Song Kang-Ho 송강호 [“Broker”, “Emergency Declaration”]

[Sleepy Owl]

Quick Poll: Upcoming Kdramas 2023

 

 

Vote for the upcoming kdrama you are eagerly waiting for!!! 

 

 

 

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[Helena]

https://zapzee.net/2023/02/01/song-kang-ho-park-jung-mins-one-win-lavished-praise-at-2023-iffr/
Song Kang Ho & Park Jung Min’s ‘One Win’ Lavished Praise at 2023 IFFR

By KRISHKIM 

Credit: CONTENT ZIO Inc.

One Win, the new movie starring Song Kang Ho and Park Jung Min, has captivated the overseas audience with its perfect ensemble of actors.

One Win had its world premiere at the Big Screen section of the 2023 International Film Festival Rotterdam on the 27th. The IFFR held in the Netherlands is recognized as one of the largest film festivals in the world.

The IFFR shared, “One Win is a movie with all the elements needed for box office success. It’s interesting, technically excellent, and the actors’ performances are inspiring.”

Credit: CONTENT ZIO Inc.

More praised the movie – “Song Kang Ho is undoubtedly an amazing actor, and Park Jung Min’s performance blends in well,” “Song Kang Ho brings the movie to another level,” and “The power of this movie lies within the volleyball. And the long-take scene if the match really struck the audience.”

Meanwhile, One Win is about an unsuccessful coach who is paired up with a losing female volleyball team that only needs a single win for the owner to keep it going. It’s helmed by DONGJU; The Portrait of A Poet director Shin Yeon Shick. The movie will hit the screen later this year.

Source: CONTENT ZIO Inc.

[Helena]

https://www.screendaily.com/features/berlin-2023-korea-hot-projects/5179340.article
Berlin 2023: Korea hot projects

BY JEAN NOH | 17 FEBRUARY 2023

Koreans are back in Berlin with titles ranging from auteur Hong Sangsoo’s latest to superhero films, animation and debut features from rising talent.

SOURCE: NO JU-HAN / NETFLIX
‘KILL BOKSOON’

Festival

in water


Dir. Hong Sangsoo


Following three consecutive Silver Bear-winning films in the Berlinale — The Woman Who Ran (2020), Introduction (2021) and The Novelist’s Film (2022) — director Hong’s latest work will world premiere in Encounters. The drama stars Shin Seokho, Ha Seongguk and Kim Seungyun, and centres on a young actor who sets out to direct a short film. He travels to an island with two former classmates and wanders, unsure of what to shoot, until he meets a woman picking up rubbish on the coast. It is produced by Jeonwonsa Film.


Contact: Finecut (mailto:cineinfo@finecut.co.kr)

Kill Boksoon


Dir. Byun Sung-hyun


Set to world premiere in Berlinale Special, this Netflix feature is written and directed by Byun, whose The Merciless premiered in Cannes’ Midnight Screenings in 2017. Cannes best actress winner Jeon Do-yeon (Secret Sunshine) stars as an assassin leading a double life as a mother raising a teenage daughter. She is thrown into battle when her two identities collide. Sul Kyung-gu (The Merciless), Kim Si-a (The Closet), Esom (Microhabitat) and Koo Kyo-hwan (Peninsula) also star. The film is produced by See At Film.


Contact: Netflix

Regardless Of Us


Dir. Yoo Heung-jun


This feature debut from director Yoo has its world premiere in Berlinale Forum. The drama stars Cho Hyunjin as a middle-aged actress recovering from a sudden stroke that prevented her from attending her film’s premiere. She becomes confused as a string of colleagues visit and share different impressions of the film, with puzzling stories unravelling when she sleeps. The film also stars Choi Sungwon, Kwak Minkyu, Kim Misook, Cho Soyeon and Kang Il. Produced by Neungso Film, Regardless Of Us is due for local release in the third quarter of 2023.


Contact: M-Line Distribution (mailto:sales@mline-distribution.com)

Market

Birth


Dir. Yoo Ji-young


Winner of the Citizen Critics’ Award at Busan 2022, this drama examines how a promising young writer and her roommate/lover deal with an unplanned pregnancy that brings huge changes and conflict. The film stars Han Hae-in and Lee Han-ju.


Contact: Indiestory (mailto:sales@indiestory.com)

The Childe


Dir. Park Hoon-jung


From the director of Night In Paradise and The Witch: Part 1 & 2, this action drama stars Kim Seon-ho and Kang Tae-joo. It follows a struggling Filipino-Korean boxer with an ailing mother. He receives an unexpected call and is taken to Korea, the homeland of his father, but ends up being watched and chased for malevolent reasons.


