As previously announced, actress Gu Hye-sun took a second stab at directing with a short (1-minute) trailer for the 7th Asiana International Short Film Festival, which was released on October 20. This follows her directorial debut, a short film about euthanasia called The Madonna [aka The Cheerful Caretaker, 유쾌한 도우미].

This AISFF trailer will be shown before each screening at the festival, which will take place from November 5 through 10. Watch the video below.

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Read the rest of Gu Hye-sun’s film festival trailer (135 words)

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Post tags: directors, film festivals, Gu Hye-sun, short films

On October 8, the 14th Pusan International Film Festival, or PIFF, opened in Busan. (Yes, the city takes a different official spelling than the film festival. Blame inconsistent Romanization.)

As the largest film festival in Korea, it drew a large list of attendees, as you can see from the long list of red-carpet walkers. It was definitely a star-studded opening night, and even included one familiar Hollywood face (Josh Hartnett).

This year’s PIFF features its largest lineup to date, screening 355 films from 70 countries, and closes on the 16th.

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Read the rest of Opening red carpet at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival (241 words)

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Post tags: Byun Jung-soo, Choi Jung-won, Eom Ji-won, film festivals, Go Eun-ah, Go Jun-hee, Ha Ji-won, Han Chae-young, Han Eun-jung, Han Hye-jin, Han Ji-hye, Han Ye-seul, Im Joo-hwan, Im Soo-jung, Jang Dong-gun, Jang Hyuk, Jeon Do-yeon, Jeon Hye-bin, Jo Jae-hyun, Jung Ryeo-won, Kang Ji-hwan, Kim Haneul, Kim Kang-woo, Kim Nam-gil, Kim So-yeon, Kim Yunjin, Lee Byung-heon, Lee Seon-kyun, Min Hyo-rin, Park Hee-soon, Seo Woo, So Ji-sub, Su Ae, Sung Yuri, Sunwoo Sun, Uhm Jung-hwa, Wang Seok-hyun, Yeh Ji-won, Yoo Hana, Yoo Sun, Yoon Kye-sang

With the Pusan International Film Festival just a day away, stars are preparing to make their appearances, including Sung Yuri and Jang Hyuk, whose new film Rabbit and Lizard [토끼와 리저드] screens there.

This PIFF screening precedes the movie’s wide release later this month (which will be on October 22), and will be accompanied by an October 9 talk session with and an October 10 fan signing. (Watch preview below.)

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Read the rest of Rabbit and Lizard opens with a screening at PIFF (318 words)

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Post tags: film festivals, Jang Hyuk, Sung Yuri

On October 6, actress-director Gu Hye-sun spoke at a press interview for the upcoming 7th Asiana International Short Film Festival about another of her film efforts. She was wearing her director’s hat at the event, although not for her recent short film, The Madonna (aka The Cheerful Caretaker). She filmed a 30-second short trailer that will show before each screening and therefore takes a tone that is representative of the overall festival.

Gu Hye-sun explained, “The theme is love, but I made this thinking of the relationship between the media and people as one of love and hate. I hope you will find it interesting. …The production budget was small, so I had some difficulty directing the scenes that I had in mind. I received a lot of help from the art director and crew members.”

Also in attendance at the press event were actor Ahn Sung-ki, director and executive committeeman Kim Ji-woon, and actress and jury member Sohn Ye-jin. The festival takes place from November 5 through 10.

Via Joy News

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Post tags: directors, film festivals, Gu Hye-sun

Cafe Noir is notable for being the debut film for its director, film critic Jung Sung-il. It is also now notable for drawing praise at its world premiere screening at the recent Venice International Film Festival (as the only selection from Asia).

Cafe Noir was described by one of the festival’s executive committee members as showcasing a unique form, while a selection committee member praised it as “a film that you don’t often see from a new director.” A section director said, “When one discovers the hidden political message, which is sprinkled throughout the film, it would be difficult to suppress your astonishment at this film.”

The movie stars Shin Ha-kyun (Thirst) as a man who is addicted to sad love, Moon Jung-hee (My Sweet Seoul) as the woman who “loves him to death,” and Kim Hye-na (Yoga School) as the woman who loves him “more than life” (isn’t that the same thing?). Jung Yumi (Chaw, Que Sera Sera) and “Hongdae uljjang” singer Yozoh are two women who hurt him, whom he decides to meet again in order to get over his pain.

Cafe Noir will also screen at the upcoming Pusan International Film Festival in October, which will be its first showing to Korean audiences. After all that praise (and mention of a hidden message), this is one I really want to see! I suppose critiquing films for a living gives one particular insight into knowing what does and doesn’t work for a film.

Via Newsen

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Post tags: film festivals, Jung Yumi, Kim Hye-na, Moon Jung-hee, Shin Ha-kyun, Yozoh

Technically, 1 minute and 35 seconds.

Such is the box office draw of one of Korea’s favorite actors, Jang Dong-gun. The warm and humorous Good Morning President is his first film in several years, and Korean audiences are eager to see Jang back onscreen, as he has been out of the Hallyu spotlight to pursue Hollywood interests (The Warrior’s Way is still forthcoming). Thus they’ve leapt at the chance to get their first glimpse of his latest role when President opens October’s Pusan International Film Festival.

Sure, he only plays one of three presidents in the movie (with Lee Soon-jae, Go Du-shim) and stars opposite glamorous Han Chae-young, but really, the pull is all about Jang Dong-gun.

Tickets went on sale at 5pm on September 21, and according to a rep at PIFF, they sold out completely in the first minute and 35 seconds. This follows a similar response to last year’s PIFF opener, Gift to Stalin, which also sold out in under 2 minutes. Some previous fast sellers include The Coast Guard (which also starred Jang Dong-gun and sold out in 2 min 4 sec) in 2002, The Last Witness (2 min 28 sec) in 2001, and Traces of Love (2 min 45 sec) in 2006. President is therefore the fastest-selling Korean film at PIFF, which seems to me a strange statistic to keep track of, but oh well.

Via Joy News

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Post tags: film festivals, Go Du-shim, Han Chae-young, Jang Dong-gun, Lee Soon-jae

Good news for Los Angeles fans of Won Bin (Taegukgi), Kim Hye-ja (Mom’s Dead Upset), and/or director Bong Jun-ho (The Host): Their latest film, the thriller Mother, is getting a screening at this year’s AFI FEST 2009 in Hollywood.

The film has already been licensed for North American theater release, but that will not occur until early next year. AFI FEST runs from October 30 through November 7, and has just announced its first twelve official titles to screen at this year’s event, of which Mother is one. (Others include Lee Daniels’ Precious — which looks heartbreaking and awesome — and Warner Herzog’s The Bad Lieutenant.)

Mother also screens this week at Toronto International Film Festival and at New York Film Festival on October 9.

Usually, I write about these film festival screenings without firsthand experience, but I’ve been to AFI FEST many times when I lived in LA and it’s a really great film festival, with a broad, eclectic range of films selected from all around the world. If you’re in the area, I’d highly encourage you check it out. (Not sure if the cast will be there for the Q&A session afterward, but you never know.)

Via Sports Chosun

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• Mother will get a U.S. theatrical release
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Post tags: Bong Jun-ho, film festivals, Kim Hye-ja, Won Bin