[News] Drama, Movies, Actors & Actresses

[deka_if]

Asiana short film fest to focus on young talents

The seventh Asiana International Short Film Festival will kick off its six-day run on Nov. 5 at CineCube in Seoul, featuring 79 films from 32 countries in seven sections.

"More than 2,000 short films from 82 countries have applied to join the main competition section this year, up 16 percent from last year, reflecting a heightened position of the Asian film festival in and outside of Korea," said Ahn Sung-ki, chief festival organizer, at a news conference held in Seoul on Tuesday.

Ahn said that 52 competition section finalists from 30 countries are expected to showcase the potentials of up-and-coming filmmakers who are currently nurturing their skills through short film.

The opening films are "The Employment," an imaginative animation directed by Santiago Bou Grasso from Argentina, and "WU," a French comic short by Cecile Vernant. "The Employment," an Asian premiere, features a worker heading for his office in the morning in a city where everything, or anything, is interconnected with each other in an unexpected fashion. "WU," meanwhile, attempts to capture a glimpse into the infinite possibilities of changes and daydreaming when a 50-year-old man gets disillusioned with his own life.

Kim Jee-woon, a Korean filmmaker who has built up his fame with "A Tale of Two Sisters" and "A Bittersweet Life," has assumed the head of the jury for the competition section of the festival. "All of the finalists deal with provocative yet inspiring topics, and the jury members will focus on contenders who have their own breadth, rhythm and color," Kim said.

Kim noted that he feels "a lot of pressure" in selecting a winner in the short film festival because the competition is primarily aimed at discovering new talents who will play a major role in the film industry. "One thing I really hope to see this year is an entirely new film that we've never seen before," Kim said.

Toward the end of the festival, the jury will select the winner in the competition section, which will be the festival's official closing film.

Son Ye-jin, a leading actress who paired with Bae Yong-joon in "April Snow" in 2005, has been invited to become a special jury member for the Face in Shorts Award, a prize designed to recognize a promising actor in Korean short films. "I'm very excited to watch and appreciate the performances of actors in short films, though it's a bit awkward to take a jury member's position instead of an actor's," Son said.

Ku Hey-sun, a versatile actress initially known for her role in "Boys Over Flowers," has joined the film events as a director for the official trailer film. "I was looking for different ideas that would fit in with short films, and then chose the universal theme of 'love' that is also likely to raise the audience's curiosity," she said.

Ku's short film titled "The Madonna" (2008), a tale about euthanasia, will be screened as part of the festival's special programs.

As with previous years, "AISFF In the Air Program" will select about 10 films to be screened on Asiana flights in the first half of 2010, an alternative distribution channel for innovative filmmakers and a new revenue source.

Aside from the main competition section, the festival has four special programs. First, the Focus on Directors section will feature short films from both well-known international filmmakers and up-and-coming directors. The entries include "All the Boys are Called Patrick" by Jean-Luc Godard, "Camera" by David Cronenberg, "Justice" by Yukisada Isao, and "The Submerged Rock" by Yi Sang-il.

The second special program, titled "Shorts with Theme: Understanding & I" will screen six Korean films tackling the intrinsic difficulty in communicating with others at a deeper level, including actor-cum-director Yoo Ji-tae's "Invitation" and award-winning director Min Byung-kook's "Magic Candy."

The third special program is "Shorts with Theme II: 8," featuring eight foreign films that explore serious topics such as hunger, education, childbirth and AIDS in a witty and creative fashion.

The fourth program, "Mix Planet: Ola! Brazil," is dedicated to the representative Brazilian short films, featuring talented filmmakers such as Giberto Scarpa, Esmir Filho and Julia Zakia.

For further information about the film festival, which runs through Nov. 10, visit www.aisff.org

Credits : Yang Sung-jin (insight@heraldm.com)

Source : The Korea Herald

2009.10.08

[deka_if]

10-07-2009

Movie Tests Korea-US Ties

A poster shows a local film revisiting the

1997 Itaewon murder of a Korean student

allegedly by a Korean American and an American.

NGOs Call for Reinvestigation of Itaewon Homicide Case in 1997

Authorities and American diplomats are concerned over the possibility that a recently-released movie depicting the 1997 Itaewon homicide by a Korean-American and the son of a U.S. soldier may fan the flames of anti-Americanism.

The concerns may be backed by the fact that the film has so far attracted more than 300,000 moviegoers.

Twelve years ago, a Korean American and the child of a U.S. soldier were tried for randomly killing a Korean college student in a restaurant in Itaewon, Seoul. They were eventually released from Korean prison.

The September release of a domestic film based on the incident is rekindling the anger that many Koreans felt toward the investigative authorities during and after the trial of the two suspects, who each blamed the other for the stabbing of the young Korean.

American diplomats who have seen the movie are worried that it may rekindle anti-American sentiment among Korean youth.

Authorities are also concerned because the murder case has been used by some progressive civic groups to stir anti-Americanism by raising issues such as the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between Korea and the U.S. Prosecutors have claimed that the SOFA has made it difficult for them to collect evidence or seek witnesses.

The case has also played a role in fueling a stereotype harbored by some Koreans that Americans related to the USFK are not duly punished for crimes they commit on Korean territory.