Contact: Contents Panda (mailto:sales@its-new.co.kr)

Cobweb


Dir. Kim Jee-woon


Kim, director of Cannes 2008 action adventure The Good, The Bad, The Weird and Venice 2016 title The Age Of Shadows, returns to stylish ensemble drama and black comedy with Cobweb. Set in 1970s dictatorship-­era Korea, Cannes best actor award-winner Song Kang-ho (Broker) stars as a director desperately trying to reshoot the ending of a film, with confused cast and crew as well as meddlesome censors. Im Soo-jung, Oh Jung-se, Jeon Yeo-been and Jung Soo-jung also star. Produced by Anthology Studios, Barunson Studio and Luz y Sonidos, the film is in post-production.


Contact: Barunson E&A (mailto:intl@barunsonena.com) (international excluding French-speaking territories); Finecut (mailto:cineinfo@finecut.co.kr) (French-speaking territories) 

Hi-Five


Dir. Kang Hyoung-chul


This sci-fi drama from the director of Swing Kids revolves around five people who gain supernatural abilities after receiving organ transplants. They assemble a superhero team and face off against a cult leader with the ability to absorb energy. The film stars Lee Jae-in (Hard Hit), Yoo Ah-in (#Alive), Ahn Jae-hong (Time To Hunt), Ra Mi-ran (Honest Candidate), Kim Hie-won (Perhaps Love), Oh Jung-se (TV’s It’s Okay To Not Be Okay) and Park Jin-young (Yaksha: Ruthless Operations). Produced by Annapurna Films, it is in post-production with a local release expected this year.
Contact: Contents Panda (mailto:sales@its-new.co.kr)
 

Ms. Apocalypse


Dir. Lim Sun-ae


From the director of An Old Lady, which won the New Currents audience award at Busan in 2019, this drama stars Lee You-young (Perhaps Love), Lim Sun-woo (Nothing Serious) and Roh Jae-won (Ditto). Set at the turn of the millennium, the story follows a dowdy accounting manager — nicknamed Ms. Apocalypse — trying to help a delivery driver who has been embezzling company money. After she is arrested and serves a few months in prison, she finds the driver’s wife waiting for her with a compelling offer. Produced by Kirin Productions in association with With A Studio, the film is in post-production.
Contact: Showbox (mailto:sales@showbox.co.kr)

Pororo Popstar Adventure


Dirs. Yoon Jae-wan, Kim Sung-min


In this fantasy adventure in the popular Korean children’s animation franchise, Pororo the Little Penguin and his friends are close to winning a singing contest that they entered for fun. As they advance towards the final, they face the petty jealousy of villain Big Ben. Produced by OCON Studios, the film is in production and due for release in the fourth quarter of 2023.


Contact: K-Movie Entertainment (mailto:sales@kmovieenter.com)

Project Silence (working title)


Dir. Kim Tae-gon
This disaster action drama is from the director of Sunshine Boys and Familyhood. Lee Sun-kyun (Parasite) stars as a man who is travelling with his daughter on the bridge to Incheon airport when a thick fog causes a massive chain-reaction automobile crash. Amid the chaos, mutant military dogs escape from a transport vehicle and those left on the bridge must make it through the night. Ju Ji-hoon from the Along With The Gods franchise co-stars. Produced by Blaad Studios, the film is set for release this year.


Contact: CJ ENM (mailto:filmsales@cj.net) 

Sleep


Dir. Jason Yu


This mystery thriller starring Jung Yu-mi (Train To Busan) and Lee Sun-kyun (Parasite) marks Yu’s feature directing debut. Produced by Lewis Pictures (Okja), the story centres on a pregnant wife who becomes worried about her husband’s sleeping habits. What starts out as some light sleep-talking soon escalates to unexpectedly grotesque behaviour. They consult a sleep clinic without success, and then seek help from a shaman as his nightmarish behaviour escalates. The film is in post and scheduled for release in 2023.


Contact: Lotte Entertainment (mailto:international02@lotte.net)

Two Heart


Dir. Jung Yu-Shin


Starring Jung Man-Sik (Hunt), On Ju-wan (Honest Candidate) and Shin So-yul (A Violent Prosecutor), this drama takes place in a terminal ward where children’s last hope is to get an organ transplant. Two fathers fight desperately to each save their own child but are ultimately faced with a final choice. Produced by Miro­vision, the film is due for release in the third quarter of 2023.


Contact: Jason Chae (mailto:jason@mirovision.com), Mirovision/Studio Bonanza

Under Your Bed


Dir. Sabu


From the Japanese director of previous Berlinale Competition titles Mr. Long (2017) and Chasuke’s Journey(2015), this is Sabu’s first Korean-­language film. Based on a thriller novel by Ohishi Kei about a man who is pulled into a whirlwind of destructive love, the film stars Lee Ji-hoon (TV’s River Where The Moon Rises) and Lee Yoon-woo in a story of a man obsessed with a woman from his past who turns out to have married a violent man. Produced by Mystery Pictures, the film is in post and due for release in June.
Contact: Julie Sung (mailto:julie.sung@kt.com), kt alpha 

 

 

[Helena]

https://zapzee.net/2023/04/07/the-59th-baeksang-arts-awards-full-list-of-nominees-revealed/
The 59th Baeksang Arts Awards: Full List of Nominees Revealed

By HANA LEE

 

The 59th Baeksang Arts Awards announced its nominees for the television and film categories!

