Despite funding cut, 50th Seoul Independent Film Festival to screen record no. of films

The Seoul Independent Film Festival, South Korea’s only competitive independent film festival -- now in its 50th year -- is taking place Nov. 28 to Dec. 6. According to the organizers, the festival this year saw the highest number of films submitted since its establishment in 1975 -- a total of 1,704 feature and short indie films. “We think creators who want to focus on works that contain their voices have returned to the indie scene,” said Festival Director Kim Dong-hyun durin

Nov. 5, 2024

Grand Bell Film Awards in doubt as organizer goes bankrupt

The Motion Pictures Association of Korea, the organizer of Korea’s oldest film awards, the Grand Bell Film Awards, has gone bankrupt with debts exceeding 800 million won ($580,000), raising doubts as to whether this year’s events will take place in December as planned. The festival was once regarded as the country’s top film awards, but it had been struggling to meet financial and reputational challenges. “After the court announced bankruptcy in December last year, the

Nov. 1, 2024

[Herald Review] ‘Amazon Bullseye,’ motley comedy of forced empathy, outdated wordplay

The most successful comedy flick in the history of Korean cinema is the 2019 movie “Extreme Job,” which sold 16.2 million tickets and grossed 140 billion won ($101 million). Expectations had been high for “Amazon Bullseye,” which billed itself as the reunion of “Extreme Job” stars Ryoo Seung-ryong and Jin Seon-kyu, as well as screenwriter Bae Se-young. Such expectations were dashed, however, when it opened in theaters on Oct. 30. As the movie unfolds, with f

Nov. 1, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Amazon Bullseye” (South Korea) Opened Oct. 30 Drama/Adventure Directed by Kim Chang-joo Former archer Jin-bong (Ryoo Seung-ryong) crash-lands in Boledor where he meets Amazon tribe members and ends up bringing them to Korea to make them the national archery team of Boledor, with the help of a Korean interpreter Bbang-sik (Jin Seon-kyu). “Venom: The Last Dance” (US) Opened Oct. 23 Action/Sci-fi Directed by Kelly Marcel Former journalist Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and his

Nov. 1, 2024