The acquittal of two US soldiers involved in the 2002 accidental deaths of two Korean girls ― Shim Mi-sun and Shin Hyo-soon ― triggered anger in many Koreans. The girls were struck by a U.S. armored vehicle.

Some campaigners of civic groups are petitioning at popular Web communities for a reinvestigation of the 1997 murder. There isn't much time left for prosecutors to do so ― there are only three years left in the 15-year statute of limitations for homicide.

``The prosecution has displayed a thorough lack of competence and determination in dealing with this case,'' a netizen wrote on Agora, a Web community operated by Daum.

``Obviously, one of the American suspects is guilty of killing a Korean national. However, one was released for lack of evidence and the other was acquitted.''

Some are using the official Web site of the film to calls for a reinvestigation.

Due to such developments, the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office recently made a detailed report to the Supreme Prosecutor's Office about the case.

``We are paying close attention to criticism directed toward prosecutors regarding the handling of the case,'' an official with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said.

``We are worried that the movie may influence the viewers' judgments of the prosecution and our investigative capacity.''

Both of the case's primary suspects ― Arthur Patterson and Edward Lee ― served some time in jail during the trial for weapons possession and destruction of evidence, but were eventually released.

Lee, a Korean-American civilian, appealed his conviction and was eventually cleared of all charges by the Supreme Court. The law prohibits further investigation of him for the same crime.

Patterson, the son of a U.S. military serviceman, was pardoned from a prison sentence in a general amnesty. He fled to the United States in 1999 after prosecutors made the mistake of not renewing a travel ban imposed on him. He has since been punished for various crimes in California.

Reinvestigation efforts could gain momentum with the involvement of Interpol to track Patterson down and bring him back to Korea.

Criminal law is effective for all crimes committed on Korean territory by Koreans and foreign nationals.

Credits : Do Je-hae, Staff Reporter (jhdo@koreatimes.co.kr)

Source : The Korea Times

[rubie]

For Pusan fest detailed info, photos and updates -- please refer the 14th PIFF thread, thanks to WoundedHeart

14th Pusan International Film Festival PIFF 8-16 October, 2009

http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=315585

Pusan film festival kicks off October 8

A scene of the opening ceremony at last year`s Pusan International Film Festival [PIFF]

Asia's biggest film festival, The 14th Pusan International Film Festival kicks off today, with the screening of director Jang Jin's latest political comedy "Good Morning President" starring Jang Dong-gun as Korea's youngest president-elect.

The film will be screened at the outdoor theater of the Suyoungman Yacht Marina later in the evening after the film's red carpet event. From today till Oct. 16, the regions' most lavish film-fest will invite the world to the southeastern port city.

Not only will top Korean stars like Jang Dong-gun, Lee Byung-hun, Sul Kyoung-gu, So Ji-sub, Ha Ji-won, Ha Jung-woo, Kim Yoon-jin, Han Chae-young will be attending the nine-day film extravaganza, Hollywood stars like Josh Hartnett will also be stepping onto the red carpet when his film "I come with the rain" is screened later in the week along with his co-star in the film, Kimura Takuya.

For those wanting to get closer to their favorite stars, they will be given that chance throughout the event when visiting actors and actresses take part in meet-and-greet sessions set-up at the Nampodong outdoor stage of the Haeundae Beach PIFF Village.

Tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. the PIFF Center will host open talk forums that will give fans a chance to speak to actors from the films that are in competition. This year's PIFF has invited a record 355 films, with 144 world premieres, giving film junkies something to look forward to.

Outdoor performances have been lined-up to give visitors something to do between theater-hopping. On Saturday at the Sooyoungman Marina, an event called "Cinematic Love" will go on until 4:00 a.m. with musical performances including Korean hip-hop star Tiger JK, continental pop superstar BoA, and J-Pop's reigning queen Amuro Namie.

On Friday and Saturday, the "HITE Dynamite Festival" will invite visitors to the Warehouse Club on the Sooyoungman Yacht Marina, where top Korean boy band Big Bang, actor-cum-DJ Ryoo Seung-bum and Mondo Grosso will perform.

Shift in Focus

At this year's PIFF, the selection of "Good Morning President" as the opening film came as a surprise. Last year's opener was an obscure Kazakh film that organizers claimed would showcase films from the Southeast and Central Asian region.

This year, organizers of Korea's biggest film festival have switched their focus to domestic films buoyed by the recent success of such local blockbusters like "Haeundae" and "Take-Off." Organizers expect more than two million visitors to the festival which will be held at six major theaters and art houses in Busan.

The list of VIP guests includes include Bryan Singer, who produced the "X-Men" series, Italian horror maestro Dario Argento and the previously mentioned Josh Hartnett.

Hartnett, the Hollywood star of "Black Hawk Down" (2001), is making his visit at the invitation of Korean actor Lee Byung-hun, according to organizers. The two, along with Japanese actor Takuya Kimura, starred in "I Come With the Rain," directed by French-Vietnamese director Anh Hung Tran. The movie is one of this year's entries in the PIFF's only competition category, the New Current Award.

Closing the event will be "The Message," a much anticipated film about communists fighting against Japanese invaders.

