-woon (I Saw The Devil) finding success in America and Europe with their gritty, box office films while Hong Sang-soo and Kim Ki-duk have found acclaim in Europe and the festival circuit for their soulful stories. (The Huffington Post, October 28, 2011)
SHINee to Perform at the London Korean Film Festival
SHINee will be making an appearance at the London Korean Film Fesival. According to the Korean Cultural Center in England, SHINee has been recognized as England’s top K-Pop star, and were thus invited to perform. (allkpop, October 27, 2011)
TIFFCOM Market Wraps in Tokyo With Meetings Still Going On
The KOFIC pavilion, with seven Korean companies under its umbrella, had been doing good business. 9ers Entertainment sold Late Blossom to Japan and Ryang-kang-doc: Merry Christmas North! to Taiwan. Finecut landed a Japan deal for its North-South Korea film Poongsan and Mirovision signed an agreement for Mr. Perfect for an undisclosed Asian territory. (The Hollywood Reporter, October 26, 2011)
Korean Film Industry at the 8th TIFFCOM
The Korean film industry is strongly represented at the Tokyo International Film Festival’s content market TIFFCOM, which opened yesterday to run until Oct 26 in the Roppongi Hills complex. The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has opened an umbrella stand with seven sales companies - CJ Entertainment, Showbox / Mediaplex, Finecut,M-Line Distribution, 9ers Entertainment, Lotte Entertainment, and Mirovision. (KOBIZ, October 25, 2011)
Korean Films Set for Stockholm Festival
The 22nd Stockholm International Film Festival has announced its line-up to include a slew of films from the Republic of Korea including Hong Sang-soo’s The Day He Arrives, which previously screened in Cannes. (KOBIZ, October 28, 2011)
Halloween Scary Movie Recommendation: Oldboy
Oldboy is a 2003 South Korean revenge thriller (yes, you have to read subtitles). It's actually the second part of a trilogy, but I haven't seen the first, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), or the final, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005), installments. (ledger-inquirer.com, October 27, 2011)
Korean Movies Go Global
On October 21st, a meaningful gathering among members of the Korean movie industry took place. (arirang, October 27, 2011)
The Host Vs. Sector 7 - Monsters, Assume Your Positions!
Ever since I have been into Korean entertainment, The Host has hovered over my head like a majestic high bar that other things are apparently too short to reach. I had heard the best things about it and I knew it as some legendary movie, a masterpiece of Korean cinema. (orion21.blogspot.com, October 30, 2011)
Critics' Choice Awards 2011 Winners
AsiaMediaWiki presents the winners to the 31st Korean Critics' Choice Awards. (AsianMediaWiki, October 31, 2011)
"Spotlight on Contemporary Korean Cinema" in Los Angeles
Spotlight on Contemporary Korean Cinema - including Jang Hoon Retrospective. Event, held from 11/2/11 to 11/5/11. This event is sponsored by KOFIC and presented to you by KCCLA. 5505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 Map Phone: (323) 936-7141 Fax: (323) 936-5712. (hancinema.net, October 28, 2011)
Dogani School to Be Shut Down
Gwangju City will officially shut down the so-called Dogani school for the disabled today, roughly two months after a film based on events there sparked public furor over teachers’ sexual assaults against students at the regional school. (The Korea Times, October 21, 2011)
Korean Films Set for Stockholm Festival
Korean American Film Festival New York Urban 2011
Some high-profile directors involved include Korean actress Ku Hye Sun, Cannes Film Festival veteran Soopum Sohn, and father of video art, Nam June Paik. The mini multi-medium fest will also have live performances by Misnomer(S), a hip-hop duo featuring sisters Knewdles (MC), Sos (Violin), and VongKu Pak, who will be playing the Korean traditional drums with a jazz ensemble. (Korean Beacon, October 31, 2011)
Bleak Night and The Journals of Musan to screen at Reel Asian Film Fest. in Toronto
A couple of Korean films which have already met with great success on the international festival circuit will be presented at the Reel Asian Film Fest. in Toronto. They are Yoon Sung-hyun's Bleak Night and Park Jung-bum's The Journals of Musan. (reelasian.com, October 2011)
Critics' Choice Awards 2011 Winners
AsiaMediaWiki presents the winners to the 31st Korean Critics' Choice Awards. (AsianMediaWiki, October 31, 2011)
"Spotlight on Contemporary Korean Cinema" in Los Angeles
Spotlight on Contemporary Korean Cinema - including Jang Hoon Retrospective. Event, held from 11/2/11 to 11/5/11. This event is sponsored by KOFIC and presented to you by KCCLA. 5505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 Map Phone: (323) 936-7141 Fax: (323) 936-5712. (hancinema.net, October 28, 2011)
In a near unanimous vote, South Korea’s parliament approved a tougher law against sex crimes Friday, inspired in part by a recent movie based on a real-life case of sexually abused deaf children. (The Washington Post, October 28, 2011)
