-
Jeonju film fest side events to enliven long holiday weekend
The 26th Jeonju International Film Festival kicked off Wednesday with an opening ceremony at the Sori Arts Center in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province -- drawing film enthusiasts and industry professionals from around the world. Now in full swing, the 10-day festival continues through May 9 with a packed schedule of screenings and events designed to take advantage of the long holiday weekend. With South Korea enjoying a four-day break stretching from Saturday through Tuesday, the festival has lined
May 2, 2025 -
Movies in theaters this week
"A Minecraft Movie" (US) Opened April 30 Fantasy/Adventure/Comedy Directed by Jared Hess In this live-action adaptation of the popular video game, four misfits are pulled into a cubic world where they team up with a former doorknob salesperson (Jack Black) to battle a power-hungry ruler. "All We Imagine as Light" (India/France/Netherlands/Luxembourg/Italy) Opened April 23 Drama Directed by Payal Kapadia Colleagues in a Mumbai hospital (Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam) navigate their str
May 2, 2025 -
Films worth catching at this year's Jeonju film fest
The 26th Jeonju International Film Festival, South Korea's premier showcase for independent and art-house cinema, kicked off Wednesday, bringing 224 films from 57 countries to the cozy North Jeolla Province city through May 9. This year's lineup features 80 world premieres amid a spectrum of narrative innovations and cultural perspectives. For those making the pilgrimage to Jeonju — the historic city known as much for its culinary heritage as its cultural significance — here are three standout f
May 1, 2025 -
Jeonju film fest opens 26th edition
JEONJU, North Jeolla Province — The Jeonju International Film Festival kicked off its 26th edition Wednesday, with 224 films from 57 countries scheduled to screen across multiple venues in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, during its 10-day run through May 9. The festival's opening ceremony at the Sori Arts Center drew film enthusiasts who filled the venue hours before the event. The red carpet welcomed an array of film professionals, including actor Lee Jung-hyun, who is the festival's "programmer
May 1, 2025 -
Interview: A legend contemplates usefulness
"I'm constantly thinking about uselessness," actor Lee Hye-young says in a cafe in Seoul's Samcheong-dong Monday. Her raspy voice projects an unmistakable charisma that commands attention. It's not exactly a confession that shakes the foundation of her stature -- a 62-year-old veteran actor whose four-decade career spans theater, classic films and TV dramas. But Lee, who has established herself as Korean cinema's symbol of resilient womanhood, now finds herself contemplating obsolescence. And th
April 30, 2025 -
BIFF unveils vision for 30th edition
The Busan International Film Festival, having announced its transition to a competitive festival, unveiled comprehensive plans and a vision for its upcoming 30th edition during a press conference Tuesday at the Busan Cinema Center. The festival, which is set to run from Sept. 17-26 in Busan, will focus on Asian films in its inaugural competition category. Last year, the festival announced its transition to a competitive format after operating as a non-competitive event since its 1996 founding. T
April 29, 2025 -
Filmmaker Hong Sang-soo joins Cannes jury panel
Director Hong Sang-soo has been selected as a member of the Competition jury for the 78th Cannes Film Festival, according to the festival's website Tuesday. The prolific director-screenwriter joins eight other members on the prestigious jury, which includes American actress and filmmaker Halle Berry and Indian director and screenwriter Payal Kapadia. The festival described Hong as "a staple" of the festival for many years, adding that he "is evolving while remaining faithful to his cinema, which
April 29, 2025 -
Animation 'The King of Kings' becomes highest-grossing S. Korean film in US
"The King of Kings," a South Korean animation about the life of Jesus, has become the most popular ever South Korean film in the United States in terms of revenue, data showed Monday. The animation film has posted a combined $54.51 million in ticket sales at the US box office as of last week since its release on April 11, according to data compiled by its production company, Mofac Studios. The figure broke the previous record of $53.84 million set by Oscar-winning Korean director Bong Joon-ho's
April 28, 2025 -
Six years in storage, ‘Virus’ breaks free at last
The irony wasn't lost on anyone at Monday's press conference for the romantic comedy "Virus" -- a film about a fictional pathogen that causes people to fall madly in love was itself quarantined for nearly six years, due to a real pandemic that kept people apart. "Although there were many twists and turns leading up to the release, I'm thrilled we can finally present the film," director Kang Yi-kwan told reporters at Seoul's Yongsan CGV cinema on Monday. The film, which completed production in la
April 28, 2025 -
Interview: Ma Dong-seok trades criminals for demons
Korean cinema has its own immovable object. Where Hollywood boasts Dwayne Johnson, South Korea counters with Ma Dong-seok — an actor whose boulder-like physique and jackhammer fists have become a bankable genre unto themselves. In an industry struggling to reclaim prepandemic viewership, Ma's fist-first persona has demonstrated remarkable resilience. His "Roundup" franchise — where Ma's blunt-force detective pulverizes criminal enterprises — has accumulated over 40 million admissions, with three
April 27, 2025 -
Girls' Generation's Soo-young to make Hollywood debut in John Wick spinoff: sources
Choi Soo-young, a member of the iconic K-pop group Girls' Generation and a rising actress, is set to make her Hollywood debut in "Ballerina," a spinoff of the John Wick film franchise, industry sources said Friday. Soo-young will play the role of Katla in "Ballerina," which is scheduled to be released in North America on June 6, according to film industry sources. The film follows the story of Eve, a ballerina trained as an assassin, who embarks on a journey to avenge her murdered father. Set in
April 25, 2025 -
Movies in theaters this week
"All We Imagine as Light" (India/France/Netherlands/Luxembourg/Italy) Opened April 23 Drama Directed by Payal Kapadia Colleagues in a Mumbai hospital (Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam) navigate their personal struggles and uncertain futures as they form bonds of friendship against the chaos of urban life. "Yadang: The Snitch" (South Korea) Opened April 16 Crime/Thriller Directed by Hwang Byung-guk A falsely imprisoned survivor (Kang Ha-Neul) strikes a deal with an ambitious prosecutor (Y
April 25, 2025 -
Huh Ga-young's 'First Summer' heads to Cannes
"First Summer," director Huh Ga-young's graduation film from the Korean Academy of Film Arts, has been selected for the Cinefondation section at the upcoming 78th Cannes Film Festival, the Korean Film Council said Wednesday. The short film, which pairs veteran actor Heo Jin with Jung In-ki, follows an elderly woman who begins to chart a new path for herself after having dedicated her life solely to her family. In interviews with local media, Huh described the work as a tribute to her grandmother
April 24, 2025 -
Culture Minsitry unveils plans to boost animation industry, expand global reach
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Thursday unveiled its “Basic Plan for the Promotion of the Animation Industry,” which seeks to address structural challenges in the Korean animation sector. These include overreliance on preschool content, dependence on television broadcasting and poor production conditions. To revitalize the industry, the government will establish a 20 billion won ($14 million) animation-focused fund this year expanding it to 105 billion won by 2029. A new cash reb
April 24, 2025 -
'Conclave' viewership surges in Korea following death of Pope Francis
The death of Pope Francis on Monday has triggered a spike in viewership for "Conclave" in South Korea, where the movie continues its theatrical run nearly two months after its March 5 local release. According to the Korean Film Council's latest box office data, "Conclave" sold 1,507 tickets on Tuesday, a 63.8 percent jump from the previous day. The film climbed to fifth place in daily ticket sales, having largely remained outside the top 10 throughout the previous week. Cinema chains across Kore
April 23, 2025