By Song Woong-ki (kws@heraldm.com) via koreaherald.co.kr

[rubie]

October 7, 2009

Stars Fall Upon Haeundae for Busan Film Festival

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

The red carpet is ready to be unrolled for the opening tonight of the 14th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF).

Haeundae Beach in the southern port city will sizzle with the longest ever lineup of 355 films from 70 countries and a VIP guest list featuring more than the usual number of high profile stars and cineastes from near and far.

Fans are invited to take part in not only star-studded screenings and events but also concerts, exhibitions and other eye-catching sideline events.

Star-Gazing

The opening ceremony takes place at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Suyoung Bay Yacht Marina. The 1970s screen siren Jang Mi-hee and "The Chaser'' star Kim Yoon-suk will host the event, while top South Korean actors plan to grace the red carpet. The list includes heartthrobs Jang Dong-kun and Lee Byung-hun, and actresses Jeon Do-yeon, Uhm Jung-hwa, Um Ji-won, Ha Ji-won, Kim Ha-neul and Kim Hyo-jin, among others.

Before the ceremony, actors Lee Soon-jae, Jang Dong-kun, Go Doo-shim and Han Chae-young, and director Jang Jin will appear before the press for their movie ``Good Morning President,'' which opens the festival this year.

On Friday at 1 p.m., actors Lee Byung-hun, Josh Hartnett and Takuya Kimura will meet fans through the Open Talk event at PIFF Village, Haeundae. The three actors from Korea, the United States and Japan, respectively, are expected to create much hype as they discuss their movie "I Come With the Rain.''

Popular actor Jung Woo-sung and Chinese model/actress Gao Yuan-yuan will also host an Open Talk session on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. for "A Good Rain Knows'' by Hur Jin-ho. "It" actor Ha Jung-woo will also take the stage for "Take-Off,'' while singer-turned-actress Sung Yu-ri will speak about her big screen debut piece "Maybe'' with co-star Jang Hyuk. Actors Lee Sun-kyun will also make an appearance before fans for the film "Paju.''

Conversing With Maestros

Movie buffs can look forward to meeting esteemed filmmakers through master classes: Costa Gavras, the master of French political films; Dario Argento, who defines the Italian horror genre; Johnnie To, a leader of Hong Kong noir films; and Jia Zhangke, the director of experimental Chinese digital works. The directors will discuss their life in the film industry and their work. Each master class is 5,000 won.

Meanwhile, Jean-Jacques Beineix, the French auteur best known for "Betty Blue," will visit the festival as a jury member of the New Currents competition section. His film "Diva" will also be featured on the big screen for the first time in 30 years.

Attendees can also look forward to seeing "I Come With the Rain" director Tran Anh Hung, who will appear before fans with his wife, actress Tran Nu Yen Khe. Korean filmmakers Bong Joon-ho, Hur Jin-ho and Park Chan-ok will also converse with fans.

Special Events

In Cinema Together events, cineastes, musicians and critics will watch movies and mingle with the audience. The events will feature multiple award-winning "Breathless" director/actor Yang Ik-june and actress Kim Kkobbi.

Participants can also attend live concerts featuring top domestic talent including Lee Seung-chul, Drunken Tiger and Big Bang. There will also be an exhibition featuring famous French movie posters and related items.

Meanwhile, screen personalities Ahn Sung-ki and Park Joong-hoon will promote an anti-piracy campaign Friday at 4 p.m. at the outdoor stage of the PIFF Pavilion.

For more information visit www.piff.org (English and Korean).

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

[rubie]

October 7, 2009

Lee Byung-hun Invited to 'Talk Asia'

By Han Sang-hee

Staff Reporter

Actor Lee Byung-hun

Korean actor Lee Byung-hun will appear on CNN's "Talk Asia,'' according to movie distributor K& Entertainment.

The distributor said that the interview request was made by CNN.

"Lee is likely to talk about his pride and philosophy as an actor. The interview, which will be aired to 220 million viewers worldwide, will be held during the Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival,'' K& Entertainment said in a statement.

Lee, who played Storm Shadow in the Hollywood film "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,'' is back in town to promote his new film "I Come with the Rain,'' opposite Josh Hartnett. Lee, Hartnett and Japanese co-star Kimura Takuya will appear together at the film festival held at the nation's southern port city from Oct. 8 to 16.

This is the second time for the 39-year-old to have conducted an interview with CNN. The last one was held in England last year when he was present for the London screening of the Korean film "The Good, The Bad, The Weird.''

"Talk Asia'' is one of the channel's representative programs, inviting renowned figures from various fields, including politics, business, sports and culture. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and director John Woo, along with Korean stars BoA and Rain, have also appeared on the show.

Credits: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

[Guest mimerita]

Asia Economy 2009.10.06

Won Bin hops onto summer action film

Korean actor Won Bin has decided to take on action as his second choice of genre since making a comeback to the big screen earlier this year with film "Mother", according to a press release on Tuesday.

The film, tentatively titled "Ah-jjeo-sshii", is about a lonely, reclusive man and his relationship with the only girl who opened up to him. Won will play the lead character, producer Opus Pictures said in the statement.

The movie directed by Lee Jeong-beom of "Cruel Winter Blues" will go into shoot at the end of the year and be released next summer.

