Korean animation “Tae-il-i’ to compete at Annecy International Animated Film Festival

The Korean animated film “Tae-il-i” will compete in the Contrechamp section at the 2022 Annecy International Animation Film Festival in the town of Annecy, France. The Contrechamp Award is dedicated to feature-length animated films. The film depicts the life of Jeon Tae-il, an emblematic figure of the Korean garment manufacturing sector labor movement. He immolated himself in 1970 at age 22, to protest the brutal working conditions at factories, especially for female workers. Jeon

May 3, 2022

Benedict Cumberbatch returns with anticipated ‘Doctor Strange’ sequel

Even before it hits local theaters on Wednesday, Hollywood blockbuster “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” is stirring excitement among Marvel Cinematic Universe film fans here. As of Monday, 673,489 tickets were sold for the upcoming movie, a sequel to “Doctor Strange” (2016), according to data by the Korean Film Council. The presales dwarfed those for “Spider-Man,” the most-watched film during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, which sold

May 2, 2022

Director Yeon Sang-ho selects 5 movies for special section at Jeonju film fest

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province – At this year’s Jeonju International Film Festival, director Yeon Sang-ho of “Train to Busan” selected five films as a programmer for the special section “J Special: Programmer of the Year.” “I remember watching ‘Dead Man’ directed by Jim Jarmusch when I was a freshman or sophomore in university. It was a special screening. I watched it with my friend. I used to live in Mapo back then, and we watched the movi

May 1, 2022

[Herald Interview] Korean American actor Justin H. Min excited to be part of Jeonju IFF in person

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province -- For Korean American actor Justin H. Min, participating in the Jeonju International Film Festival was special not only because it is being held in his parent’s home country, but also because it is an in-person event. “I missed Cannes because I was filming and they wouldn’t let me leave because of the quarantine. And Sundance, we were finally excited to go. And then two weeks before, they shut Sundance down. So I missed two film festivals,&rdqu

May 1, 2022

Veteran Korean director Lee Chang-dong looks back at his 25-year career

JEONJU--Renowned Korean director Lee Chang-dong on Friday looked back on his 25 years in the Korean film industry during a press conference held at Jeonju Jungbu Vision Center in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, as part of the Jeonju International Film Festival. “I participated in Vancouver Film Festival with my debut film ‘Green Fish.’ Back then, nobody had any interest in Korean films,” he recalled. “Vancouver Film Festival was one of the few events that screened

April 29, 2022

Jeonju IFF opening ceremony returns to normal with full crowd cheering, red carpet

For the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeonju International Film Festival’s iconic white dome finally returned on Thursday. Though crowds had to wear masks, the 23rd Jeonju International Film Festival appeared to return to its pre-pandemic grand opening ceremony. Actors and directors walked on the red carpet into the dome as onlookers, siting side by side without distancing, clapped and cheered loudly, which were banned before the social distancing measures were li

April 29, 2022

'Doctor Strange 2' tops 400,000 presold tickets

Upcoming Hollywood blockbuster "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is expected to smash the South Korean box office as its presale tickets outpaced those of biggest pandemic-hit film "Spider-Man: No Way Home." Marvel Studios' film to be released Wednesday recorded 410,000 presold tickets as of 9 a.m., five days before its local release, according to data by the Korean Film Council. The movie accounted for 78.8 percent of all tickets reserved at that time, overwhelmi

April 29, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Air Murder (Korea) Opened April 22 Drama Directed by Cho Yong-sun Doctor Tae-hoon’s (Kim Sang-kyung) son becomes afflicted with lung disease. Then the doctor‘s wife, who had been perfectly healthy, suddenly dies, also with lung disease. Tae-hoon tries to find out the cause of her death with prosecutor Young-joo (Lee Sun-bin). They discover that it could be related to a new lung disease that appears in the spring and disappears in the summer.　 Anchor (Korea) Opened April 20 T

April 29, 2022

Jeonju IFF opens with Kogonada’s thought-provoking film ‘After Yang’

JEONJU--Jeonju International Film Festival on Thursday kicked off with opening film “After Yang” directed by Kogonada. “We selected it because it is a beautiful film. Not only is it set in the future but also it has deep thoughts on human nature,” Jeonju IFF co-programmer Chun Jin-su said during a press conference held on Thursday at JIFF Theque with actor Justin H. Min, who plays Yang in the movie.  Chun added that he was also impressed by Kogonada’s

April 28, 2022

Jeonju film festival to open with 217 films

JEONJU -- The annual Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF), the country's largest showcase of indie and art house films, will start its 10-day run in the southwestern city of Jeonju on Thursday. A total of 217 films from 52 countries will be shown during the 23rd edition, which runs until May 7, with the in-person opening ceremony to be held at Jeonju Dome in Jeonju, some 240 kilometers south of Seoul. Out of the total invited works, 112 films will be also available on JIFF's online platform

