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Screen
Jean Noh

Based in Seoul, Jean Noh is deputy Asia editor and Korea correspondent for Screen International. She started her industry career in international film marketing and worked at the Pusan International Film Festival’s projects market PPP as well as in production, and spent several working years at the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). Her freelance work includes annual territory reviews for Cahiers du Cinema in France, previously editing for Cine21 in Korea, and she is also a contributing editor at Korean Cinema Today.

  • PiFan unveils line-up; Congress to open

    18-Jun-2013

    The 17th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) has announced its line-up, opening with the Asian premiere of Ari Folman’s The Congress.

  • South Korea, China sign tentative co-pro pact

    18-Jun-2013

    South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) has announced that it has signed a tentative accord on co-production with China in Seoul. The accord lays the groundwork for a Korea-China co-production treaty to be signed within the year.

  • Shanghai film market launches

    17-Jun-2013

    The Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) Market kicked off today with approximately 850 film production and distribution companies and 1,617 registered buyers.

  • Korea's CJ to co-pro The Fist

    17-Jun-2013

    Korea’s CJ Entertainment has announced a deal with China Film Group (CFG) and Pegasus & Taihe Entertainment on sci-fi fantasy project The Fist.

  • Shanghai to kick off with Monsters University

    14-Jun-2013

    Guests will linclude Helen Mirren, Taylor Hackford, Oliver Stone, Tom Hooper.

  • PiFan unveils Spotlight on the Philippines

    14-Jun-2013

    Fantastic Film School tutors also revealed.

  • Online film piracy costs industry $3.3bn

    12-Jun-2013

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has published a report which estimates the online film piracy market to be $3.3bn (KW3.75 trillion won) a year.

  • Kim's Moebius gets "Restricted" rating

    5-Jun-2013

    Venice Golden Lion-winning Korean director Kim Ki-duk’s upcoming film Moebius has received a “Restricted” rating from the Korea Media Rating Board (KMRB), effectively banning it from local commercial release unless it is re-cut and re-submitted to the board.

  • Finecut secures Moebius pre-sales

    4-Jun-2013

    South Korean sales company Finecut has announced a raft of pre-sales on the Kim Ki-duk title Moebius, launched at Cannes.

  • PiFan unveils It Project line-up

    4-Jun-2013

    The Puchon International Film Festival (PiFan)’s Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) has announced this year’s It Project line-up of 21 selections from 13 countries.

  • Hirokazu Kore-eda, Like Father, Like Son

    16-May-2013

    Jean Noh talks to Hirokazu Kore-eda about his latest feature, which premieres in Competition at Cannes.

  • Giant to start shooting in July

    14-May-2013

    Singapore’s Clover Films and G&J Productions are joining forces with China’s Stellar Megamedia International (SMI) to co-produce $1.2m sports drama Meeting The Giant.

  • Matsumoto wraps sex comedy R100

    13-May-2013

    Japanese director Hitoshi Matsumoto, whose Dai Nipponjin screened in Cannes Directors Fortnight in 2007, has wrapped his latest feature R100, produced by Yoshimoto Creative Agency.

  • Lost Paradise takes top prize at Jeonju

    6-May-2013

    The 14th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF)’s international competition Grand Prize went to Eve Deboise’s French coming-of-age film Lost Paradise at the closing ceremony Friday (May 3). The award comes with a $18,000 (KW20m) cash prize.

  • Rezo picks up Aoyama’s Backwater

    3-May-2013

    Japan’s Pictures Dept has announced that Shinji Aoyama’s The Backwater has been picked up by Rezo International for worldwide sales.

  • Korea’s UP relaunches sales team

    22-Apr-2013

    EXCLUSIVE: Korea’s United Pictures (UP) is re-launching its sales team at Cannes with Eye In The Sky remake Cold Eyes.

  • First Thai Destination fest wraps

    11-Apr-2013

    The inaugural Thailand International Film Destination Festival (TIFDF) wrapped yesterday with organiser Thailand Film Office calling it a success with hopes to continue in future.

  • Pee Mak scares up Thai box office

    9-Apr-2013

    Thailand’s GTH has announced Pee Mak has become the second highest-grossing local film ever at the local box office.

  • Tokyo plots Asian focus

    2-Apr-2013

    Incoming Tokyo International Film Festival director general Yasushi Shiina says he will keep Tokyo’s green carpet theme, but that he is also looking for new initiatives and ways to improve the programme.

  • CZ12 wins grand prix at Okinawa

    2-Apr-2013

    Jackie Chan’s treasure-hunting hit CZ12 won the Uminchu Prize Grand Prix in the Laugh Category at the 5th Okinawa International Movie Festival (OIMF).

  • CreateHK launches First Feature Film Initiative

    20-Mar-2013

    Pilot programme will spend $1.28m.

  • Lee Chang-dong named Asian Film Academy dean

    19-Mar-2013

    Busan’s Asian Film Academy (AFA) has appointed Korean director Lee Chang-dong as dean of the workshop this year.

