Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love' follows with 8; winners will be named Nov. 25
Na Hong-jin's creature feature "Hope" picked up 10 nominations to lead the field in the 47th Blue Dragon Film Awards as Lee Chang-dong's Netflix-backed "Possible Love" followed close behind with eight, according to the list of nominees released Wednesday.
The “Wailing” director’s sci-fi epic, which premiered at Cannes in May, is said to be the most expensive Korean film ever made. At this year's Blue Dragons, the film is up for best picture and best director, along with acting noms for Zo In-sung (lead actor), Eum Moon-suk (supporting actor) and Hoyeon (best new actress), among others.
Meanwhile, auteur Lee Chang-dong's Venice Silver Lion winner landed nominations in all four acting categories. Sul Kyung-gu and Jeon Do-yeon are up for lead actor and actress, while Zo and Cho Yeo-jeong are in the running for the supporting prizes. That gives Zo two acting nominations this year, a distinction he shares with Koo Kyo-hwan (lead actor for "Once We Were Us," supporting actor for "Colony").
Jang Hang-jun's period drama “The King’s Warden” followed with seven nominations, including best picture, best director and lead actor for Yoo Hai-jin. The film sold about 16.9 million tickets after opening in February, making it the highest-grossing Korean film of all time. Yeon Sang-ho’s zombie thriller “Colony” earned six.
Those two films will compete for best picture with “Hope,” Yoon Ga-eun’s indie sleeper hit “The World of Love” and Hur Jin-ho’s politically charged thriller “The Assassin(s).” The five directors are also going head to head for best director.
First held in 1963, the Blue Dragon Film Awards take place each year in late November and are considered one of Korea's most prestigious film honors alongside the Grand Bell Awards and the Baeksang Arts Awards. Winners are chosen by a panel of experts, with an online fan vote counting as one extra ballot.
Last year, Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice” won best picture and led the night with seven trophies, including best director and best actress for Son Ye-jin.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony on Nov. 25 at KBS Hall in Yeouido, western Seoul.
moonkihoon@heraldcorp.com