VIDEO - Facing (about the "Hope Bus" events in Busan)
I took these images in Busan, Korea, on october 8th. Some filmmakers and people related to movies took buses to see the female worker Kim Jin-suk, who's occupying a crane of her factory, Hanjin, since more than 8 months (from beginning january). (vimeo, October 17, 2011)
VIDEO - Greeting Message from Jonathan Ross to London Greeting Message from Jonathan Ross to London Korean Film Festival 2011
A messade from Jonathan Ross on the upcoming London Korean Film Festival. (youtube.com, October 28, 2011)
The Day He Arrives and Dance Town Screening at Cork Film Festival
Hong Sang Soo's The Day He Arrives and Jeon Kyu-hwan’s Dance Town will be screening at the Corona Cork Film Festival running November 6-13. (Cork Film Festival, October 2011)
D-War Director Banned From Leaving Country
Film producer and director Shim Hyung-rae has been banned from leaving the country on suspicions that he embezzled 4.1 billion won ($3.7 million) of his company’s money and remodeled manufactured firearms. (Joong Ang Daily, November 1, 2011)
VIDEO - Facing (about the "Hope Bus" events in Busan)
I took these images in Busan, Korea, on october 8th. Some filmmakers and people related to movies took buses to see the female worker Kim Jin-suk, who's occupying a crane of her factory, Hanjin, since more than 8 months (from beginning january). (vimeo, October 17, 2011)
VIDEO - Greeting Message from Jonathan Ross to London Greeting Message from Jonathan Ross to London Korean Film Festival 2011
A messade from Jonathan Ross on the upcoming London Korean Film Festival. (youtube.com, October 28, 2011)
The Day He Arrives and Dance Town Screening at Cork Film Festival
Hong Sang Soo's The Day He Arrives and Jeon Kyu-hwan’s Dance Town will be screening at the Corona Cork Film Festival running November 6-13. (Cork Film Festival, October 2011)
D-War Director Banned From Leaving Country
Film producer and director Shim Hyung-rae has been banned from leaving the country on suspicions that he embezzled 4.1 billion won ($3.7 million) of his company’s money and remodeled manufactured firearms. (Joong Ang Daily, November 1, 2011)
Gwangju City will officially shut down the so-called Dogani school for the disabled today, roughly two months after a film based on events there sparked public furor over teachers’ sexual assaults against students at the regional school. (The Korea Times, October 21, 2011)
Korean Films Set for Stockholm Festival
In the Asian Images section along with The Day He Arrives, the festival has selected up-and-coming director Jeon Kyu-hwan’s Dance Town, about North Korean escapees, Kim Ki-duk’s self-portrait documentary Arirang, and Na Hong-jin’s brutal thriller The Yellow Sea. (KOBIZ, October 28, 2011)
Busan West Reveals Selection
Busan West (11-13 Nov 2011), a new film festival being organised by South Korea's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in the US, has unveiled an 11-title inaugural line up. (Film Business Asia, November 1, 2011)
The Final Schedule For the 2011 London Korean Film Festival
Here are the screening details for the 2011 London Korean Film Festival, including the screenings in Cambridge, Sheffield and Newcastle. For the events at the KCCUK, book by emailing [email protected]. (London Korea Links, November 2, 2011)
KOFIC Success at Tokyo Market
The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced successful results from the 24th Tokyo International Film Festival and 8th TIFFCOM market after a presentation on co-productions and locations incentives, the Ko-production in Tokyo project meetings, and film sales at the KOFIC umbrella stand. (KOBIZ, October 31, 2011)
Busan West Reveals Selection
Busan West (11-13 Nov 2011), a new film festival being organised by South Korea's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in the US, has unveiled an 11-title inaugural line up. (Film Business Asia, November 1, 2011)
The Final Schedule For the 2011 London Korean Film Festival
Here are the screening details for the 2011 London Korean Film Festival, including the screenings in Cambridge, Sheffield and Newcastle. For the events at the KCCUK, book by emailing [email protected]. (London Korea Links, November 2, 2011)
KOFIC Success at Tokyo Market
The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced successful results from the 24th Tokyo International Film Festival and 8th TIFFCOM market after a presentation on co-productions and locations incentives, the Ko-production in Tokyo project meetings, and film sales at the KOFIC umbrella stand. (KOBIZ, October 31, 2011)
Some high-profile directors involved include Korean actress Ku Hye Sun, Cannes Film Festival veteran Soopum Sohn, and father of video art, Nam June Paik. The mini multi-medium fest will also have live performances by Misnomer(S), a hip-hop duo featuring sisters Knewdles (MC), Sos (Violin), and VongKu Pak, who will be playing the Korean traditional drums with a jazz ensemble. (Korean Beacon, October 31, 2011)
