[Movie 2017] The Fortress 남한산성 Namhansanseong

[rubie]

July 29, 2018

 

KCON LA 2018: Screening of THE FORTRESS at Hammer Museum on August 9

 

Source: KCON USA via HanCinema.net

Ailee, Roy Kim, and Echae Kang to perform at KCON pre-event at the Hammer Museum on August 8
 
KCON WEST to Include Free Special Kick-Off Concert Leading up to the World's Largest K-pop Fan Convention and Music Festival the Following Weekend - KCON LA 2018
 
KCON and the Hammer Museum announced today a special K-pop fan concert to be held on Wednesday, August 8th, 2018, at 8pm, two days before the commencement of KCON 2018 LA. The show will feature several artists on the KCON line-up including Ailee, Roy Kim, and Echae Kang and will give fans a sneak peek at what's in store for the weekend. The show is free of charge and open to all ages.

 

The event was created to celebrate Korean pop art and the diversity of the culture and fandom that KCON brings to Los Angeles. KCON has traditionally taken place in downtown LA. KCON West is bringing some of that excitement to the Westside of Los Angeles.

 

The night after, Thursday, August 9th, at 6pm, the Hammer will also host a screening of The Fortress, the epic story of when the Chinese Qing Dynasty invaded Korea with 150,000 troops in 1936 and stars Lee Byung-hun (Magnificent Seven). A Q&A with director Hwang Dong-hyuk follows the screening.

 

The Hammer's acclaimed biennial Made in L.A. 2018 is now on view, showcasing artists from the greater Los Angeles area. Galleries stay open late until 10pm on the night of the concert.

 

ABOUT KCON
KCON is the largest, annual celebration of Korean culture including beauty, music and more. KCON Los Angeles will take place August 10th-12th at The Staples Center. KCON offers fans countless panels and workshops, all leading up to two star-studded concerts. Please visit www.kconusa.com for more information on the event and how to get tickets.
 
ABOUT THE HAMMER MUSEUM
The Hammer Museum at UCLA offers exhibitions and collections that span classic to contemporary art, as well as programs-film screenings, lectures, symposia, readings, music performances, and workshops for families-that spark meaningful encounters with art and ideas. 

 

Admission to all exhibitions and programs at the Hammer Museum is free. Visit hammer.ucla.edu for details or call 310-443-7000.

[rubie]

July 30, 2018

 

Assault on 'Mr. Sunshine' 

By Andrew Salmon The Korea Times

 
Some locals, according to recent articles in this newspaper, are dissatisfied with the high-profile tvN drama "Mr. Sunshine."

 

The series, starring Lee Byung-hun, arguably Korea's most famous thespian, is fictitious. However, it is set in a real historical period: The twilight of the "Hermit Kingdom," during which a reluctant Joseon was leveraged into the wider world and eventually devoured by Imperial Japan.

 

The criticisms are multiple.

 

Some are unhappy with the depiction of Joseon as a politically weak and technologically backward kingdom, reliant upon foreigners to introduce modern innovations (as, indeed, was the case). Others complain that a pro-Japanese character is given credible reason for his actions (as if all Koreans who eased Japan's takeover were simply evil and/or lacking rational motivations).

 

Most remarkably, 20,000 people are petitioning the Blue House to introduce historical censorship.

 

"Mr. Sunshine" does not claim to be historically accurate (if it were, the lead character could not exist). It is entertainment. And the critiques are ridiculous from a historical standpoint. So what is going on?

 

I sense a double standard. Many dramas and films set during the 1910-45 colonial period are out-and-out fiction, but because they take a nationalistic stance, they are tolerated ― or lauded.

 

Last year's hit thriller "The Battleship Island," depicted a heroic revolt among Korean laborers and miners at a Japanese island. No revolt actually took place at the island (which is a real place). Elderly Japanese who had been there were bewildered by the film, telling journalists that relations with Koreans at the location had been amicable.

 

No Korean critics demanded this ahistorical film be censored. And fair enough. The filmmakers never claimed their film was historically accurate (whether viewers got that message is another issue, but entertainers are not required to be educators).

 

I suggest critics of "Mr Sunshine" are not demanding historical accuracy. What they are demanding is one-sided, nationalistic portrayals of historical events. 