The 31-year-old actor debuted in 1997 with TV series "Propose" with his breakthrough role coming three years later in KBS drama "Autumn Fairy Tale", in which he co-starred with two other Hallyu stars Song Seung-hun and Song Hye-kyo.

He made his movie debut in "Guns & Talks" in 2001 and has not returned to television since. He last appeared in director Bong Joon-ho's critically acclaimed film "Mother" this year, the first film he took on since completing South Korea's mandatory military service.

Reporter : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr

Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr

<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Source: Asia Economy Daily

[rubie]

October 8, 2009

Sung Yu-ri Makes Big-Screen Debut

Sung Yu-ri

Sung Yu-ri has talked about the difficulties she had making her career transition from a member of girl group FINKL to acting. "I was hurt a lot because I had to endure harsh criticism of my acting," she said at a press conference for her film debut "Rabbit and Lizard" on Monday.

"I have wanted to be in a film for such a long time, but there was so much pressure. I was overwhelmed and scared by the idea of my face filling up a huge screen and my acting being revealed everywhere."

Sung started out as a member of then-hot girl group FINKL in 1998; her acting debut came in 2002 in TV soap "Bad Girls." "For an actor or actress who used to be a singer, not being afraid of the camera can be a strength," she says. "But the more popular you were as a singer, the more pressure you get, and the harsher the criticism will be. So you become very vulnerable and can get hurt easily. That was the case for me. You have to overcome adversity well, taking criticism as expression of attention from fans."

"Rabbit and Lizard" is the story of a Korean-American adoptee who comes back to Seoul to find her biological mother and memories of the past. It was officially invited to the "Korean Cinema Today -- Panorama" section of the 14th Pusan International Film Festival kicking off on Thursday. It goes on general release on Oct. 22.

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

[rubie]

October 8, 2009

Jang Nara Apprehensive of Big Screen Roles

Singer/actress Jang Nara, who made a comeback after a six-year break, says she is scared of taking a new movie role because her appearance in the 2003 movie "Oh Happy Day" was a fiasco.

Attending the production meeting for the movie "Heaven And Sea" on October 7 at 63 City, Jang said her worries had been chased away by her new role, which she liked very much. In "Heaven And Sea" Jang plays a 24-year-old woman with Savant Syndrome who, despite her mental retardation, has a special talent. "I did my best to act and talk like a six-year-old. It was easy for me to focus on my character thanks to the help of my coworkers," said Jang.

The actress lost much weight in order to portray a feeble woman. "I gained weight before the shoot but after I read the script, which said that my character collapsed and had nose bleeds, I realized I was too big for the role. So I shed some weight but the promotional materials exaggerated my weight loss a bit. Some people posted messages saying that it was nothing compared to actor Kim Myung-min," said Jang.

"Heaven And Sea" was produced by a company that is headed by Jang's father. Jang said she never again wanted to appear in a movie produced by her father. "My father was going to invest only in the inisital stage of the movie production but he ended up taking charge of the entire production process. I couldn't sleep when I learned that there was not enough money. My father began sending me to China so that I could earn money by appearing in TV commercials and holding concerts. I invested all my earnings in the movie. I came back from China this morning after holding yet another event there. If I have to go through this again, I'll probably die," complained Jang.

"Heaven And Sea" is about the friendship among Ha-neul (played by Jang), who has lost her parents, Bada (played by Juny), who is at odds with her stepmother, and Jin-gu (played by Yoo A-in), who works as a pizza delivery guy. It was directed by Oh Dal-kyun, whose previous work "Maeumi" was about young brothers and sisters and their dog.

"When I was studying film in the U.S., I saw grandfathers bring their grandchildren to the theater. I wanted to make a movie that would draw grandfathers and their grandchildren. I hope people will like this movie," said Oh.

Source: KBS Global

[rubie]

October 8, 2009

Actors End 6-Year Love

Actor Kim Joo-hyuk and actress Kim Ji-soo have ended their relationship after six years.

Namoo Actors, their agency, said Thursday that they returned to being only friends about three months ago.

The two fell in love in 2002 when they starred as husband and wife in SBS TV drama "Flowing River.'' Since then, they have been recognized officially as a couple in entertainment circles. At one point, rumors suggested they were set to marry.

Kim Joo-hyuk, 37, made his acting debut in 1998. Most recently, he has been shooting the movie "Bangjajeon.''

Kim Ji-soo, also 37, debuted as a TV actress in 1992 and made her first film appearance in "This Charming Girl'' in 2005. The film was well received by critics. She starred in KBS TV drama "Woman of the Sun'' last year.

Credits: sahds@koreatimes.co.kr

[deka_if]

2009.10.07

"President" ready to kick off PIFF

Poster of South Korean film "Good Morning President". [CJ Entertainment]

The much-anticipated South Korean movie "Good Morning President" is set to give its premiere showing tomorrow, opening the annual Pusan International Fim Festival (PIFF) taking place October 8 to 16.

Several of the country's top actors including superstar Jang Dong-gun, Lee Soon-jae and Ko Doo-sim, headlined the film which comically portrays the duality existent in the lives of presidents as a normal human being versus a national leader.

In the comedy about three different presidents -- the nation's first and older leader President Kim Jung-ho agonizes over whether to donate his lottery winnings to his people as promised, the young President Cha Ji-wook is skillful and unprecedentedly handsome yet unmarried and female President Han Kyung-ja faces divorce.

