BIFF to screen 12 films by emerging Korean directors

Busan International Film Festival on Friday unveiled 12 films for the “Korea Cinema Today-Vision” section, a section dedicated to discovering the latest independent films and emerging Korean directors. First or second full-length films by the selected Korean filmmakers will be premiered at the section. This year’s selection ranges from drama, silent film to stop-motion animation and thriller, exploring the directors’ different approaches to their subject and filmmaking.

Aug. 26, 2022

‘Taken’-style action film ‘Limit’ features female lead and villain

Singer-turned-actor Lee Jung-hyun said her new thriller “Limit,” directed by Lee Seung-joon, is similar to “Taken,” the hit Hollywood film about a former spy who goes to great lengths to find his kidnapped teenage daughter. But unlike “Taken,” the action film features a mother and a female villain as the main characters. “We hoped to create a Korean version of ‘Taken’” that features a mother as the main character, Lee said during a

Aug. 25, 2022

‘Honest Candidate’ sequel returns with even funnier setting

What would happen if a politician cannot lie? The original film “Honest Candidate,” which started from this idea, featured politician Joo Sang-sook (played by Ra Min-ran), who attempts to run for the fourth time for a seat at the National Assembly. She would lie about anything if it can earn her a vote. However, after visiting her grandmother, Sang-sook finds that she is unable to lie. This immediately gets her into all sorts of trouble. Actor Ra won the best actress award for pl

Aug. 24, 2022

Yoo Ah-in returns with ‘Seoul Vibe,’ a movie full of hip-hop music, retro fashion

Movie star Yoo Ah-in is returning with Netflix’s “Seoul Vibe,” a film full of old hip-hop music and retro-inspired fashion. Directed by Moon Hyun-sung, “Seoul Vibe” revolves around talented driver Dong-wook (Yoo) who forms a team with his hipster friends to investigate the slush fund of a former president during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The film includes car chase scenes in Seoul as well as old-school hip-hop and Korean pop music. “It is a fun and brainless

Aug. 23, 2022

[Newsmaker] Sadness overload: the tricky art of ‘sinpa’ tear-jerkers

When Netflix‘s “Squid Game” became an international hit last year, Korean critics praised how the show’s emotional aspects helped its success among western audiences. Just a year later, the star-studded “Emergency Declaration,” one of the most anticipated films of 2022, went down in flames, obliterated by fans and critics alike, with criticism directed at its supposed tear-jerking moments. Comparing the differing responses these two received resurfaced a dec

Aug. 22, 2022

Brad Pitt says he came to Korea for food, not for ‘Bullet Train’ promotion

Making his fourth visit to Korea, Hollywood star Brad Pitt showed off his witty personality during a press conference for his new movie “Bullet Train” held at Conrad Seoul in Yeouido, Seoul, on Friday. “I am not here for the movie, I am here for the food,” Pitt said after entering the room. Pitt and fellow “Bullet Train” cast member Aaron Taylor-Johnson arrived on Thursday night and said they enjoyed having samgyetang (Korean chicken soup) yesterday and ar

Aug. 19, 2022

First Blue Planet Future Festival sheds light on climate crisis

BUSAN - The first Blue Planet Future Festival, an event dedicated to highlighting the issue of climate change, featured a program of films, talks and other events in South Korea‘s port city of Busan. The film festival took place alongside the Green Life Show, an environmental experience exhibition, and ESG International Conference. Held at the Busan Cinema Center, Blue Planet Future Festival screened 39 documentaries from 20 countries. According to the Global Networks For Blue Planet,

Aug. 19, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Nope (US) Opened Aug. 17 Horror Directed by Jordan Peele O.J. Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) is a horse trainer and his father (Keith David) runs a successful business providing horses to Hollywood productions. One day, his father dies in a mysterious accident and O.J. and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer) inherit the ranch. But things get complicated for the Haywoods when they notice a mysterious cloud on the horizon of their ranch. Hunt (Korea) Opened Aug. 10 Action Directed by Lee Jung-jae

Aug. 19, 2022

Lee Jung-jae's directorial debut 'Hunt' tops 2m admissions

"Hunt," the directorial debut of Lee Jung-jae of "Squid Game," has topped 2 million admissions, box-office data showed Wednesday. The espionage film drew 146,000 people the previous day, bringing its combined total to 2.1 million, according to the data by the Korea Film Council. Released Aug. 10, it took seven days to reach the 2 million level, becoming the fourth most-viewed Korean film in 2022 after "The Roundup," "Hansan: Rising Dragon" and "The Wi

Aug. 17, 2022

Hyun Bin returns as more relaxed N. Korean detective in ‘Confidential Assignment 2’

When Hyun Bin reprised his role as North Korean detective Im Chul-ryung in the second installment of the action film “Confidential Assignment,” the top Korean actor initially thought that there wasn’t much he needed to prepare. “I thought I could simply perform in the same way that I did in the original movie. But this thought changed soon after I found out that everything from comedy to action elements had been upgraded in the new movie,” the actor said during a