 

Even if "historical accuracy" were to be enforced over dramas ― who would do it? What would the standard be? History ― in a democracy, at least ― is not a "right/wrong" science: it is open to analysis.

 

Given that Korea was, in the recent past, ruled by authoritarian leaders who controlled information flows, I am dismayed by these calls for censorship. Censorship over art is, speaking generally, a loss to art.

 

If costume dramas were required to be historically accurate, we would lose some of the great films of all time: "Gladiator," "Braveheart," "The Sound of Music," "Gone with the Wind," etc.

 

And let us not suggest that Korean auteurs cannot make very intelligent historical dramas. They can.

 

"The Fortress," a thoughtful film about the Manchu invasion of Korea, appeared in the same year as the melodramatic "Battleship Island," and I cannot speak of its historical accuracy ― it was based on a novel ― but the film sensitively addresses the human condition.

 

"The Fortress" contrasts the privileges of the rulers with the degradations of the ruled, and its central theme is universal: Is it the duty of a leader to resist an enemy ― or to spare his people by bowing to that enemy? Both sides of the debate, and related repercussions, are treated sympathetically and powerfully. It is a nuanced film, not a simplistic one.

 

But the Manchu invasions took place in the 17th century; Japanese colonialism ended in 1945.

 

Could such an even-handed and intelligent filmic treatment of the Japanese colonial period be produced in Korea today? Or must all Korean art dealing with the Japanese colonial period be restricted to simplistic, flag-waving victimhood?

Andrew Salmon (andrewcsalmon@yahoo.co.uk) is a Seoul-based reporter and author.

[rubie]

Source: CJ Entertainment USA

 

[rubie]

Photos: CJ Entertainment USA

 

[rubie]

August 22, 2018

 

Japanese musician Sakamoto named winner of this year's BIFF Asian Filmmaker of the Year award

SEOUL, Aug. 22 (Yonhap) -- Prominent Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto has been chosen as the winner of the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award by the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), its organizer said Wednesday.

 

"The 23rd BIFF announces Ryuichi Sakamoto as the winner of the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award in recognition of his music and life," the festival said in an English-language press release.

 

The award is granted to a figure or organization with outstanding achievements in improving and developing the Asian film industry and facilitating cultural development.

 

Debuting in 1978 with YMO (Yellow Magic Orchestra), Sakamoto pioneered electronic music and electro hip-hop. He has since continuously expanded his musical boundaries from classical music into rock and opera. He entered the world of film music with "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" (1983) by director Nagisa Oshima.

 

Sakamoto was the first Asian to win the Academy Award for Best Original Score for "The Last Emperor" (1986), and later won the Golden Globe Awards and the British Academy Film Awards for "The Sheltering Sky" (1990) and "Little Buddha" (1993) to become the master of film music.

 

He has composed film scores, such as for the Korean historical film "The Fortress" (2017) and "My TYRANO: Together, Forever" (2019) followed by his triumphant musical return after a diagnosis of throat cancer in 2014 -- "The Revenant" (2015), which was nominated for the Golden Globe Awards and Grammy Awards.

 

In June, "Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda," the musical documentary portraying his music and life, opened in Korea timed for the 40th anniversary of his musical career.

 

The 23rd edition of BIFF is set to run in South Korea's southern port city of Busan from Oct. 4 to 13.

 

This photo provided by Busan International Film Festival shows Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto. (Yonhap)

 

sshim@yna.co.kr

[rubie]

August 31, 2018

 

SAKAMOTO Ryuichi to Receive Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award in Busan

 

by Pierce Conran KoBiz

 

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will return for its 23rd edition this October and the festival recently announced that famous Japanese composer SAKAMOTO Ryuichi will be the beneficiary of this year’s Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award.

 

A professional musician since the late 1970s, SAKAMOTO debuted as a film composer with his iconic score to OSHIMA Nagisa’s Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence in 1983, starring KITANO Takeshi and David Bowie. SAKAMOTO became the first Asian figure to earn the Academy Award for Best Original Score for his work on Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor in 1987.