 

 

Film Category

Best Film: Next Sohee, The Night Owl, Hansan: Rising Dragon, Hunt, Decision to Leave
Best Director: Kim Han Min (Hansan: Rising Dragon), Park Chan Wook (Decision to Leave), Ahn Tae Jin (The Night Owl), Lee Jung Jae (Hunt), Jung Ju Ri (Next Sohee)
Best New Director: Kim Se In (The Apartment with Two Women), Park Yi Woong (The Girl on a Bulldozer). Ahn Tae Jin (The Night Owl), Lee Sang Yong (The Roundup), Lee Jung Jae (Hunt)
Best Actor: Ryu Jun Yeol (The Night Owl), Ma Dong Seok (The Roundup), Park Hae Il (Decision to Leave), Song Kang Ho (Broker), Jung Woo Sung (Hunt)
Best Actress: Bae Doona (Next Sohee), Yang Mal Bok (The Apartment with Two Women), Yum Jung Ah (Life Is Beautiful), Jeon Do Yeon (Kill Boksoon), Tang Wei (Decision to Leave)
Best Supporting Actor: Kang Ki Young (Bargaining), Kim Sung Cheol (The Night Owl), Park Ji Hwan (The Roundup), Byun Yo Han (Hansan: Rising Dragon), Im Si Wan (Emergency Declaration)
Best Supporting Actress: Park Se Wan (6/45), Bae Doona (Broker), Ahn Eun Jin (The Night Owl), Yum Jung Ah (Alienoid), Lee Yeon (Kill Boksoon)
Best New Actor: Roh Jae Won (Missing Yoon), Jinyoung (Christmas Carol), Byeon Woo Seok (20th Century Girl), Seo In Guk (Project Wolf Hunting), Ong Seong Wu (Life is Beautiful)
Best New Actress: Go Youn Jung (Hunt), Kim Si Eun (Next Sohee), Kim Hye Yoon (The Girl on a Bulldozer), IU (Broker), Ha Yoon Kyeong (Gyeong-ah’s Daughter)

Best Screenplay: Park Gyu Tae (6/45), Lee Jung Jae & Cho Seung Hee (Hunt), Jeong Seo Kyeong & Park Chan Wook (Decision to Leave), Jung Ju Ri (Next Sohee), Hyun Gyu Ri & Ahn Tae Jin (The Night Owl)
Best Technical: Ryu Seong Hee (Decision to Leave – Art Direction), Lee Mogae (Hunt – Cinematography), Jeong Seong Jin & Jeong Chul Min (Hansan: Rising Dragon – VFX), Jo Yeong Wook (Decision to Leave – Music), Hong Seung Chul (The Night Owl – Lighting)

 

The 59th Baeksang Arts Awards will be held on April 28th.

Source: https://www.baeksangawards.co.kr/candidate/2 

[Helena]

 

21st Florence (Italy) Korea Film Fest - Master Class with director Bong Joon-ho [April 6, 2023]

 

Director Bong mentioned Song Kang-ho & Park Hae-il 

Spoiler

https://k-odyssey.com/news/newsview.php?ncode=1065574943616655
S.Korean director Bong Joon-ho grasps film lovers in Florence

 

YonhapNews / 2023-04-07 10:02:40

 

Director Bong introduced South Korean actor Song Kang-ho, as an actor who represents the director and delivers the message spot on, "He is an actor who provides continuous stream of inspiration and courage to director throughout the production."



 

"For example, Song Kang-ho's act throughout the climax of the movie 'Parasite' might be controversial, and it may be difficult for the audience to agree upon, however there was a sense of relief that Song Kang-ho could persuade the audience and he might be the one of few actors who has the potential of do so. The actor's presence affects the creation."

[Helena]

 

Spoiler

https://variety.com/2023/film/global/cannes-film-festival-lineup-2023-full-list-1235581154/
Cannes Film Festival 2023 Lineup

 

OUT OF COMPETITION

“Killers of the Flower Moon,” Martin Scorsese
“The Idol,” Sam Levinson
“Cobweb,” Kim Jee-woon
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” James Mangold
“Jeanne du Barry,” Maiwenn

 

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230414001400315
Kim Jee-woon's 'Cobweb,' Kim Chang-hoon's 'Hopeless' invited to this year's Cannes

By sshim@yna.co.kr | April 14, 2023

Cannes Film Festival delegate general Thierry Fremaux and Festival President Iris Knobloch attend a press conference in Paris on April 13, 2023, to announce films chosen for the festival's 76th edition in this Reuters photo. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- Two South Korean films will be screened at noncompetition categories of this year's Cannes Film Festival, the event's organizers has announced.