  • Eugene Domingo joins Barber's Tales

    19-Mar-2013

    EXCLUSIVE: Filipino director Jun Robles Lana’s HAF project Barber’s Tales has confirmed actress Eugene Domingo in the lead role.

  • Singapore's mm2 to partner with HK's Smart

    19-Mar-2013

    Singapore’s mm2 Entertainment today at Filmart is announcing a partnership with Hong Kong’s Smart Limited to co-produce at least two films a year.

  • Thailand to launch destination festival

    19-Mar-2013

    The Thailand Film Office is planning to hold the inaugural Thailand International Film Destination Festival in Bangkok from April 1-10.

  • Buyers take Showbox's Commitment

    18-Mar-2013

    EXCLUSIVE: Assassin thriller sells to North America, German-speaking Europe, Hong Kong and further territories.

  • Gaga sells Like Father, Like Son

    18-Mar-2013

    EXCLUSIVE: Japan’s Gaga Corporation has sold Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Like Father, Like Son to Hong Kong and Macau (Edko) and Taiwan (Filmware).

  • Free Stone takes on trio for Filmart

    18-Mar-2013

    EXCLUSIVE: Japan’s Free Stone Productions is launching sales at Filmart on Yuya Ishii’s human drama Endroll, Masahide Ichii’s comedy Blindly In Love [pictured] and Katsuya Matumura’s contemporary art biopic Tenshin.

  • Finecut spreads Miracle to buyers

    18-Mar-2013

    Finecut has announced a slew of deals for Miracle In Cell No. 7 – the record-breaking hit of the year in Korea which is clocking up over 12 million admissions.

  • Sakomoto named UniJapan president

    18-Mar-2013

    UniJapan has announced that Junichi Sakomoto will take over as the new president of the promotional organization after Hideyuki Takai leaves on March 31.

  • Finecut sells New World to France, Germany

    11-Mar-2013

    Korean sales company Finecut has sold crime thriller New World to TF1 for French-speaking territories and MFA Film Distribution for German-speaking territories.

  • Jeonju names int'l Competition jury

    19-Feb-2013

    South Korea’s Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) has announced award-winning Kazakhstani film-maker Darezhan Omirbayev will head its International Competition jury this year.

  • Korean film exports up 8.4% in 2012

    11-Feb-2013

    Korean film exports went up 8.4% to a total of $37.8m last year, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).

  • CJ announces slew of Snowpiercer deals

    8-Feb-2013

    Korea’s CJ Entertainment has announced a slew of pre-sales for Bong Joon-ho’spost-apocalyptic action thriller Snowpiercer, led by deals to Wild Side Films for France and Bitters End and Kadokawa Shoten for Japan.

  • Park Chan-wook, Stoker

    7-Feb-2013

    Park Chan-wook talks to Jean Noh about adapting to Hollywood and bringing his unique style to his first English-language film.

  • Finecut bolsters slate ahead of EFM

    7-Feb-2013

    EXCLUSIVE: Pickups include Hong Sang-soo’s Berlinale Competition title Nobody’s Daughter Haewon.

  • Korean admissions up 21.9% to 195m

    31-Jan-2013

    South Korean box office admissions jumped a massive 21.9% in 2012 compared to the year before, according to a recent Korean Film Council (KOFIC) report.

  • Chong lines up Peas for sophomore outing

    23-Jan-2013

    Singaporean actress/director Michelle Chong’s second directorial outing 3 Peas In A Pod has cast K-pop star Alexander Lee Eusebio and Taiwanese pop star Calvin Chen from the boy band Fahrenheit.

  • Kim Ki-duk produces action thriller Rough Play

    23-Jan-2013

    Venice Golden Lion winner Kim Ki-duk has written and is producing action thriller Rough Play, directed by Shin Yeon-shik.

  • BIFF shuffles management team for Asian Film Market

    15-Jan-2013

    EXCLUSIVE: Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has carried out an organisational reshuffle led by former World Cinema programming head Jay Jeon going over to the Asian Film Market to be its director.

  • Korea's Jeonju fest unveils trio for Digital Project 2013

    15-Jan-2013

    The 14th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) has announced Kobayashi Masahiro, Zhang Lu and Edwin as its directors for Jeonju Digital Project 2013.

  • Busan reports 177% location boost

    10-Jan-2013

    The Busan Film Commission (BFC) has announced 24 feature films and 37 other works of visual media shot on location last year in South Korea’s second city for a total of 698 days - up 177% year-on-year. Feature films included CJ Entertainment’s summer sci-fi thriller Deranged and Showbox’s mega box office hit The Thieves [pictured].

  • Yash Raj Films to co-produce three with Dibakar Banerjee Productions

    10-Jan-2013

    India’s Yash Raj Films (YRF) has announced a three picture co-production deal with Dibakar Banerjee Productions. The studio describes the deal as part of what “promises to be a long term strategy”.