Popular actress Han Chae-young and comedian Lim Ha-ryong took on supporting roles as characters close to the presidents.

Hit-maker Jang Jin, who also directed "The Spy" and "Guns & Talks" and produced "Welcome to Dongmakgol", helmed "President" set for a nationwide release on October 22.

Credits : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr

<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Source : Asia Economic Daily

[deka_if]

2009.10.08

Pusan Int'l Film Festival kicks off

Official poster for Pusan International Film Festival [PIFF]

The 14th Pusan International Film Festival officially kicked off today, opening with South Korean film "Good Morning President", starring Hallyu star Jang Dong-gun as one of the three presidents.

Asia's biggest film fest set a new record this year by showing a total of 355 films from 70 countries. And the number of movies making a world premiere and international premiere are counted at 144, also a new record for PIFF.

The opening ceremony, to be held 7 p.m. today at Haeundae Yacht Club, will be hosted by Korean actors Kim Yoon-seok and Jang Mi-hee and attended by some 150 actors and industry people from all over the world.

Korean stars set to attend the PIFF include Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun, Kim Yun-jin, Ha Ji-won, Ahn Sung-ki and Kang Soo-yeon. Some of Korea's top filmmakers, including Jang Jin and Lim Kwon-taek, are also expected to show up.

Foreign stars visiting Korea for the film fest include Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett, who will be promoting his new film "I Come with the Rain", Japanese singer and actor Kimura Takyua, British actress Tilda Swinton, Korea-American actress Moon Bloodgood and French director Costa Gavras.

The committee has also organized a section dedicated to Korean director Yoo Hyun-mok and actress Jang Jin-young, who died of stomach cancer last month. Three movies starring Jang -- "Sorum", "Blue Swallow", "Singles" -- will be shown while a special booth will display her personal belongings and videos.

The festival will close with Chinese film "The Message", directed by Chen Kuofu and Gao Qunshu, on October 16.

Reporter : Ko Kyoung-seok kave@asiae.co.kr

Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr

<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Source : Asia Ecomonic Daily

[deka_if]

2009.10.08

France to salute Jun Do-youn with cultural honor

Actress Jeon Do-yeon [Asia Economic Daily]

Cannes award-winning actress Jeon Do-youn will receive an honor by the French government for her contribution to the country's culture, according to her agency on Thursday.

The 36-year-old actress will be presented with the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres medal on Saturday of the ongoing Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), announced N.O.A. Entertainment.

The award is one of the three levels of cultural order established in 1957 by the France's Minister of Culture and confirmed in 1963 as part of the National Order by President Charles de Gaulle.

Worldwide names including writer J.K. Rowling of the "Harry Potter" series, Hollywood movie stars George Clooney, Sharon Stone and Leonardo Dicaprio and South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun are preceeding recipients.

Jeon has received over dozens of top recognitions on both the small and big screen since her debut in 1990. She won her first international acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007, receiving the award for Best Actress in director Lee Chang-dong's film "Secret Sunshine".

Reporter : Ko Jea-wan star@asiae.co.kr

Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr

<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Source : Asia Economic Daily

[deka_if]

2009.10.08

Kang Soo-yeon named jury head of PIFF award

Korean actress Kang Soo-yeon [Asia Economic Daily]

Korean actress Kang Soo-yeon has been selected to head the jury of the Flash Forward Award at Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), according to a press release by the organizing committee on Thursday.

The Flash Forward Award, first introduced at PIFF in 2007, was originally created to introduce the first or second features of up-and-coming non-Asian directors. This year, the committee turned the section into a competition.

Other jury members include Marianne Slot (producer/Denmark), Frederic Boyer(artistic director of the Directors’ Fortnight of Cannes/France), and Alissa Simon(programmer/U.S.).

Kang has won Best Actress awards at several international film festivals, most notably at Venice in 1987 for her role in "The Surrogate Mother" and at Moscow in 1989 for "Come Come Come Upward", earning her the nickname "World Star" in Korea.

The film festival kicks off today in Pusan and will end October 16.

Reporter : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr

Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr

<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Source : Asia Economic Daily

[deka_if]

2009.10.08

Bae Yong-joon at Tokyo Dome event

A total of some 90,000 Japanese fans gathered at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on September 29 and 30 to meet South Korean actor Bae Yong-joon promoting the animation version of hit Korean TV series "Winter Sonata" and his photo essay "Discovering the Beauty of Korea".

Japanese fans at Tokyo Dome. [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Bae Yong-joon and his Japanese fans at Tokyo Dome. [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Actor Bae Yong-joon [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Source : 10Asia

Japanese fans gather to see "Yonsama"

Japanese fans at Tokyo Dome. [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Japanese fans gather in front of the Tokyo Dome in Japan on September 30, 2009 to attend a promotional event for the animation version of TV series "Winter Sonata" where actor Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo are set to attend.

Japanese fans gaze at Bae Yong-joon photographs.[Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Japanese fans peer at photographs of actor Bae Yong-joon at sold at vendors near the Tokyo Dome on September 30, 2009. The photos are from the previous day's event where Bae promoted the animation version of TV series "Winter Sonata".

