Kim Hye-ja named best actress at Chinese film fest

Veteran South Korean actress Kim Hye-ja was named the best foreign actress by China`s Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival for her role in the mystery thriller "Mother," the film`s local producer said Friday and Yonhap News reported.

Kim, 68, a popular TV celebrity widely known for her on-screen persona of a benevolent mother, surprised fans with her intense performance in the film, the fourth feature by director Bong Joon-ho which revolves around a murder case and obsessive maternal love. Kim was also named best actress at three domestic awards including the Busan Film Critics` Award.

Regarded as China`s most prestigious film award, the rooster and flowers festival has been awarding and screening foreign films since 2005.

Approved by the central government, two festivals -- Hundred Flowers Film Festival and China Golden Rooster initiated in 1962 and 1981, respectively -- were unified into one national film festival in 1992. The 18th event was held at Nanchang, Jiangxi Province.

"Mother," which drew some 3 million viewers at home, was screened at the non-competition section of this year`s Cannes where it was praise as a "unique noir thriller."