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Hong Sang-soo to compete at Berlin Film Festival

By Korea Herald

Published : Dec. 14, 2012 - 19:50

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Korean director Hong Sang-soo will premiere his latest film, “Nobody’s Daughter Haewon,” at the 63rd Berlinale to take place Feb. 7-17 next year, competing for the Golden Bear prize.

“Nobody’s Daughter Haewon,” which is regarded as the follow-up to his Cannes entry, “In Another Country,” is included in next year’s preliminary lineup, according to Fine Cut, the international distributor of the film.

The film shows a few days in the life of a university student Haewon after being left behind by her mother who goes to Canada. Up-and-coming actress Jung Eun-chae in the lead role is joined by acclaimed actors Yu Jun-sang and Lee Sun-kyun and actress Ye Ji-won. 
Poster of “Nobody’s Daughter Haewon.” (Cine Cian) Poster of “Nobody’s Daughter Haewon.” (Cine Cian)

The latest film by the director often seen as a critics’ darling will open in Korea in February after the world premiere. Hong has been to the Berlinale with previous films: “The Day a Pig Fell into the Well” (1996) at the forum section; “Woman on the Beach” (2006) for the panorama section; and “Night and Day” (2008) as a premiere.

Also included in the Berlinale lineup are works of U.S. director Gus Van Sant and Austrian filmmaker Ulrich Seidl.

Van Sant will present “Promised Land,” an ecological drama starring Matt Damon and John Krasinski. Seidle will feature “Paradise: Hope,” the last in his trilogy, about a girl who falls for a man who is 40 years older. American animators Kirk De Micco and Chris Sanders will premiere “The Croods,” a 3-D movie featuring the voices of Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds.

Romanian director Calin Peter Netzer will screen “Child’s Pose” while Sebastian Lelio will present “Gloria.” The Special Sidebar section will present Christian Rostand Claus Strigel’s documentary “Redemption Impossible” about a rehabilitation project in Austria for apes used in drug testing.

French director and producer Claude Lanzmann will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the event.

Chinese master director Wong Kar Wai will lead a panel of juries who will call out the names of the prize winners on Feb. 16.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)