Japanese fans with banner. [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Members of actor Bae Yong-joon's fan clubs hold up a self-created banner in front of the Tokyo Dome in Japan on September 30, 2009. The banner says: "Mr. Bae Yong-joon, you have been our 'Polaris' from the very beginning till now."

Photographer : Lee Jin-hyuk eleven@10asia.co.kr

Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr

<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Source : 10Asia

[deka_if]

2009.10.07

So Ji-sub to appear in Japanese mobile drama

Actor So Ji-sub [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

Actor So Ji-sub, one of South Korea's most popular heartthrobs, will now set out to woo the hearts of fans in Japan -- on their mobile phones. Starting October 20, he will play the lead role in drama “I am GHOST”, set to air on Japan’s mobile-exclusive broadcaster BEE TV. "Ghost", a five-minute 24-episode action drama to be aired every Thursday and Sunday, is about a killer and high-school girl on escape. The title was derived from the nickname “Ghost” of So's character as the killer. The script was written by Hirata Kenya, who won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film this year with “La Maison en Petits Cubes”, and directed by Sonoda Toshiro, known for making music videos for GLAY. Co-star Tanimura Mitsuki is a newcomer to the screen but the voice behind character Kazuma Ikezawa in animation film “Summer Wars”, currently playing in theaters in Korea. “Since we had no lines, I was worried whether our emotions would be delivered just through our motions,” So was quoted as saying in a recent interview with Japanese daily newspaper Sankei Sports. As much as he is a mysterious killer whose nickname is “Ghost”, So speaks no lines, not even a single word in the drama.

In fact, this is not the first Japanese drama that So has appeared in. Last year, he played a supporting role in film “Gegege No Kitaro 2”, which starred Japanese pop idol Wentz Eiji. But since the movie was based on a popular comic with a monster as the main character, he too appeared as a monster and had little success making his face properly known to the Japanese audience. Even so, thanks to the success of Korean drama “I’m Sorry, I Love You”, So is recognized amongst some Hallyu fans in Japan. "Sorry" received attention when it became known that its theme song “Snow Flower”, sung by Park Hyo-shin, was a remake of Japanese pop singer Nakashima Mika’s hit song.

Launched in May, mobile broadcaster Bee TV, a joint venture between Japan’s mega entertainment agency Avex and mobile company NTT Docomo, already has about 700,000 members as of September 2009. Thus, should “Ghost” become a hit, So will get the opportunity to increase the number of younger Japanese fans who spend most of their days using their mobile phones. Moreover, Japanese magazines have been in a race to publish their interviews with the actor with film “Sophie’s Revenge” -- starring So and Zhang Ziyi -- opening in Japan next January. When one looks up So Ji-sub on Yahoo! Japan, relevant search words such as ‘So Ji-sub's girlfriend’ and ‘So Ji-sub dating’ pop up alongside ‘Korean actor So Ji-sub’. That is how much publicity the actor is getting. Taking advantage of the trend, Bee TV on September 20 released “So Ji-sub’s SONICK WORLD”, a video blog containing the everyday life of the actor and behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the set. In addition, there will be a preview at the Tokyo International Forum on October 13, which will be attended by So, other cast members and crew. Will “Soganji” catch the hearts of Japanese fans after “Yonsama” and “Byunsama”? Seems like it’s only a matter of time.

Reporter : Lim Da-ham / Tokyo correspondent

Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr, Lee Ji-Hye seven@10asia.co.kr

<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Source : 10Asia

[deka_if]

2009.10.08

Ji-sung "in daze" after last drama

Actor Ji-sung [sBS]

Hallyu star Ji-sung said he has been "in a daze" since wrapping up shooting his last drama just ahead of the Chuseok thanksgiving holidays.

"I don't think this has ever happened before but I barely remember what I did or what happened since Friday except that I slept," the actor told Asia Economic Daily over the phone late on Tuesday.

Ji-sung had wrapped up shooting the final episode of SBS TV series "Swallow the Sun" on the southern island of Jeju before spending time with his family over the holiday weekend.

"My parents actually came up to Seoul to see me because I was so tired both physically and mentally," the actor said apologetically.

"Sun", aired since early July, had remained atop ratings charts against rival TV series broadcast on Wednesdays and Thursdays before closing on October 1.

Ji-sung added he then stayed up all night on Monday shooting a music video for singer Wheesung, whom he is close friends with.

The 32-year-old actor started gaining popularity in Japan with his role as a doctor in 2007 TV series "New Heart".

Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr

<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Source : Asia Economi Daily

[deka_if]

October 08, 2009

[Talk of the town]

Actress Jang untying the knot

Jang Shin-young filed for divorce last Monday after three years of marriage. The actress had tied the knot in November 2006 with a 32-year-old man whose surname is known as Wi. The two had met through a mutual friend while Jang was filming the movie “When Spring Comes” in 2004.

They cited personality differences as the reason for their split, according to Jang’s management company SG Entertainment. Reportedly the pair had begun living separately eight months ago. Jang will get custody of their 3-year-old son.

The 26-year-old actress debuted in 2001 through the 71st Nationwide Miss Chunhyang Pageant. She appeared in hit TV dramas such as MBC-TV’s “Pretty Woman” (2003), “Winter Bird” (2007) and the 2005 horror film “Red Eye.” She recently starred in KBS-TV’s “The Road Home.”