 

Of late, SAKAMOTO has been known for his collaborations with Alejandro González Iñárritu, which have included 2006’s Babel and The Revenant in 2015. Last year, the composer debuted in the Korean scene by providing the score to HWANG Dong-hyuk’s The Fortress (2017).

 

BIFF also announced that local stars KO Hyun-jung and YU Jun-sang will be the jurors for this year’s Actor & Actress of the Year Award. KO was seen in Busan last year as the lead of LEE Kwang-kuk’s A Tiger in Winter. Both KO and YU are known for their frequent appearances in Hong Sangsoo’s films. YU last appeared in Hong’s Hotel by the River, which debuted this summer at the Locarno International Film Festival.

 

Last year’s Actor & Actress of the Year Award recipients were JEON Yeo-bin of After My Death and PARK Jong-hwan from Hit the Night (2017).

 

The 23rd Busan International Film Festival will take place from October 4 to 13.

[rubie]

September 21, 2018

 

Nominees of 55th Daejong Awards Announced, THE FORTRESS with 10 nominations

 

Source: KMIB / News1

 

 

The 2017 movie THE FORTRESS received 10 nominations for the upcoming 55th Daejong (Grand Bell) Film Awards. Among the major category that THE FORTRESS Is nominated for -- Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor (Lee Byung Hun).

 

The 55th Daejong Awards will be held on October 22 at the Grand Theater of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

 

 

Best Actor Nominees, clockwise from top:

Kim Yun Seok, 1987

Lee Byung Hun, The Fortress

Hwang Jung Min, The Spy Gone North

Lee Sung Min, The Spy Gone North

Yoo Ah In, Burning

[rubie]

THE FORTRESS shown on Chuseok (9/23, 10.30pm) on tvN

 

[rubie]

September 26, 2018

 

Lee Byung-Hun in New UK Trailer for Korean Action Film 'The Fortress'

 

by Alex Billington FirstShowing.net // YouTube

 

 

During the Qing Invasion of Korea, the king and the court take refuge in a mountain fortress, where they find themselves stranded in the cold and surrounded by the enemy. The king's dilemma deepens as his people in the fortress start dying from cold and hunger. The Fortress, also known as Namhansanseong, is written and directed by Korean filmmaker Hwang Dong-hyuk, director of the films My Father, Silenced, and Miss Granny previously. Based on the novel written by Kim Hoon. This intially opened in Korea first in October last year, and already opened in the US last fall. Signature Entertainment will release The Fortress in UK cinemas starting sometime in the fall, if anyone out there still wants to see this. Maybe? Maybe not?

[rubie]

October 1, 2018

The Seoul Awards Announces Nominations For 2018
 

Source: Soompi  by E. Cha

 

 

The Seoul Awards has revealed its full list of nominees for 2018!

 

The award ceremony, which is now in its second year, honors achievements in film and television dramas. Only films and dramas that were released between October 2017 and September 2018 were eligible to be considered for this year’s awards.

 

In addition to the categories listed below, there will also be a special Hallyu Artist Award, as well as a Special Acting Award and several Popularity Awards.

 

The Seoul Awards 2018 will air live on SBS on October 27 at 6 p.m. KST.

 

Check out the full list of nominees below!

Best Drama

Spoiler

 

KBS 2TV’s “My Golden Life”

MBC’s “Money Flower”

SBS’s “Should We Kiss First”

tvN’s “My Ahjussi”

JTBC’s “Life”

 

Best Actress (Drama)
Kim Sun Ah — “Should We Kiss First”

Kim Nam Joo — “Misty”

Son Ye Jin — “Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food”

Shin Hye Sun — “My Golden Life”

 

Best Actor (Drama)
Kam Woo Sung — “Should We Kiss First”

Lee Byung Hun — “Mr. Sunshine”

Lee Sun Gyun — “My Ahjussi”

Cho Seung Woo — “Life”

 

Best Supporting Actress (Drama)
Moon So Ri — “Life”

Ye Ji Won — “Should We Kiss First,” “30 but 17”

Go Sung Hee — “Mother,” “Suits”

Go Ah Sung — “Life on Mars”

 

Best Supporting Actor (Drama)
Heo Joon Ho — “Come and Hug Me”

Park Ho San — “Prison Playbook,” “My Ahjussi,” “Lawless Lawyer”