Director Kim Jee-woon's new feature film "Cobweb" has been selected for Out of Competition and director Kim Chang-hoon's debut feature film "Hopeless" for Un Certain Regard, according to the lineup unveiled by the festival's executive committee during a press conference on Thursday (French time) for the 76th edition.

There were no Korean films chosen for competition this year, however.

A promotional poster for South Korean director Kim Jee-woon's new feature film "Cobweb," provided by its local distributor Barunson E&A. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

"Cobweb" tells the story of a film director from the 1970s who is obsessed with creating a masterpiece and struggles to shoot the film amid government censorship and uncooperative actors.

Song Kang-ho, who won the best actor award at last year's Cannes, plays the role of the director in the film, while the cast also includes Im Soo-jung, Oh Jung-se and Jeon Yeo-been.

This marks Kim's third invitation to Cannes and Song's eighth. Kim's previous films, "A Bittersweet Life" (2004) and "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" (2008), have also been selected for the noncompetition section.

Kim expressed his gratitude through the new film's distributor Barunson E&A for being invited to the festival where "global filmmakers and audiences gather" at a time when "the time of cinema" has to revive after the pandemic.

"Above all, I'm grateful to the actors who helped create the dynamic moments in 'Cobweb' together," he said.

"Hopeless" is a noir film depicting the story of a boy named Yeon-gyu (played by Hong Sa-bin) who wants to escape from the hellish reality he lives in, and his journey into the world of organized crime after meeting Chi-geon (played by Song Joong-ki).  With the film, actor Song has received his first invitation to Cannes.

A total of 19 films, including Japanese director Kore-eda Hirokazu's latest film "Monster," were nominated for competition.

The festival will open with "Jeanne du Barry" by French actor-director Maiwenn. The competition jury is chaired by Ruben Ostlund, who won the Palme d'Or last year for his film "The Square."

The festival will announce films invited to other categories such as Directors' Fortnight and Critics' Week later.

The 76th festival will run from May 16-27 in Cannes, a resort city in France. (END)

[Sleepy Owl]

Event: Wildest Kpop Hairstyles

 

Vote for the Wildest Kpop Hairstyles 

 

Your Friendly Neighborhood and Resident EOs

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[Helena]

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230516001700315

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/05/689_351047.html
76th Cannes film festival to screen 7 Korean films

By Kim Eun-Jung (ejkim@yna.co.kr) | May 16, 2023

A promotional poster for Korean director Kim Jee-woon's new feature film "Cobweb" / Courtesy of Barunson E&A

Seven Korean films by established and up-and-coming directors will be screened at this year's Cannes Film Festival that opens Tuesday in the French Riviera city.

With no Korean films chosen for the competition lineup, five features and two short films were invited to official and parallel sections for the 76th edition, which runs through May 27. 

Director Kim Jee-woon's new feature film "Cobweb" will be presented at the Out of Competition section on May 25.  "Cobweb" tells the story of a film director from the 1970s who is obsessed with creating a masterpiece and struggles to shoot the film amid government censorship and uncooperative actors.  Song, who won the best actor award at last year's Cannes, plays the role of the director in the film.  This marks Kim's third invitation to Cannes and Song's eighth. Kim's previous films, "A Bittersweet Life" (2004) and "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" (2008), have also been selected for the noncompetition section.

Director Kim Chang-hoon's debut feature "Hopeless" will be screened at Un Certain Regard, a sidebar section for new horizons and filmmakers, on May 24.  "Hopeless" is a noir film depicting the story of a boy named Yeon-gyu (played by Hong Sa-bin) who wants to escape from the hellish reality he lives in, and his journey into the world of organized crime after meeting Chi-geon (played by Song Joong-ki).  With the film, Song will walk the red carpet at Cannes for the first time in his 15-year acting career.

Auteur Hong Sang-soo's 30th feature, "In Our Day," will close out Directors' Fortnight on May 25, which marks his 12th appearance at Cannes. The section highlights innovative films by emerging directors and more established filmmakers alike.

Director Kim Tae-gon's "Project Silence" will premiere at the Midnight Screenings section Monday. It is an out-of-competition section dedicated to films that have popular appeal and artistic value.

Jason Yu's feature debut titled "Sleep" will be screened at Cannes Critics' Week, which focuses on the first and second films by emerging directors, on Sunday.

 

Spoiler

A promotional poster for Korean director Kim Kim Tae-gon's first feature film, "Sleep" / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment

In addition, two short films will vie for the La Cinef awards, a competition for students' works.  "Lee's Family" directed by Seo Jung-mi from the Korea National University of Arts, and "Hole" directed by Hwang Hye-in from the Korean Academy of Film Arts, were included in this year's lineup. 

