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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Su Ae and Jo Seung-woo’s new epic historical romance has a new trailer and posters out; the film, whose Korean title translates to Like Fireworks, Like a Butterfly [불꽃처럼 나비처럼], also goes by the English title Sword With No Name.

Based on the trailer, it looks like the movie will be as much action as it is romantic melodrama. Jo Seung-woo plays the warrior with whom Su Ae falls in love before she is named Empress Myeongseong, and becomes her bodyguard afterward.

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The movie Like Fireworks, Like a Butterfly [불꽃처럼 나비처럼] has settled on a premiere date, even though one of its stars, Jo Seung-woo, will still be serving his military service when it releases for the upcoming Chuseok fall harvest holiday.

The film is set in the late Joseon era and follows the political affairs of Empress Myeongseong — a figure often portrayed in film — as she seeks to protect her country. She is described as “the woman everybody knows about, but nobody really knew.” The film focuses on how prior to becoming empress she was Min Ja-young, a woman who loved one man, a soldier/bodyguard — their love is “hot like fireworks, and pure like a butterfly.”

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Ha Jung-woo (The Chaser) and Su Ae (Sunny aka You’re Far Away) are pairing up in an upcoming film with director Lee Yoon-ki, who recently directed Ha (with Jeon Do-yeon) in My Dear Enemy. Their collaboration will begin filming in June and is currently operating under the working title 이별후애, or “Love After Goodbye.”

In a bit of a departure for director Lee, this film will take a more mainstream approach; the film depicts a “fresh love story” with a “bright tone.” It features Su Ae playing a songwriter and Ha Jung-woo as a model just starting out.

This is Su Ae’s next project after taking a bit of a break since wrapping Like Fireworks, Like a Butterfly last November, which plans to release in time for the Chuseok season in the fall. Meanwhile, Ha Jung-woo has been busy this year; he has six films slated for release in 2009 alone (the others include the Japanese-Korean co-production and crime film Boat; the sports-related National Athlete; Parallel Life with Ji Jin-hee; Like You Know It All, which showed at Cannes; and Love Fiction with Kang Hye-jung).

Via OSEN

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The Korea Arts Critics Council has announced its award recipients for their “Best Artists of the Year,” and Su Ae adds to her collection of award statuettes for her performance in the Vietnam War-era You’re Far Away. It’s been a fantabulous year for Su Ae, and awards season isn’t even over yet.

Awards were separated into various categories, such as art, painting, literature, music, publishing, and film. Su Ae’s award (naturally) was in the film section, which also gave out a special achievement award to actor Shin Sung-il, who debuted in 1960 and has appeared in well over 300 films. (Seriously, I counted the films on his resumé, and lost track somewhere past 320. In case you’re curious: here’s his filmography.)

The awards ceremony will take place on December 5.

Via Yonhap News

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