Korean director Park Chang-wook on Tuesday received the Film and Beyond award at the Geneva International Film Festival, commended for his works including “The Handmaiden,” which will be screened at the festival until Sunday.

The award was given to the director in recognition of Park’s body of work to the field of cinema, at the 25th annual event at the Swiss city from Nov.1-10.

“This is an award usually given to a director with a long career who is about to retire, but I will appreciate it as a midterm settlement to my career. ... I’ve worked for 26 years (in the film industry), so I’d appreciate it when the Gevena International Film Festival would invite me again around 2045, when my career would be over,” Park said in his acceptance speech.

Two feature-length films and three shorts by Park will be screened at the festival.

Park, a director, screenwriter and producer, is known for “Thirst,” “Joint Security Area,” “Lady Vengeance” and “Old Boy,” which won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, among others.


By Yoon Min-sik
(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)