Source : JoongAng Daily

[deka_if]

Jung, Gao show fine chemistry in new film

A Korean businessman encounters a Chinese woman he used to know. He cannot speak Chinese. She doesn't understand Korean, either. The only common language they share is English. Remarkably, not much gets lost in translation, an intriguing feat that underscores the strength of director Hur Jin-ho's latest film, "A Good Rain Knows."

Jung Woo-sung, who plays Dong-ha for the romantic film, said he started sharpening his English skills last year, vaguely aware that he might join a foreign project some day. After all, considering his high status in the Korean film industry, it is a surprise that he hasn't joined a Hollywood project yet.

"I didn't really expect to make a debut as an English-speaking actor in a film made by director Hur," Jung said in an interview with The Korea Herald. "And Hur initially wanted me to speak the so-called Konglish for the reality of the film, but I tried to speak as naturally as possible."

Gao Yuanyuan, a top-rated Chinese actress who plays opposite Jung, said Jung definitely has a talent in picking up a foreign language. "Throughout the film, we spoke in English, but there was not a problem communicating with him at all. And he quickly learned the expressions I taught, and that's how the sentence 'Wo xiang ni' (I miss you) got included in the film on the spot," Gao said.

The chemistry between the two stars bolsters the film's otherwise simple plot in a way that opens up new possibilities in a joint project between Korea and China. It is nothing new that a Korean filmmaker sets up a joint project that recruits Korean and Chinese actors, but it is rare to see a seamless integration of actors' performances and cinematic skills that can appeal to audiences in both countries.

"A Good Rain Knows" is basically concerned about romantic emotions that people want to keep and cherish. Despite long distances or a wide gap in timeline, something delicate tends to linger deep within.

Director Hur presents a set-up in which Dong-ha flies to China on a business trip and comes across May (Gao Yuanyuan), a Chinese friend he got to know when he was studying in the United States some years ago. She is now working as a tour guide in China but her real interest lies in a great Chinese poet, whose work has inspired the movie's nuanced title.

For Jung, working with a Chinese counterpart was nothing if not inspiring. "First of all, Chinese actors tend to show different reactions compared to Korean actors," Jung said. He noted that Korean actors usually react in an expected way, making it easier to follow some patterns, but this rule did not apply when he was working with Gao.

"Her unexpected reaction came as a pleasant surprise, and I tried to understand why she responded that way, and this kind of communication was, I believe, reflected in the performances for the film," Jung said.

Jung, a representative Korean star whose iconic image inspired other top stars such as Cho In-sung, said his latest take on a normal Korean businessman was part of efforts to seek some breakthrough in his acting career.

In previous movies, critics pointed out that Jung's silver screen image is stuck with a handsome guy whose expressiveness remains stolid at best. But in the new film, Jung's Dong-ha is refreshingly removed from his superstar image.

For instance, at a cramped hotel room, Dong-ha revises the trip expenses, changing the cost for a meal from 60,000 won to 90,000 won, an extremely minor detail that goes against Jung's trademark picture-perfect image. Yet Jung's performance as a "normal businessman" seems convincing enough.

"The twentysomething image I created years ago had some impact on Korean youth in their teens. For the thirtysomething image, I think I have to put together my value and other people's life," Jung said.

Gao, who drew keen media attention here in Korea for her impressive acting in "A Good Rain Knows," said she's willing to join a joint project as long as she plays a Chinese character.

"I don't think I can play a Korean character in a film, but I can take up a role for a Chinese character," Gao said. "This is my first role in a Korean film, but it's really an honor to work with director Hur because I began to watch Korean movies through Hur's films," she said.

Gao said, however, she got an impression that the majority of Korean moviegoers are not familiar with Chinese filmmakers and actors. "A lot of Chinese people are watching Korean television dramas and movies, and I hope more Korean people would watch Chinese movies," she said.

"A Good Rain Knows," distributed by N.E.W, is hitting local theaters today.

Credits : Yang Sung-jin (insight@heraldm.com)

Source : The Korea Herald

2009.10.09

[deka_if]

October 08, 2009

On heels of PIFF, festival featuring short films set to grab spotlight

Ahn Sung-ki (with microphone), director of AISFF, addresses the press Tuesday at

Kumho Art Hall in central Seoul. He is accompanied (from left to right) by event pro-

grammer Lee Ju-yeun, actress Koo Hye-sun, filmmaker Kim Ji-woon and actresses

Son Ye-jin and Lee Sun-hee. [YONHAP]

Grab some popcorn and a soda, sit back and relax, as the season of film is upon us.

Fall is a great time for movie buffs in Korea, as the country plays host to the prestigious Pusan International Film Festival, one of the most influential movie events in all of Asia. Also known as PIFF, the event kicks off today in the southern port city of Busan, providing its biggest lineup ever.

While PIFF gets the lion's share of the attention, another film festival later in the fall is increasingly grabbing the spotlight as well.

This year's Asiana International Short Film Festival (AISFF), which runs from Nov. 5 to 10 at the Cinecube theater in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, will feature 79 films from 32 countries - an impressive tally by any measure.