April 28, 2022

Busan International Short Film Festival explores potential of short films

The 39th Busan International Short Film Festival kicked off Wednesday at the Busan Cinema Center for a six-day run through Monday. Under the theme of “Expanding Cinema,” the festival aims to focus on showing the variability and infinite potential of short films, according to the film fest organizer.　 The selected films will be screened at two theaters: Busan Cinema Center and BNK Busan Bank Art Cinema. For the 39th BISFF, 154 short films from 48 countries were selected for scre

April 27, 2022

Ex-justice minister Cho Kuk documentary raises over W50m within three hours on crowdfunding platform

“The Red Herring,” a documentary about the embattled ex-Justice Minister Cho Kuk, met its funding goal of 50 million won ($40,000) within three hours on the crowdfunding platform Tumblbug on Monday. “Funding aims to secure screens at multiplex theaters by proving that there are supporters of ‘The Red Herring,’ so that we can create an opportunity for more people to watch the film at the theater,” production company CK Project said in a statement. “The f

April 26, 2022

[Herald Interview] Sol Kyung-gu learns importance of parenting from ‘I Want to See Your Parent’s Face’

After actor Sol Kyung-gu watched his film, “I Want to See Your Parent’s Face,” he realized the importance of parenting. “In the movie, there is a line that says ‘parents took away the last chance for the kids to be forgiven.’ Watching this film, I thought that parents’ actions are as important as the kids’ in this kind of situation. That is something new I have learned from it,” said Sol, who is a father himself, during an interview with a

April 25, 2022

Koo Kyo-hwan, Shin Hyun-bin thrilled to take next journey into the ‘Yeoniverse’

Star director Yeon Sang-ho, who was behind global apocalyptic thriller “Train to Busan” (2016) and Netflix’s “Hellbound” (2021), is expanding his dystopian fantasy world, widely known as “Yeoniverse,” with Tving’s upcoming occult series “Monstrous.” “It may sound unreal, but I was thinking of director Yeon the other day. And I received a message about his new project. I was screaming in my room with excitement and decided to sta

April 24, 2022

‘Next Sohee’ to close Critics’ Week

“Next Sohee,” starring Bae Doo-na, will close Critics’ Week, a sidebar event dedicated to showing directors’ first and second films alongside the Cannes Film Festival, from May 18 to 26. The 75th Cannes Film Festival runs from May 17-28. “I am grateful to screen the film, in which all the staff and actors worked together last winter, on a splendid spring day. We are proud to introduce our precious actors to audiences around the world,” the film’s dir

April 23, 2022

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Anchor (Korea) Opened April 20 Thriller Directed by Jeong Ji-yeon Se-ra (Chun Woo-hee) is a famous news presenter with a mother, So-jung (Lee Hye-young), who micromanages her life. One day, Se-ra receives a phone call from a woman named Mi-so, five minutes before her news program goes on air. Mi-so claims she is about to be killed by a stranger and asks Se-ra to report her story, adding that Se-ra is her idol. Se-ra tries to ignore the phone call, but later visits Mi-so’s home and dis

April 22, 2022

Screening of ex-justice minister documentary at Jeonju IFF sparks controversy

The Jeonju film festival organizer’s decision to screen “The Red Herring,” a documentary about the beleaguered ex-Justice Minister Cho Kuk, at the festival that kicks off next week has sparked controversy. Those who are critical of the screening and the film said that it is inappropriate to present a film that takes Cho’s side after a court found that his wife had forged documents in their daughter’s university application. “We have witnessed that films l

April 20, 2022

Ten K-pop singers star in horror film ‘Urban Myth’

The Megabox Coex branch in Seoul on Monday was crowded with fans with cameras, an uncommon scene for most press preview and press conference events. Given that the event was for the upcoming horror film “Urban Myth,” however, which stars 10 current and former K-pop stars, the crowd could be expected. Jaehyun of Golden Child, SeolA and Exy of WJSN, Shownu of Monsta X, Arin of Oh My Girl, Min-hyuk of BTOB, Ju Haknyeon of the Boyz, solo artist Alexa, former Lovelyz member Seo Ji-soo

April 19, 2022

[Herald Interview] ‘Anchor’ director dives into women‘s fear of motherhood

Director Jeong Ji-yeon, 38, said her new film “Anchor” intentionally deals with topics related to maternal love in a way that commercial films often do not show. “I was not happy with commercial films and dramas depicting mothers as simply people who are willing to make sacrifices (for their children),” Jeong said. “I had a problem with such stereotypical depictions of mothers.” The director explained that she was also one of many women who was afraid to

April 18, 2022

Three Korean films to be screened at Cannes

One of the most recognized film festivals worldwide, Cannes Film Festival announced its official selection list for this year Thursday, including three Korean films-- “Decision to Leave,” directed by Park Chan-wook, “Broker” directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda and “Squid Game” star Lee Jung-jae’s directorial debut “Hunt.” Park and Kore-eda’s films were invited to the festival’s main competition category. A total of 18 contenders were

April 15, 2022