Meanwhile, K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's Jennie will attend red carpet and screening events Monday for her acting debut in the HBO drama "The Idol," which was invited to the Out of Competition section. (END)

 

—

 

[Helena]

Cannes 2023: Screen International Day 2 edition

 

https://www.screendaily.com/features/cannes-2023-south-korea-hot-projects/5182120.article
Cannes 2023: South Korea hot projects

BY JEAN NOH | 16 MAY 2023

Korean sellers are back on the Croisette with five titles screening in the festival including Cobweb by veteran director Kim Jee-woon and Sleep by Jason Yu, a former assistant director to Bong Joon Ho.

 

Festival

SOURCE: BARUNSON E&A / DIR KIM JEE-WOON
‘COBWEB’

Cobweb
Dir. Kim Jee-woon


Cannes best actor award-winner Song Kang-ho (Broker) returns in Kim’s out of Competition title as an obsessive director working in 1970s dictatorship-era South Korea. He is hellbent on reshooting the ending of his tragicomic film in two days but cast and crew are confused and uncooperative while censors also get in the way. Kim previously had A Bittersweet Life (2005) and The Good, The Bad, The Weird (2008), which starred Song, play out of Competition in Cannes. Cobweb also stars Lim Soo-jung, Oh Jung-se, Jeon Yeo-been and Jung Soo-jung.


Contact: Barunson E&A (mailto:intl@barunsonena.com)

Spoiler

Hopeless
Dir. Kim Chang-hoon


Previously known as Hwa-ran, this feature debut from director Kim is playing in Un Certain Regard. Top Korean actor Song Joong-ki, star of Space Sweepers and TV’s Reborn Rich, said he would work on it for free after seeing the script. It stars rising actor Hong Xa-bin as a teenager who dreams of escaping his violent hometown but is drawn into the world of a local thug (Song) after accepting a favour from him. It is produced by Sanai Pictures, whose credits include Cannes Midnight Screenings titles Hunt and The Spy Gone North.


Contact: Plus M Entertainment (mailto:sales@megabox.co.kr)

In Our Day
Dir. Hong Sangsoo


Set as the closing film of Directors’ Fortnight, this marks the 12th visit to Cannes for prolific auteur Hong. His last was with In Front Of Your Face in the 2021 Cannes Premiere section. In Our Day stars Ki Joo-bong (The Novelist’s Film) and Kim Minhee (The Day After) alongside other familiar faces from Hong’s films. It revolves around a woman in her forties staying with someone who has a cat, and a man in his seventies living alone whose cat died of old age. Both receive visitors who have earnest questions. It is produced by Jeonwonsa Film.


Contact: Finecut, sales@finecut.co.kr festival@finecut.co.kr

Project Silence
Dir. Kim Tae-gon


In the Midnight Screenings section, this disaster action drama takes place on South Korea’s famously long Incheon Grand Bridge. Lee Sun-kyun of Parasite — also to be seen in Critics’ Week title Sleep — plays a man driving his daughter to the airport when a thick fog causes a massive automobile pile-up and they are stuck overnight in a lockdown. Others on the bridge include a tow-truck driver, played by Ju Ji-hoon, and mutated military dogs escaped from their transport. Directed by Kim Tae-gon (Familyhood), it is produced by Kim Yong-hwa of the hit Along With The Gods franchise.


Contact: CJ ENM filmsales@cj.net

Sleep
Dir. Jason Yu


A former assistant director to Bong Joon Ho, Yu makes his feature directing debut in Critics’ Week with this horror comedy. Jung Yu-mi from Train To Busan and Lee Sun-kyun (Parasite) — also to be seen in Midnight Screenings title Project Silence — play a young couple, before and after the birth of their first child. The husband’s sleeping habits become increasingly grotesque and they consult first a sleep clinic and then a shaman. Bong has lauded the film’s unpredictable drama and called it “the most unique horror film” he has seen in the last decade. It is produced by Lewis Pictures (Okja).


Contact: Lotte Entertainment (mailto:international02@lotte.net)
 

 

Market

4PM
Dir. Jay Song


This mystery thriller stars Oh Dal-su (Along With The Gods: The Two Worlds), Kim Hong-pa (Sinkhole) and Jang Young-nam (Confidential Assignment). It follows a retired philosophy professor and his wife, who move to a quiet town to enjoy their golden years but are dismayed to find a perplexing neighbour who starts visiting their house every day at 4pm. Produced by Daydream Entertainment (Stellar, Tomb Of The River), the film is in post-production with a local release expected this year.


