Tuesday, August 13, 2013

9 Korean films vie for Oscar entry

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin
Nine Korean films have been selected to compete for the country's entry to the Oscars next year, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).
One entry will be chosen among the nine as South Korea's entry to the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
A scene from the 'Berlin Film' (left) and Song Joong-ki in 'The Werewolf Boy' (Photos by www.newsen.com)

These movies are "Jiseul," "National Security," "Juvenile Offender," "A Werewolf Boy," "The Berlin File," "Montage," "Mai Ratima," "The Terror Live" and "The Face Reader."
"Films released domestically or which are scheduled to be released between October 1st, 2012 and September 30th, 2013, and are consecutively screened for a minimum of seven days and charged admissions at a commercial theater over three times per days are eligible for entry," according to the KOFIC.
An evaluation committee created by KOFIC will grade the films based on "cinematic qualities, US distribution abilities, and director and film’s recognizability" and choose the final entry that will be submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
"Jiseul" is an award-winning film starring Lee Kyeong-joon, Hong Sang-pyo, Moon Seok-beom
and Yang Jeong-won.
It won three awards at the 2012 Busan International Film Festival and the World Cinema Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at thte 2013 Sundance Film Festival.
"A Werewolf Boy" starred popular Korean actor Song Joong-ki and Park Bo-young. It premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival  and was also shown at the Busan International Film Festival.
"National Security" is a movie about the torture of a Korean activist in 1985 while "Juvenile Offender" centered on a teenage criminal reunited with his mother.
"Juvenile Offender" won the Special Jury Prize at the 25th Tokyo International Film Festival while its actor, Seo Young Joo, won as best actor.
The film won the Lino Brocka Grand Prize at the 14th Cinemanila International Film Festival.
"Berlin File" became a box office hit in Korea when it was released last January. It has earned 52.35 billion won (about P1.99 billion) with 7.16 million tickets sold at the box office.
"Montage" is a thriller movie starring Kim Sang-kyung and Uhm Jung-hwa while "Mai Ratima" is a love story between a Korean man and a Thai woman.
"The Terror Live" is a film about a TV anchorman transferred to being a radio show host. Yoon Young-hwa, played by Ha Jung-woo, tries to get his job back by getting an exclusive interview with a man who blew up a bridge.
"The Face Reader" is an upcoming Korean period film about a son of a dishonored noble family who will experience power struggle against a prince and a general.  
The selected entry of South Korea will be evaluated by the Foreign Language Film Award Committee of the Academy Award. Five entries will be selected as nominees for the Foreign Language Film Award.
The 86th Oscar Awards will be held on March 2, 2014.
Link to my original article on Manila Bulletin online:

To contact the author, send email to sangchusan(at)gmail.com


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