"I urge moviegoers to turn their attention to AISFF as soon as PIFF ends," veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki, who is serving as director of the short film event for a fifth year, said in a press conference Tuesday.

The short film festival doesn't have quite the name recognition as PIFF. But the event, now in its seventh year, has established a solid foothold despite a growing number of movie festivals.

"I participated in the first edition of AISFF as a jury member and, frankly speaking, I doubted at the time whether it would last," said Kim Ji-woon, a well-known filmmaker who will lead the jury panel this year for the international competition section of this year's event. "However, AISFF has continued to grow and is the one and only international short film festival in Korea."

The 45-year-old filmmaker, who directed the Korean blockbuster "The Good, the Bad and the Weird." also revealed his philosophy as a juror. "I feel a strong sense of responsibility because selecting good short films is equivalent to picking out good and promising filmmakers," Kim said. "I will choose ones with rhythm and color that are peculiar for short films."

Popular actress Son Ye-jin has joined the jury panel that will give out the award for best performer in short films, while actress Koo Hye-sun - who recently ventured into filmmaking, writing and painting - directed the festival's promotional trailer.

Two films, "The Employment" by Argentinean director Santiago Bou Grasso and "WU" by French filmmaker Cecile Vernant, will open the festival on Nov. 5. Another 52 short films will be screened during the rest of the event, and they will compete for a grand prize of 15 million won in the international competition section. The event also will feature 25 movies grouped into four topics: "Focus on Directors: Cinema Old & New," "Shorts with Theme I: Understanding & I," "Shorts with Theme II: 8" and "Mix Planet: Ola! Brazil."

Advance tickets go on sale Oct. 26 at www.icinecube.com and can be purchased at the Cinecube box office during the event. The opening films cost 7,000 won ($5.98) each; the other films cost 5,000 won. For more information, visit www.aisff.org.

Credits : Park Sun-young [spark0320@joongang.co.kr]

Source : JoongAng Daily

[deka_if]

2009/10/09

S.Korean comedy narrowly serves its role as PIFF opener

BUSAN, South Korea, Oct. 8 (Yonhap) -- "Good Morning President," the newest creation of South Korean comedy master Jang Jin, opened the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) with laughs Thursday, toiling at its role as the first comedy to open the event in many years. The amount of laughter, however, was frankly below anticipation.

Director Jang has long been among the most successful directors in the country. But his fame as a comedy master has never quite managed to be exported abroad.

Among other reasons, critics attribute his lack of international fame to the "narrowness" of his themes. In other words, Jang's films are "too Korean" to be understood and loved by international audiences, they say.

For this reason, the decision by PIFF -- which uses the old Romanization of the southeastern port city's name -- to screen Jang's movie as its opener was considered both brave and risky to many people. "…President" is the first domestic movie to open the largest South Korean film festival in three years.

Proving his talent in mixing and balancing different episodes and characters, Jang features three presidents and their stories in one movie.

President Kim Jeong-ho, played by veteran actor Lee Sun-jae, is nearing the end of his term and is torn between a pledge he made to the people and personal greed when he wins the lottery.

President Cha Ji-wuk, played by Korean Wave star Jang Dong-gun, is a single father and the youngest president in South Korean history. A hard-liner in diplomacy, Cha is forced to make decisions influencing national security while also facing personal agony.

President Han Gyeong-ja (Goh Doo-shim), the first female South Korean president, struggles as she must balance her roles as a wife and the head of the country.

Through the intertwining stories of the three presidents, each faced with personal troubles that threaten official duty, "…President" manages to bring up the "humane face of politics," in the director's own words.

As in his previous works, there is no "bad guy" in Jang's new movie, keeping audiences at ease throughout the 131 minutes as they ponder whether there is really a human side in politics, which are generally believed to be all show and business.

As another strong point, domestic fans will immediately warm up to the film as they detect glimpses of two presidents who died this year. Although Jang says he "did not have special role models" for the three presidents in his movie, some episodes remind the audience of the late Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Dae-jung, who passed away in May and August, respectively.

Whether such characteristics will also touch the hearts of international audience remains a question.

"I did not make this movie with political intentions," director Jang said during the opening press conference Thursday. "I just wanted to show people that presidents, like us, have worries and are often faced with trivial but difficult choices."

"The selection of my movie as the opening film has a big meaning for all comedy filmmakers," he added. "I am grateful on behalf of all of them and hope the movie fulfills its role to create a festive atmosphere."

Born in 1971, Jang has worked in a variety of positions, including playwright and director. Debuting as a director with "The Happenings" in 1998, he secured a stable fan base at home with "The Spy (2000)," "Guns and Talks (2001)," "Someone Special (2004)," and "The Big Scene (2005)," which are all doing relatively well at the domestic box office.

Starting with "…President," the 14th PIFF will run for nine days through Oct. 16, featuring 355 films from 70 countries as the largest of the annual event to date.

Established in 1996, the South Korean festival has since grown into one of most influential film fests in Asia, focused on discovering new films and first-time directors from across the region.

Up to 98 films will be screened for the first time during the festival, which will be held at six major theaters and art houses in Busan under 11 categories.

Credits : Shin Hae-in (hayney@yna.co.kr)

Source : Yonhap News