Aug. 16, 2022

Gangnam gets its first Imax screen

A new Imax theater opened at CGV Apgujeong on Tuesday, introducing the first Imax theater in the Gangnam area of Seoul, according to CJ CGV, the country’s largest multiplex cinema chain. The company said its new Imax theater has 170 seats and five private boxes with two seats each, the first ever private boxes in an Imax theater. To mark the opening of the latest Imax theater, “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Nope” and “Bullet Train” will screen there Saturd

Aug. 16, 2022

Showbox to look into rumors on viral marketing against ‘Emergency Declaration’

One of the top four Korean film distributors, Showbox announced that it is looking into rumors that there might be a company intentionally producing negative reviews about its film “Emergency Declaration,” directed by Han Jae-rim. “If true, it could harm the Korean film industry as a whole in the long term, so we are looking into the case, regardless of its relevance to ‘Emergency Declaration,’” an official from Showbox said. This rumor has been spreading

Aug. 15, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Hunt (Korea) Opened Aug. 10 Spy-action Directed by Lee Jung-jae In the 1980s, two elite agents at the Agency of National Security Planning, Park Pyung-ho (Lee Jung-jae) and Kim Jung-do (Jung Woo-sung) chase after a North Korean spy who leaked top secret intel. The agents go head-to-head in an intense confrontation and competition to prove their loyalty for the country and their respective units. With their growing obsession to hunt down the spy, the agents start to suspect and investigate

Aug. 13, 2022

From ‘Shiri’ to ‘Parasite,’ Korean films came a long way

“Squid Game” star Lee Jung-jae said he could not enjoy drinks with fellow actors and directors after the VIP screening event of his directorial debut film“Hunt” held on Aug. 2. He explained that it was because he had a Zoom meeting to promote the film to foreign fans the next morning. Lee’s film has been sold to 144 countries including France, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Russia and Brazil, even before its local release on Aug. 11. “Tomorrow morning, I also

Aug. 13, 2022

Cannes-winning ‘Decision to Leave’ selected for Oscar entry

Park Chan-wook’s romance-thriller “Decision to Leave” will represent South Korea at the Academy Awards next year, the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) announced Thursday. The council said it selected the Cannes-winning film as the country’s entry for best international feature film for the 95th Academy Awards, which is scheduled for March next year. The jury of five experts in the film industry explained that they considered many factors, including directorial recognition, c

Aug. 12, 2022

Independent thriller movie ‘Drown’ to compete with big budget films this summer

While local theaters are packed with big-budget Korean films like “Hansan: Rising Dragon,” “Emergency Declaration” and “Alienoid,” director Lim Sang-su hopes his independent film “Drown” will attract moviegoers with its own charm. “There are many good movies in theaters now. But I would like to emphasize the importance of the diversity of movies. We have a unique mysterious story and I think audiences will enjoy this,” actor Lee Jong

Aug. 11, 2022

‘Perhaps Love’ bags two awards at 21st New York Asian Film Festival

Director Cho Eun-ji’s debut feature “Perhaps Love” bagged two awards -- audience award and best from the East award-- at the 21st New York Asian Film Festival, according to the film’s distributor NEW on Tuesday. “It has not been long since we celebrated Ryu Seung-ryong receiving the award for his performance, and I am truly honored to receive the audience award as well,” Cho said, according to NEW. “I would like to express my gratitude to the audience

Aug. 9, 2022

LACMA Art+Film Gala to honor filmmaker Park Chan-wook

Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook and American artist Helen Pashgian have been chosen as honorees at this year’s Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Art+Film Gala. “We are excited to recognize Park Chan-wook, whose unforgettable films never fail to show us the power of cinema,” said LACMA CEO Michael Govan in a statement last week. Park won the best director award for his latest work “Decision to Leave” at this year’s 75th Cannes Film Festival. Since the

Aug. 7, 2022

Hollywood star Brad Pitt to visit Korea for ‘Bullet Train’ promotion

Hollywood star Brad Pitt will visit Korea for the first time in eight years to promote his new film “Bullet Train” on Aug. 19. Along with Pitt, actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson will also be in Korea before the release of the film here on Aug. 24. Taylor-Johnson is widely known to Korean fans for his appearance in hit films including “Tenet” and “The King‘s Man.” The two actors will participate in a number of promotional events including a red carpet which

Aug. 5, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Emergency Declaration (Korea) Opened Aug. 3 Disaster-action Directed by Han Jae-rim Veteran detective In-ho (Song Kang-ho) is investigating a suspected terrorist and finds out that the suspect has already boarded a flight bound for Hawaii. To make matters worse, In-ho‘s wife is also on the plane with her friends. While the passengers are trapped inside, those on the ground including In-ho and the transportation minister (Jeon Do-yeon) struggle to find a way to land the plane safely.

Aug. 5, 2022