Bleak Night and The Journals of Musan to screen at Reel Asian Film Fest. in Toronto
A couple of Korean films which have already met with great success on the international festival circuit will be presented at the Reel Asian Film Fest. in Toronto. They are Yoon Sung-hyun's Bleak Night and Park Jung-bum's The Journals of Musan. (reelasian.com, October 2011)
Head to South Korea for Seoul Independent Film Festival
The Seoul Independent Film Festival will return to the South Korean capital in December to showcase a selection of productions from local screenwriters. Cineastes will have the opportunity to watch a diverse range of films across three categories - shorts, lasting for less than 60 minutes, features of an hour or more and invitational movies. (The Open Press, November 1, 2011)
Korean Stars’ Surprise at Dedicated Myanmar Fans
South Korean movie stars, Mr. Choi Soo-jong and Ms. So Yi-hyun, arrived in Yangon to the sound of a crowd screaming their names and holding aloft photos on October 20. (The Myanmar Times, October 31, 2011)
Korean Film Festival: East Meets West
The inaccurately-named London Korean Film Festival has expanded this year to include Sheffield and Cambridge, and with new Korean films that have never been seen before in the UK, Q&A sessions with well and not so well-known directors, and even a KPop group called 'SHINee' giving a live performance on the opening night, it really is bigger than ever. (The Independent, November 1, 2011)
‘Barrier-Free’ Films Offer Universal Experience
Blind becomes first local barrier-free film for people with hearing or visual impairments. The new version is accompanied by a descriptive audio feature and subtitles that narrate each and every action of the film. It was first screened during the first Barrier-Free Film Symposium in Seoul at Korean Film Archive from Oct. 28-31. (The Korea Times, October 31, 2011)
Lee Chang-dong to Meet Fans at Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival
Lee Chang-dong will attend the screening of his film Secret Sunshine (2007) at the Shin Kong Cineplex in Taipei. Winner of the Special Director Prize at the 2008 Asian Film Festival, Lee served as South Korea’s Minister of Culture and Tourism in 2003 and 2004. (Taiwan News, November 2, 2011)
INTERVIEWS
Extraordinary Expats: Filmmaker NJ Calder
American filmmaker talks zombies, Korean cops, and sleepless nights in Seoul leading to his first feature film. (seoulistmag.com, October 23, 2011)
Barbie - Q&A (Busan International Film Festival)
Q &A for Barbie took place after a screening of the movie at the 2011 Busan International Film Festival on October 7, 2011. Appearing as speakers are actor Jo Yong-Seok, actress Kate Tebow, actress Kim A-Ron, actress Kim Sae-Ron, actor Lee Chun-Hee, and director Lee Sang-Woo. AsianMediaWiki editor Ki Mun was there and transcribed/translated the session. (Asian Media Wiki, October 7, 2011)
Thai Director Gives a Strong Kick to New Taekwondo Film
Although taekwondo is a popular sport, it has not fared well at the box office and many a taekwondo film has flopped. But Thai martial arts film director Prachya Pinkaew, famous for his Ong-Bak films, is hoping his latest film The Kick will not follow the footsteps of its predecessors. (Joong Ang Daily, October 28, 2011)
Poongsan - Q&A (Busan International Film Festival)
Although taekwondo is a popular sport, it has not fared well at the box office and many a taekwondo film has flopped. But Thai martial arts film director Prachya Pinkaew, famous for his Ong-Bak films, is hoping his latest film The Kick will not follow the footsteps of its predecessors. (Joong Ang Daily, October 28, 2011)
Poongsan - Q&A (Busan International Film Festival)
Q&A for Poongsan took place after a screening of the movie at the 2011 Busan International Film Festival on October 10, 2011. Appearing as speakers are actor Kim Jong-Soo & director Juhn Jai-Hong. AsianMediaWiki editor Ki Mun was there and transcribed/translated the session. (AsianMediaWiki, October 10, 2011)
The Front Line - Q&A (Busan International Film Festival)
Press conference for The Front Line took place at the 2011 Busan International Film Festival on October 8, 2011. Appearing as speakers are actors Ryu Seung-Soo, Ko Soo (pictured), Lee Je-Hoon (pictured), Ko Chang-Seok (pictured), Lee Da-Wit (pictured) and director Jang Hun. AsianMediaWiki editor Ki Mun was there and transcribed/translated the session. (AsianMediaWiki, October 8, 2011)
“It’s Technically Very Difficult Getting a Tiger Into a Film:” a Conversation on Kim Han-min and His Film, War of the Arrows
Kim has said he considers the bow and arrow to be the vital element of his film. It is a pitch I hear first hand in interview—“I wanted to make a historical drama which introduced and focused on the arrow and the bow”—and again later at the press screening where he fields questions from the audience. (New Korean Cinema, November 1, 2011)
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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.
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