Contact: Contents Panda (mailto:sales@its-new.co.kr)

Comment Army (working title)
Dir. Ahn Gooc-jin


An adaptation of the award-­winning novel of the same name by Chang Kang-myoung — inspired by true events in South Korea — this crime drama stars Son Sukku from Disney+ series Big Bet and South Korea’s leading 2022 box-office hit The Roundup. The story follows a reporter who, while investigating an online public sentiment manipulation story, uncovers the criminal workings of the so-called Comment Army in Korea. The cast also includes Kim Sung-Cheol (The Night Owl), Kim Dong-Hwi (In Our Prime) and Hong Kyung (Netflix’s DP). Now in production, it is produced by Alex Kim (Tazza: One Eyed Jack). Ahn previously directed Alice In Earnestland.


Contact: Acemaker movieworks (mailto:sales@acemaker.co.kr)

Devils
Dir. Kim Jae-hoon


This body-swap film is Kim’s feature-directing debut and stars Jang Dong-yoon (Project Wolf Hunting) and Oh Dae-hwan (Tomb Of The River). It centres on a homicide detective (Oh) who tracks down a serial murderer (Jang), whose victims included his colleague and brother-in-law, only to wake up from an accident and find himself in the killer’s body. He then begins a desperate chase to protect his family and uncover the secret of the body switch. Produced by Contents G in association with The Contents On, the film is in post-­production.


Contact: Finecut sales@finecut.co.kr festival@finecut.co.kr

Dr. Cheon And Lost Talisman
Dir. Kim Seong-sik


This mystery thriller marks the feature-directing debut of Kim, who was an assistant director to Bong Joon Ho on Parasite, Park Chan-wook on Decision To Leave and Hong Won-chan on Deliver Us From Evil. The story follows psychiatrist and con-man Dr. Cheon, who travels around the country with his assistant to perform fake exorcisms, until they find themselves in the crosshairs of an actual superhuman being. Gang Dong-won (Broker) and Huh Joon-ho (Escape From Mogadishu) star alongside E Som, Lee Dong-hwi and Kim Jong-soo. Produced by Filmmaker R&K, the film is set for release later this year.


Contact: CJ ENM (mailto:filmsales@cj.net)

Exhuma
Dir. Jang Jae-hyun


This mystery horror film is from the director of Svaha: The Sixth Finger and The Priests. Starring Choi Min-sik of Oldboy, Kim Go-eun from TV’s Little Women, Yoo Hai-jin and Lee Do-hyun, Exhuma follows a wealthy family living in Los Angeles who experience paranormal events and summon a shamanic duo to save their newborn. They sense a dark ancestor’s shadow and call in a geomancer and mortician to set about exhuming a grave in Korea — but unleash a malevolent force. The film is in post-production.


Contact: Showbox (mailto:sales@showbox.co.kr)

Good Job (working title)
Dir. Hwang Dong-seok


Yoo Seon-ho of TV’s Under The Queen’s Umbrella stars in this action drama as a high-school student facing debt collectors as well as bullying from a supposed model student. His life takes a thrilling turn when he stumbles on a lost envelope of money and steps into the world of loan sharks. The film is in post-production and set for local release in Q4 of 2023.


Contact: Julie Sung, kt alpha (mailto:julie.sung@kt.com) 

Hidden Face
Dir. Kim Dae-woo


This mystery thriller reunites the director of Obsessed (2014) with star Song Seung-heon and Cho Yeo-jeong of Parasite, joined by Park Ji-hyun from TV’s Reborn Rich. It centres on a conductor who is set to marry a cellist when she disappears suddenly, leaving only a farewell video. He starts to get closer to another woman who used to substitute on the cello for his fiancée. But as their relationship deepens, they cannot shake the feeling that someone is watching them. Produced by Studio&New (Soulmate), the film is in post-­production.


Contact: Contents Panda (mailto:sales@its-new.co.kr)

Livestream
Dir. Choi Ju-yeon


This thriller, starring Park Sung-woong (New World) and Park Sun-ho (Champion), follows a freelance TV producer in a relationship crisis who receives a link to an illegal spy cam of his own girlfriend. With no time to lose, he decides to take matters into his own hands and rescue her, only to descend into the seedy world of illegal broadcasting. The film is in post-production and due for local release in June.


Contact: Julie Sung, kt alpha (mailto:julie.sung@kt.com)

Love Reset
Dir. Nam Dae-joong


This romantic comedy from the director of Homme Fatale stars Kang Ha-neul from TV’s When The Camellia Blooms and Jeong So-min of Project Wolf Hunting. The story centres on a couple who get married despite opposition from their families. Two years later, they are leaving a courthouse after receiving a 30-day divorce settlement when a car accident leaves them both with memory loss. The amnesia-­stricken couple fall for each other again as their family members devise an elaborate plan to jog their memories and complete the divorce. Produced by Woollim, Love Reset is in post-­production with a release planned for later this year.