Yoo Yeon Seok — “Mr. Sunshine”

Bong Tae Gyu — “Return”

 

Best New Actress (Drama)
Kim Tae Ri — “Mr. Sunshine”

Jo Bo Ah — “Goodbye to Goodbye”

Won Jin Ah — “Just Between Lovers”

Lee Yoo Young — “Your Honor”

 

Best New Actor (Drama)
Woo Do Hwan — “Tempted”

Park Hae Soo — “Prison Playbook”

Jung Hae In — “Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food,” “Prison Playbook”

Jang Ki Yong — “Come and Hug Me,” “My Ahjussi”

 

Best Film

"The Spy Gone North”

“Burning”

“Along with the Gods”

“1987”

“The Fortress”

 

Best Actress (Film)
Kim Hee Ae — “Her Story”

Kim Yeo Jin — “Last Child”

Son Ye Jin — “Negotiation,” “Be With You”

Park Bo Young — “On Your Wedding Day”

 

Best Actor (Film)
Lee Byung Hun — “The Fortress”

Lee Sung Min — “The Spy Gone North”

Ha Jung Woo — “Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds,” “Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days”

Yoo Ah In — “Burning”

 

Best Supporting Actress (Film)
Ye Soo Jung — “Her Story,” “Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds”

Kim Sung Ryung — “Believer”

Jin Seo Yeon — “Believer”

Kim Tae Ri — “1987”

 

Best Supporting Actor (Film)
Kim Sang Ho — “The Witness”

Joo Ji Hoon — “The Spy Gone North”

Jin Sun Kyu — “The Outlaws”

Bae Sung Woo — “The Swindlers,” “The Great Battle”

 

Best New Actress (Film)
After School’s Nana — “The Swindlers”

Jin Ki Joo — “Little Forest”

Jeon Jong Seo — “Burning”

Kim Da Mi — “The Witch”

 

Best New Actor (Film)
Kim Sung Kyu — “The Outlaws”

Nam Joo Hyuk — “The Great Battle”

Kim Young Kwang — “On Your Wedding Day”

Lee Ga Seob — “The Seeds of Violence”

 

Source (1)

[rubie]

October 5, 2018

Upcoming Blu-ray Releases

Korean Movies "The Day After - 2017" and "The Fortress"

 

Source: HanCinema.net

 

Korean movies "The Day After - 2017" and "The Fortress" are available to preorder on Blu-ray with English subtitles from YESASIA.

 

Blu-ray with English subtitles (2-Disc First Press Limited Edition)

 

"The Fortress" (2017)

 

Directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk

With Lee Byung-hun, Kim Yun-seok, Park Hae-il, Go Soo, Park Hee-soon, Jo Woo-jin..

Started filming : 2016/11/21

 

Synopsis

The movie depicts the conflict between Choi Myung-kil and Kim Sang-heon while they fled to the South Castle (Namhansanseong) during the Second Manchu invasion of Korea. Choi Myung-kil is a representative figure of the Juhwapa faction who insisted on maintaining friendly relations with Qing Dynasty in order to protect the people in Joseon. Kim Sang-heon is a representative figure of the pro-Ming Dynasty faction, Cheokhwapa. 

 

Release date in Korea : 2017/10/03

[rubie]

Photos: The Movie Beat

 

[rubie]

October 15, 2018

 

[Just out on Blu-ray] Korean Movie "The Fortress"

 

Source: HanCinema.net

Korean movie "The Fortress" is available to order on Blu-ray with English subtitles from YESASIA.

 

Blu-ray with English subtitles (2-Disc First Press Limited Edition)

 

"The Fortress" (2017)

 

Directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk

With Lee Byung-hun, Kim Yun-seok, Park Hae-il, Go Soo, Park Hee-soon, Jo Woo-jin...

Started filming : 2016/11/21

 

Synopsis

 

The movie depicts the conflict between Choi Myung-kil and Kim Sang-heon while they fled to the South Castle (Namhansanseong) during the Second Manchu invasion of Korea. Choi Myung-kil is a representative figure of the Juhwapa faction who insisted on maintaining friendly relations with Qing Dynasty in order to protect the people in Joseon. Kim Sang-heon is a representative figure of the pro-Ming Dynasty faction, Cheokhwapa. 

