Argentinian doc wins grand prize in Jeonju film fest international section

The 22nd Jeonju International Film Festival announced its award winners during a closing ceremony that took place at the Korea Traditional Culture Center in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province on Wednesday. A total of 15 awards in four categories — international competition, Korean competition, Korean competition for shorts and special award — were given out during the ceremony. Under the international competition category, which focuses on new and emerging directors from around the wor

May 6, 2021

Natalia Garayalde’s Splinters wins 22nd Jeonju Intl. Film Festival

The 22nd Jeonju International Film Festival on Wednesday announced its award winners after reviewing a total 194 films from 48 countries.  In international competition, Natalia Garayalde won the grand prize with her 69-minute documentary “Splinters” and was awarded with a cash prize of 20 million won ($18,000). “Splinters” depicts Argentina’s biggest political scandal through the lens of a 12-year-old girl. “Landscapes of Resistance” by Marta

May 5, 2021

[Herald Interview] Chun Woo-hee says she was thirsty for bright, down to earth character

Before playing So-hee in romance film “Rain and Your Story,” actor Chun Woo-hee was focusing on making a strong impression with dark and strong characters, like teenage rape victim Gong-ju in “Han Gong-ju” and the mysterious Mu-myeong in “The Wailing.” “I have played many serious roles, so I was thirsty for characters that are bright and down to earth,” Chun told reporters during a joint media interview via Zoom. Set mostly in 2003, “Rain

May 5, 2021

Angelina Jolie returns as smoke jumper in ‘Those Who Wish Me Dead’

Angelina Jolie is returning to the big screen as a smoke jumper traumatized by her past work in the upcoming action thriller “Those Who Wish Me Dead,” directed by Taylor Sheridan. The movie hits theaters in South Korea on May 5, ahead of its release elsewhere in the world. For the 45-year-old American actor, taking part in the film was therapeutic. “I wasn’t feeling particularly strong coming into this. But to be able to get him (Connor, the child in the film) through

May 4, 2021

[Herald Interview] ‘Father’ director talks about the ‘invisible’ poor in Serbia

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province -- Director Srdan Golubovic, whose film “Father” opened the 22nd Jeonju International Film Festival, said he created the movie about poverty because many people in Serbia do not know it exists. “Many people in Serbia say they have never seen such poverty,” he told reporters during a Zoom interview on Friday. He explained that this is because they are ignorant, and poor people also tend to feel ashamed of themselves and live quietly. &ld

May 4, 2021

[Herald Interview] Jeon Yeo-been thanks ‘Night in Paradise’ director for taking a chance on her

When director Park Hoon-jung, who helmed the award-winning 2012 crime thriller “New World,” was casting for his new movie “Night in Paradise” in 2019, actor Jeon Yeo-been was not as widely known as she is now. 　 “I appreciate director Park Hoon-jung for casting me and actor Eom Tae-goo in the lead roles,” Jeon said during a joint media interview held via Zoom on April 23. “I am really grateful that he trusted us and that he was willing to go on an adve

May 3, 2021

'Minari' becomes 3rd movie to top 1m admissions in S. Korea this year

The immigrant film "Minari" has become the third movie to attract over 1 million viewers in South Korea this year, enjoying a post-award season bump on supporting actress Youn Yuh-jung's historic Oscar victory, data showed Monday. The US drama film about a first-generation Korean American family struggling to build a new life in rural Arkansas sold more than 23,900 tickets Saturday, bringing its combined total to over 1 million, according to the data from the Korean Film Council (KOFI

May 3, 2021

Actor Ryu Hyun-kyung selects 8 movies for special section at Jeonju film fest

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province -- Actor Ryu Hyun-kyung on Friday introduced eight movies -- four features and four short films -- that she selected for “J Special: Programmer of the Year,” a new section at the 22nd Jeonju International Film Festival. “Organizing everything on our own is effective when establishing the festival’s identity. But there could also be different approaches (to movies),” the director of the 22nd Jeonju International Film Festival, Lee Joon

April 30, 2021

Eight Korean film festival directors jointly condemn Myanmar military coup

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province -- Eight directors of Korea’s international film festivals, including director of the 22nd Jeonju International Film Festival Lee Joon-dong, have jointly expressed their support for the democratic movement in Myanmar during a press conference on Friday. The conference, held at CINE Q Jeonju Film Street, began with a screening of the short film “Burma Spring 21.” The film centers on the military-led February coup in Myanmar and is directed collabo

April 30, 2021

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Recalled (Korea) Opened April 21 Thriller Directed by Seo You-min Soo-jin (Seo Yea-ji) wakes up after an accident with part of her memory lost. Fortunately, her husband Ji-hoon (Kim Kang-woo) is there to take care of her. After returning home, Soo-Jin realizes that she now has a special power to see people’s futures, the moments when they are about to face dangerous situations. Nomadland (US) Opened April 15 Drama Directed by Chloe Zhao After Fern (Frances McDormand) loses her job o