Contact: Barunson E&A (mailto:intl@barunsonena.com)

The Moon (working title)
Dir. Kim Yong-hwa


From the director of the Along With The Gods franchise, this sci-fi drama stars Sul Kyung-gu (Phantom) and Doh Kyung-soo (Along With The Gods franchise). It is set in the near future, when Korea’s first manned mission to the Moon ends in a tragic disaster. Seven years later, a second human spaceflight is launched successfully but solar winds cause it to malfunction and leaves one astronaut (Doh) stranded in space. Facing another fatal catastrophe, the Naro Space Center turns to its former managing director (Sul) to help bring him back home safely. Produced by CJ ENM Studios and BLAAD Studios, The Moon is set for release later this year.


Contact: CJ ENM (mailto:filmsales@cj.net) 

No Heaven, But Love
Dir. Han Jay


This LGBTQ+ teen romance won Korean streaming platform Watcha’s Pick award at the recent Jeonju International Film Festival. It stars Primetime Emmy award-winning actress Lee You-mi from Netflix’s Squid Game and Park Soo-yeon from arthouse favourite House Of Hummingbird. The story follows two high-school girls’ love and friendship in the violent summer of 1999, when an aspiring national taekwondo athlete’s life takes an unexpected turn after her mother brings home a juvenile delinquent as a foster child.


Contact: M-Line Distribution (mailto:sales@mline-distribution.com)

The Roundup: Punishment
Dir. Heo Myeong-haeng


The fourth in this action crime series headed by Don Lee (aka Ma Dong-seok) also stars Kim Moo-yul, whose roles as cop and bad guy were reversed in Cannes 2019 title The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil. Director Heo is a well-known stunt co-ordinator whose credits include The Roundup — last year’s biggest box-office hit in Korea, which recorded more than 12.6 million admissions — as well as Hunt, Ashfall, Extreme Job and Train To Busan. He is expected to up the level of intricate fight scenes in this latest instalment about the ‘Beast Cop’ (Lee), in which he hunts down the mob behind an illegal online gambling business. Produced by ABO Entertainment, Hong Film, BigPunch Pictures and B.A. Entertainment, the film is currently in post-production for release next year.
Contact: Junho Park, K-Movie (mailto:Entertainment%20sales@kmovieenter.com)

 

 

 

[Helena]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-kim-jee-woon-film-sale-cobweb-1235494070/
Cannes: Kim Jee-woon’s ‘Cobweb’ Sells Wide (Exclusive)
The much-anticipated comedy-drama, premiering in an out-of-competition slot at Cannes, features 'Parasite' star Song Kang-ho as a filmmaker frantically trying to finish the movie he believes will be his masterpiece.

BY PATRICK BRZESKI | MAY 17, 2023 7:30PM

 

Cobweb

South Korean director Kim Jee-woon’s much anticipated period comedy drama Cobweb has kicked off the Cannes market with a slew of international sales. Set to premiere in Cannes in an out-of-competition slot on May 25, Cobweb stars Song Kang-ho (Parasite) as a filmmaker frantically trying to finish the movie he believes will be his masterpiece.

International sales for the film, distributed and sold by Seoul-based Barunson E&A, so far include Japan (Happinet Phantom Studios), Taiwan (MovieCloud), Hong Kong/Macau (Edko Films), Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand – Clover Films), France and French-speaking territories (The Jokers Films, handled by Finecut), German-speaking territories and Italy (Plaion Pictures), Spain (La Aventura), CIS (Arna Media), Middle East (Phars Film), India (Impact Films), ex-Yugoslavia (Cinemania), Worldwide Inflight (Anuvu/Emphasis). The film is produced by SLL’s Anthology Studios.

Set in South Korea during the politically repressive 1970s, Cobweb centers on a director named Kim (Song) whose career is at a crossroads when he becomes obsessed by the desire to re-shoot the ending of his recently completed film “Cobweb.” But chaos and turmoil grip the set with interference from the censorship authorities and the complaints of actors and producers who can’t understand the re-written ending. A dynamic story about the essence of cinema emerges as Kim struggles to find a way through the chaos to fulfill his artistic ambitions and complete his masterwork.

 

Song Kang-ho in ‘Cobweb’

Song is joined in the lead cast by Im Soo-jung, who starred in Kim Jee-woon’s influential horror flick A Tale of Two Sisters two decades ago. In the Cobweb, she plays a veteran actress. Oh Jung-se (TV’s Okay to Not Be Okay and When The Camellia Blooms) plays a womanizing lead actor starring in the film-within-the-film, while Jeon Yeo-been (Netflix’s Night in Paradise and TV series Vincenzo) makes a strong impression as the heiress of the production company and director Kim’s only ally. Former K-pop star and actress Jung Soo-jung (aka Krystal Jung, from Netflix’s Sweet & Sour), plays a talented but high-maintenance starlet.

Cobweb marks the fifth collaboration between Kim Jee-woon and Song, both now world-famous for their screen versatility. Their first project together was the landmark 1997 black comedy horror The Quiet Family, followed by comedy-drama The Foul King, which became an early Korean festival favorite. Kim’s breakthrough “Kimchee Western” The Good, The Bad, The Weird (2008) was their first work to screen at Cannes, while spy action thriller The Age of Shadows went to Venice in 2016.