 

Release date in Korea : 2017/10/03

[rubie]

The 55th Grand Bell Awards: 3 Technical Awards for THE FORTRESS!

 

October 22, 2018

 

Winners Of 55th Daejong Film Awards

Source: Soompi  by J. K

 

The 55th Daejong Film Awards recognized stand-out movies, actors, and professionals from the past year!

 

The Daejong Film Awards (also referred to as the Grand Bell Awards) are given out annually by the Motion Pictures Association of Korea.

 

The event was held on October 22 at the Sejong Center in Seoul, with “Burning” taking the Best Film Award. Hwang Jung Min and Lee Sung Min of “The Spy Gone North” both received the Best Actor Award while Na Moon Hee took home the Best Actress Award for her performance in “I Can Speak.” The late actor Kim Joo Hyuk was the receipient of both the Best Supporting Actor Award and a Special Award.

 

Check out the full list of winners below!

 

Best Film: “Burning”
Best Director: Jang Joon Hwan (“1987: When the Day Comes”)
Best Actor: Lee Sung Min, Hwang Jung Min (“The Spy Gone North”)
Best Actress: Na Moon Hee (“I Can Speak”)
Best Supporting Actor: Kim Joo Hyuk (“Believer”)
Best Supporting Actress: Jin Seo Yeon (“Believer”)
Best New Director: Jun Go Woon (“Microhabitat”)
Best New Actor: Lee Ga Sub (“The Seeds of Violence”)
Best New Actress: Kim Da Mi (“The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion”)
Best Screenwriter: Jun Go Woon (“Microhabitat”)
Best Cinematography: Kim Ji Yong (“The Fortress”)
Best Lighting: Cho Kyu Young (“The Fortress”)
Best Editing: Kim Hyung Joo, Yang Dong Yeop (“Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum”)
Best Soundtrack: Ryuichi Sakamoto (“The Fortress”)
Best Art Direction: Park Il Hyun (“The Spy Gone North”)
Best Costume Design: Cho Sang Kyung, Son Na Ri (“Illang: The Wolf Brigade”)
Technical Award: Jin Jong Hyun (“Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days”)
Best Planning: Lee Woo Jung (“1987: When the Day Comes”)
Woori Bank Star Award: AOA’s Seolhyun (“The Great Battle”)
Special Award: Kim Joo Hyuk

 

Source (1)

[rubie]

October 23, 2018

 

Daejong Film Awards Issues Official Response To Controversy Over Substitute Award Acceptance

Source: Soompi by Y. Shin

 

The 55th Daejong Film Awards has recently come under fire for a multitude of reasons.

 

The Daejong Film Awards (also referred to as the Grand Bell Awards) are given out annually by the Motion Pictures Association of Korea.

 

This year’s event was held on October 22 at the Sejong Center in Seoul, where Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto was chosen as the winner of “Best Soundtrack” for his work in “The Fortress.” Due to Ryuichi Sakamoto’s absence, a substitute presenter from “The Fortress” was supposed to accept the award in his place, but the appearance of trot singer Han Sarang, who had no relation to the musician nor the film, accepting the award caused great confusion.

 

“The Fortress” also won awards for “Best Lighting” and “Best Cinematography” that day, but it was soon revealed that the “Best Lighting” award hadn’t been delivered to those at “The Fortress.”

 

After the controversy spread online, the 55th Daejong Film Awards gave an official statement regarding the multiple issues. Their statement reads as follows:

 

“Hello, this is the Daejong Film Awards organizing committee.

 

“We selected Han Sarang, who accepted the ‘Best Soundtrack’ award, and Laa Lee, who accepted the ‘Best Cinematography’ award, after receiving recommendations from the Korean Film And Music Association and Korean Society of Cinematographers.

 

“Because Ryuichi Sakamoto of ‘The Fortress,’ who won the ‘Best Soundtrack’ award, had scheduled plans in the United States, and Kim Ji Yong of ‘The Fortress,’ who won the ‘Best Cinematography’ award, had scheduled plans in France, the Korean Movie Actor Association contacted the film’s production company, but were not able to get in touch with them.