April 30, 2021

Jeonju film fest kicks off on Thursday

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province -- The Jeonju International Film Festival held an opening ceremony hosted by actor Kwon Hye-hyo and Park Ha-sun on Thursday night at the Sori Arts Center of Jeollabukdo. The event will last for 10 days until May 8. “Over the last 20 years, our festival has been introducing (films with) new topics. Old and familiar topics are comfortable but they cannot change the world. Jeonju International Film Festival has been preserving the value of independent movies&

April 29, 2021

'Minari' eyes 1m attendees on Youn Yuh-jung's historic Oscar win

The number of combined moviegoers for "Minari" is expected to surpass 1 million in South Korea this weekend, boosted by supporting actress Youn Yuh-jung's history Oscar victory, data showed Wednesday. The US drama film on the struggles of a first-generation Korean immigrant family in America sold 8,500 tickets on Tuesday, bringing its combined total to 952,000, according to the data from the Korean Film Council. Its box office ranking bumped up to second after the thriller "Reca

April 28, 2021

‘Congratulations Youn Yuh-jung’ heard all around

With Youn Yuh-jung making history by becoming the first Korean to win an Academy Award for acting, social media was flooded with posts congratulating the feat by the 73-year-old veteran actor. Actors Lee Seo-jin, Choi Woo-sik, Park Seo-joon and Jung Yu-mi who appeared with her on recent tvN entertainment show “Youn’s Stay” all congratulated the veteran actor. “As I’ve said many times, I thought Youn would win this award and despite her saying that I was counting

April 27, 2021

Oscars finally acknowledges Youn Yuh-jung's decadeslong contribution: Bong Joon-ho

Director Bong Joon-ho has said that South Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung's history-making Oscar victory is the result of the US Academy Awards' belated acknowledgement of her versatility and decadeslong contribution to the South Korean film industry. The 73-year-old screen veteran was awarded Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in the immigrant film "Minari," written and directed by Korean American Lee Isaac Chung. She is the first South Korean to win an acting Oscar. Bong's

April 27, 2021

Youn’s Oscars win tops prestigious acting awards won by Koreans

Veteran actor Youn Yuh-jung, 73, opened a new chapter in Korean cinema by becoming the first actor to win the best supporting actress prize at the 93rd Academy Awards on Monday for her role in “Minari.” She portrays an unconventional Korean grandma Soon-ja who comes to America to look after her two grandkids while Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica are (Han Ye-ri) are out working to pursue the American dream in Arkansas. With the Oscar trophy, Youn has bagged more than 40 trophies at

April 26, 2021

Youn Yuh-jung’s 50-year film career: filmography

Since making her film debut in 1971 as the lead actor in “Women of Fire,” Youn Yuh-jung has taken on numerous roles, eventually winning the Best Supporting Actress at the 93rd Academy Awards for her portrayal as quirky grandmother Soon-ja in “Minari.” Here are some of her major films. Woman of Fire (1971) After gaining domestic fame with her TV drama appearances, Youn debuted on the big screen with “Woman of Fire” in 1971 by director Kim Ki-young, starting

April 26, 2021

[Photo News] Youn makes history at the Oscars

 Youn Yuh-jung and Han Ye-ri arrive at the 93rd Academy Awards, at Union Station, in Los Angeles, US, Sunday.  Youn Yuh-jung, winner of the award for best actress in a supporting role for "Minari," poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, at Union Station in Los Angeles.  Actress Youn Yuh-jung in her early days. Youn Yuh-jung's debut flim, 'Women of Fire.' By Gha Hee-sun (lizka98@heraldcorp.com) (Photos: Yonhap)

April 26, 2021

Actor Youn clarifies her name in a witty speech at Academy Awards

Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung showed her witty and candid personality in her acceptance speech for the best supporting actress award at the 93rd Academy Awards, mentioning how her name has been mispronounced in different ways. “As you know I am from Korea, and my name is Yuh-jung Youn, and most European people call me Yuh-young, and some of them call me Yoo-jung, but tonight you are all forgiven,” Youn said in the beginning of her speech in English, evoking laughter from the audience

April 26, 2021

Bong praises art of filmmaking at Oscars

Director Bong Joon-ho made an appearance at the 93rd Academy Awards, as a presenter for the best director award. Bong, whose film “Parasite” last year won four Oscars, spoke in Korean with his interpreter, Sharon Choi, from Dolby Cinema at Megabox Coex in southern Seoul. “If you have to explain to a random kid on the street what directing is in 20 seconds, what would you say?” Bong said, saying the five nominees were asked the same question. “Their replies were

April 26, 2021

Youn Yuh-jung’s storied 5-decade career culminates in Oscars win

Veteran actor Youn Yuh-jung clinched the best supporting actress award at the 93rd Academy Awards on Monday for her performance in US film “Minari” as an eccentric grandmother. With the win, Youn became the first South Korean to win an Oscar for acting. No other Korean actor, including those in the Oscar-winning “Parasite,” has ever been nominated for an Academy Award. The four other actors vying for the prize were Maria Bakalova for “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,&

April 26, 2021