[Helena]

FRA: "Cobweb (Dans La Toile)" Red Carpet - The 76th Annual Cannes Film Festival
Photos-> https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?events=775977824

 

 

 

 

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230526000477
Kim Jee-woon’s ‘Cobweb’ receives 10-minute standing ovation at Cannes

By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com) | May 26, 2023

 

Actor Song Kang-ho poses for a photo on the red carpet for “Cobweb” at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on Thursday. (Yonhap-AFP)

“Cobweb,” director Kim Jee-woon's first feature film in 13 years and his third project, was screened at the 76th Cannes Film Festival Thursday night local time, where it received a 10-minute standing ovation.

Starring veteran actor Song Kang-ho, “Cobweb” revolves around the struggles of a film director (Song) in the 1970s when the industry languished due to government censorship and unsupportive actors. The cast includes actors Lim Soo-jeong, Oh Jeong-se, Jeon Yeo-been and Jung Soo-jung.

Screened under the noncompetitive Un Certain Regard section, some in the audience cheered when the camera zoomed in on Song’s face on the screen.

Director Kim told the crowd that he “gained energy from the audience” and extended his gratitude to the cast and all other staff who had worked on the film.

 

Spoiler

From left: Actor Song Kang-ho, Oh Jeong-se, Jeon Yeo-been, Jung Soo-jung, Lim Soo-jeong, Jang Young-nam, Park Jeong-soo, director Kim Jee-woon walk the red carpet for “Cobweb” at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on Thursday. (Yonhap-AFP)

“Cobweb” follows Kim’s 2005 film “A Bittersweet Life” and 2008 film “The Good, The Bad, the Weird” that were invited to the noncompetition section in previous editions of the major cinema showcase. Both also featured Song as the main protagonist.

This also marked Song’s eighth time in Cannes. The 56-year-old was last at Cannes for his best actor win for Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s film "Broker” last year.

The film is slated to open in local theaters within this year.

 

Spoiler

 

FRA: "Cobweb (Dans La Toile)" Photocall - The 76th Annual Cannes Film Festival
photos-> https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?events=775977803

 

 

 

FRA: "Cobweb (Dans La Toile)" Press Conference - The 76th Annual Cannes Film Festival
Photos -> https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?events=775982852

 

 

 

 

[Helena]

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/08/689_356946.html
3 domestic films ready to compete at Chuseok holiday box office

By Kwak Yeon-soo | 2023-08-13

A scene from the film, "Cobweb" / Courtesy of Barunson E&A

Three domestic films are set to hit local theaters next month to attract film buffs ahead of Chuseok, Korea's autumn thanksgiving holiday. It is an important period for Korea's film industry as it is one of the country's longer holidays along with the Lunar New Year holiday, which fall in January or February. 

This year, Chuseok will be a four-day extended holiday over the weekend, running from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1.

With the arrival of highly anticipated films like "Cobweb", "Road to Boston" and "Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman," all boasting substantial budgets and needing significant ticket sales to break even, the box office will likely witness tough competition.

"Cobweb," directed by Kim Jee-woon, has set off a wave of excitement among moviegoers ahead of the film's scheduled release in September. 

The film was screened at the Out of Competition section of the 76th Cannes Film Festival and received a whopping 12-minute standing ovation.

The film starring Song Kang-ho, Im Soo-jung and Jeon Yeo-been, focuses on the life of a filmmaker from the 1970s who is obsessed with creating a masterpiece and struggles to shoot the film with actors who have a reputation for being difficult to work with amid cultural censorship.

A poster for the film, "Road to Boston" / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment

"Road to Boston," starring Ha Jung-woo and Im Si-wan, is about Korean marathon runners who participated in Boston Marathon in 1947 after Korea had been liberated from Japan in 1945. It was inspired by the true story of Suh Yun-bok, who won the 1947 Boston Marathon with a world record time. 

Directed by Kang Je-gyu, best known for "Swiri" (1999) and "TaeGukGi: Brotherhood of War" (2004), the film was originally scheduled to be released in 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman," fronted by actor Gang Dong-won, will also hit local theaters in September.

The mystery thriller revolves around a fake exorcist who ends up facing a real case of demonic possession. He travels around the country with his assistant to perform fake exorcisms until they get involved in a case of a girl possessed by an evil spirit and are faced with the challenge of saving her.

Korea's box office reached around 70 percent of pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2023, according to data released by the Korean Film Council.

The total box-office revenue for the first six months of the year period was 606.7 billion won ($474.5 million), the equivalent of 72.5 percent of the same period in 2019. Compared to the first half of 2022, ticket sales have decreased by 5.9 percent. Admissions rose 29.9 percent to hit 58.39 million.