 

Because we were not able to contact the production company, those who were chosen to receive the ‘Best Soundtrack’ award and ‘Best Cinematography’ award in place of the winners were based on recommendations of the Korean Film And Music Association and Korean Society of Cinematographers.

 

“We’d like to express our regret concerning the actions of Kim Ji Yeon, the production company leader at ‘The Fortress.’

 

“We’d also like to say thank you again for the interest and encouragement towards the Daejong Film Awards.”

 

Source (1) (2) // Netizentown

 

[rubie]

October 24, 2018

 

Strangers steal the spotlight at Daejong awards

 

Source: INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily

 

Musician Ryuichi Sakamoto’s award was accepted by singer Han Sa-rang,

instead of Kim Ji-yeon, from the production team behind “Fortress.” [NEWS1]

 

The 55th Daejong Film Awards held Monday evening was a party without stars. 

 

The majority of the honorees, including Na Muni, who was named Best Actress for her role in “I Can Speak” and Hwang Jung-min, who shared the Best Actor award with Lee Sung-min for their roles in “The Spy Gone North,” did not show up at the annual award ceremony that many have deemed unfair in how it chooses its winners. Over the course of the evening, random people without any relation to the winners accepted awards on their behalf.

 

In the case of esteemed musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, who was awarded Best Soundtrack for period epic “The Fortress,” Han Sa-rang, who introduced herself as a singer and actor, accepted the award on his behalf. Kim Ji-yeon, a representative of the film’s production company Siren Pictures, was going to collect the award, but she soon returned to her seat after Han, who later told media that she has no relation to the Japanese musician, stepped on stage.

 

Han, a stranger to most, was accused by netizens of breaking into the ceremony. But the Daejong Film Awards’ organizing committee issued a statement late Tuesday saying that it had asked the association of film musicians to select someone to accept the award for Sakamoto and that they chose Han. 

 

The committee said it had tried to contact the “Fortress” production team but nobody answered. For the same reason, the Best Lighting award, which also went to “The Fortress,” was also given to an executive of the Korea Film Lighting Directors Society. 

 

The committee also expressed regret towards Kim, who complained about the situation. Kim told local media that, although the committee knew she was coming, it said nothing of the plan. 

 

Meanwhile, Best Picture went to Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning.” Lee’s first feature in eight years starring Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun and Jeon Jong-seo, depicts the insecurity, helplessness and anger many young Koreans feel through the story of a part-time delivery man and aspiring novelist, and two of his friends.

 

It beat out strong contenders - “The Spy Gone North,” “The Fortress,” “Along With the Gods: The Last 49 Days” and “1987: When the Day Comes” - for the top Daejong award.

 

Lee Jun-dong, CEO of Pinehouse Film, the studio behind “Burning,” said in his acceptance speech, “There were many complications with this film. The shooting was delayed for a year. But we were able to make it because the actors and the staff waited for it, taking tremendous risks. We appreciate them for doing this,” he added.

 

BY JIN MIN-JI, YONHAP [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]

[rubie]

October 24, 2018

“The Fortress” Production Company CEO Disputes Daejong Film Awards’s Official Statement

 

Source: Soompi by S. Park

 

 

The 55th Daejong Film Awards was broadcast on October 22 and “The Fortress” was chosen as the winner of “Best Soundtrack,” “Best Lighting,” and “Best Cinematography.”

 

Confusion arose when trot singer Han Sarang accepted the award on behalf of Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto for “Best Soundtrack” and it was later revealed that “Best Lighting” award wasn’t delivered to “The Fortress.”

 

In response to the controversy, the 55th Daejong Film Awards released an official statement detailing how the Korean Movie Actor Association was unable to get in touch with the film’s production company and thus other people were chosen to receive the award on the film’s behalf based on recommendation by the Korean Film and Music Association and Korean Society of Cinematographers.

 

On October 23, CEO Kim Ji Yeon of the film’s production company Siren Pictures released a statement refuting the one given by the 55th Daejong Film Awards. The statement is as follows:

 

“Hello. This is Siren Pictures CEO Kim Ji Yeon.

 

“I want to give an official statement about the statement by the organizers of the Daejong Film Awards that was held on October 22, and give our official statement as the production company of ‘The Fortress.’ On October 22, I attended the awards ceremony as a nominee for Best Picture.

 

“‘The Fortress’ was chosen for 10 nominations at this year’s Daejong Film Awards and production company Siren Pictures communicated back and forth with the organizers of the Daejong Film Awards before the award ceremony was held regarding the attendance of the nominees.

 

“Besides I, who was attending as a Best Picture nominee, the organizers said that they would directly be contacting the nominees of other categories, so I gave their contact information to the organizers of the Daejong Film Awards. After this, I was never informed by the Daejong Film Awards organizers about the attendance of the nominees and who was going to be accepting the awards on their behalf. Right before attending the ceremony, I learned that no other nominees would be attending and thought that if ‘The Fortress’ was to be named as the winner of other awards besides Best Picture, then I would be the one to accept the award as the only attendee and production company CEO following the usual film award procedures. I was never contacted about a substitute who would be receiving the award and wasn’t told an explanation on the day of the awards.

 

“I don’t have any thoughts of criticizing Daejong Film Awards’ internal method of choosing substitutes to receive awards in the case that the recipients are absent. However, as a film producer, the method of someone receiving the award on their behalf who aren’t at all related to the film and doesn’t even know the award recipient is confusing.

 

“Finally, I’m expressing regret over the fact that the Daejong Film Award organizers said that this all happened because they could not get in touch with the production company up until the very last moment. As a Best Picture nominee, I definitely expressed my attendance beforehand to the organizers of the event.

 

“Also, we communicated back and forth up until I attended the awards ceremony as needed and have records of text messages I exchanged with the Daejong Film Awards organizers on Saturday about my red carpet attendance. However, during this process, I was never informed about the process of a substitute accepting the awards.

 

“Please think once again about how I was able to receive a seating list and parking ticket to attend the award ceremony if you were unable to get in contact with me. I express regret about this incident as a person of the film industry and as a producer who attended the ceremony with a joyful heart as a nominee, and hope that the Daejong Film Awards can improve from here on out.”

 

Source (1)

[rubie]

Source: The Movie Beat

[rubie]

Source: Pierce Conran

 

 

November 17, 2018

 

Camerimage: 'The Fortress' Wins Golden Frog
'Cold War' grabbed the silver, and 'Roma,' the bronze.

  

by Carolyn Giardina THR

 

The Fortress, director Dong-hyuk Hwang's 2017 historical drama about China's 17th-century invasion of Korea, lensed by cinematographer Ji-yong Kim, won the Golden Frog in the main competition at EnergaCamerimage, the 26th annual cinematography film festival held in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

 

Meanwhile two Oscar contenders, Cold War and Roma, grabbed the Silver and Bronze Frogs, respectively. Cold War, a black-and-white love story set against the Cold War in the 1950s and the foreign-language film entry from Poland, claimed the Silver Frog for cinematographer Lukasz Zal and director Pawel Pawlikowski (the pair won the Golden Frog in 2013 for Ida). And Netflix's closely-watched Roma, for which Alfonso Cuaron served as writer, director and cinematographer, grabbed the bronze frog. A black-and-white drama inspired by Cuaron's youth, Roma is also Mexico's Oscar entry in the foreign-language film category.

 

These films topped some high-profile Oscar contenders that were also in competition, including Damien Chazelle's First Man, lensed by Oscar winner Linus Sandgren (La La Land); The Favourite, helmed by Yorgos Lanthimos and lensed by Robbie Ryan (which won the Audience Award); A Star is Born, Bradley Cooper's directorial debut lensed by Oscar-nominated DP Matty Libatique (who was not in attendance following a brush with the law); Peterloo, from director Mike Leigh and two-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer richard simmons Pope (which won the Fipresci international critics prize); and the Coen Bros.' The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, lensed by five-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel. 

 

Camerimage has emerged as a bellwether for what's to come during Oscar season. In three of the past five years, the winners of Camerimage's Golden Frog, the top prize in the main competition, have gone on to earn Oscar nominations in cinematography. Those films include 2013's Ida, 2015's Carol and 2016's Lion. (The 2014 Golden Frog winner, Leviathan, and 2017 Camerimage champ, On Body and Soul, were each nominated for a foreign-language film Oscar.)

 

Led by jury president and production designer David Gropman (Life of Pi), this year's main competition jury includes production designer Lilly Kilvert (Valkyrie), and cinematographers Jean-Marie Dreujou (Two Brothers), Dan Laustsen (The Shape of Water), Florian Ballhaus (The Book Thief), Arthur Reinhart (Crows) and ASC president Kees Van Oostrum (Gods and Generals).

 

A full list of honorees follows:

 

MAIN COMPETITION

Golden Frog: The Fortress
cin. Ji Yong Kim 
dir. Dong-Hyuk Hwang 

Silver Frog: Cold War
cin. Łukasz Żal
dir. Paweł Pawlikowski

Bronze Frog: Roma
cin. Alfonso Cuarón
dir. Alfonso Cuarón

 

Spoiler

 

FIPRESCI AWARD 

The International Critics Prize to the director of the best film in the Main Competition – under specific consideration of its cinematography: Peterloo
cin. richard simmons Pope
dir. Mike Leigh

 

AUDIENCE AWARD 

Camerimage Audience Award: The Favourite
cin. Robbie Ryan
dir. Yorgos Lanthimos

 

POLISH FILMS COMPETITION

Best Polish Film: Nina
cin. Tomasz Naumiuk
dir. Olga Chajdas

 

STUDENT ETUDES COMPETITION

Laszlo Kovacs Student Award - Golden Tadpole – Sirene
cin. Douwe Hennink 
dir. Zara Dwinger 
school: Nederlandse Filmacademie - Netherlands Film Academy (AHK) 

Silver Tadpole: Almost Everything
cin. Simon Bitterli 
dir. Lisa Gertsch 
school: Zürcher Hochschule der Künste - Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) 

Bronze Tadpole: Them
cin. Holger Jungnickel 
dir. Tim Dünschede 
school: Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin - German Film and Television Academy (dffb), Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München - University of Television and Film Munich (HFF München), Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH 

 

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES COMPETITION

Golden Frog — best documentary feature: When the Bull Cried
cin. Karen Vázquez Guadarrama 
dir. Bart Goossesn, Karen Vázquez Guadarrama 

Golden Frog — best docudrama: I, Dolours
cin. Kate McCullough 
dir. Maurice Sweeney 

 

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS COMPETITION

Golden Frog — Grand Prix: Horse Riders
cin. Tomasz Wolski
dir. Anna Gawlita 

Special Mention: Pain Is Mine
cin. Farshid Akhlaghi 
dir. Farshid Akhlaghi 

 

DIRECTORS’ DEBUTS COMPETITION

under the patronage of the Polish Filmmakers Association (SFP)

Best Director's Debut: The Guilty
cin. Jasper J. Spanning
dir. Gustav Möller

 

CINEMATOGRAPHERS’ DEBUTS COMPETITION

under the patronage of the Polish Filmmakers Association (SFP)

Best Cinematographer's Debut: Obey
cin. Albert Salas
dir. Jamie Jones 

 

MUSIC VIDEOS COMPETITION

Best Music Video: Novo Amor "Birthplace"
cin. Nihal Friedel 
dir. Jorik Dozy, Sil Van Der Woerd 

Best Cinematography In A Music Video: Childish Gambino "This Is America"
cin. Larkin Seiple 
dir. Hiro Murai

 

FIRST LOOK - TV PILOTS COMPETITION 

Best Pilot: Patrick Melrose: Bad News
cin. James Friend
dir. Edward Berger 

 

ADVERTISING SPOTS COMPETITION “EUROPEAN FUNDS IN FOCUS”

Organised in co-operation with Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region

Main Award: The Marshal Office of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship for Zmieniamy Podkarpackie z Funduszami Europejskimi - Dołącz do bohaterów lokalnych zmian. Katarzyna Być – Pracownia Ceramiki i Rękodzieła Być

Special mention: The Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship for Województwo Kujawsko-Pomorskie mecenasem kultury w regionie 

 

 

[rubie]

Source: EnergaCAMERIMAGE @CamerimageFest // Camerimage 2018