  • Showbox picks up Yoon Jong-bin's Kundo

    17-Dec-2012

    Korea’s Showbox/Mediaplex will handle international sales on hit director Yoon Jong-bin’s upcoming Kundo: Age Of The Rampant which has recently cast top stars Ha Jung-woo (The Yellow Sea) and Gang Dong-won (Secret Reunion).

  • Showbox takes on Jang Joon-hwan's Hwayi

    12-Dec-2012

    Korea’s Showbox/Mediaplex has announced it is investing in, distributing and selling Save The Green Planet director Jang Joon-hwan’s highly-anticipated second film Hwayi, starring Kim Yun-seok (The Thieves).

  • ScreenSingapore's new format wins industry approval

    11-Dec-2012

    The 2nd ScreenSingapore event closed Friday (Dec 7), held in conjunction for the first time with the Asian TV Forum & Market (ATF), with attendees saying it was an improvement on last year’s event, although the market itself was more focused on television than film.

  • Clover sells Boys To Men to Star Chinese Movies

    7-Dec-2012

    Singapore’s Clover Films has sold pay-TV rights in multiple Southeast Asian territories to Jack Neo’s Ah Boys To Men to STAR Chinese Movies.

  • MDA unveils grant recipients under new scheme

    6-Dec-2012

    Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) has announced the eight local directors who have each been awarded $205,000 (S$250,000) under the inaugural New Talent Feature Grant (NTFG).

  • Mythopolis unwraps Afterimages at ScreenSingapore

    6-Dec-2012

    Singapore production company Mythopolis Pictures announced the production of Tony Kern’s horror film Afterimages at the on-going ScreenSingapore conference.

  • Cathay to unleash Red Numbers in Feb 2013

    5-Dec-2012

    Cathay-Keris Films announced at ScreenSingapore this week that Singaporean film Red Numbers will be released February 22, 2013.

  • Supernova unveils first Sing-Cambodia co-production

    5-Dec-2012

    Singapore production company Supernova Media announced the first Singapore-Cambodia co-production at the on-going ScreenSingapore conference.

  • CJ's Masquerade clocks up 12m admissions

    24-Nov-2012

    CJ Entertainment’s period drama Masquerade has clocked up more than 12 million admissions, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), contributing to a record box office haul for local films in Korea this year.

  • An international rendezvous

    23-Nov-2012

    With a new December slot running concurrently with the Asia TV Forum & Market, ScreenSingapore is aiming to provide a crossing point for the Asian and international film businesses. Jean Noh reports

  • TWC picks up Bong Joon-ho's Snowpiercer

    12-Nov-2012

    Leading South Korean distributor CJ Entertainment has confirmed The Weinstein Company has picked up English-speaking rights to Bong Joon-ho’s upcoming Snowpiercer after a screening of a 10-minute promo reel at the AFM.

  • The Other Son wins top prizes at Tokyo film festival

    29-Oct-2012

    The 25th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) wrapped on Sunday with top Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix and best director award going to Lorraine Levy’s French film The Other Son [pictured].

  • TIFFCOM closes with mixed reactions to new venue

    26-Oct-2012

    The 9th TIFFCOM market in Tokyo closed yesterday (Oct 25) at its new venue in Odaiba with buyer registration up 120% year-on-year to 983. Organisers announced a total of 12,863 participants with a record 229 exhibitors including 113 first-time exhibitors.

  • Fortissimo picks up world rights to Capturing Dad

    24-Oct-2012

    Award-winning film [pictured] stars Japanese actress Makiko Watanabe as a divorced mother of two angst-ridden teenage sisters who she sends on a road trip to find their estranged father.

  • TIFFCOM opens with record number of exhibitors

    24-Oct-2012

    229 from 25 different countries and regions attending this year’s market, up from 222 from 20 last year.

  • Masquerade hits 10m admissions at Korean box office

    22-Oct-2012

    CJ Entertainment’s historical drama Masquerade [pictured] has clocked up over 10 million admissions, becoming the seventh Korean film to pass that benchmark at the local box office.

  • Tokyo International Film Festival gets underway

    21-Oct-2012

    The 25th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) opened on Saturday night (Oct 20) with the world premiere of 3D extravaganza Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away, executive produced by James Cameron.

  • Kayan, 36 take New Currents awards at close of Busan fest

    14-Oct-2012

    The 17th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) wrapped yesterday (Oct 13) with a record of more than 221,000 admissions.

  • Fortissimo's Touch of the Light sells to Cinema de Manon for Korea

    12-Oct-2012

    Taiwan’s official submission to the Academy Awards to be released this coming spring in Korea.

  • EFP umbrella companies have busy Asian Film Market

    12-Oct-2012

    The European Film Promotion (EFP) has announced a slew of sales deals that were struck by companies under its umbrella at Busan’s Asian Film Market (Oct 8-11).

  • Royston Tan's 69 wins Busan award at close of Asian Film Market

    12-Oct-2012

    Busan’s 7th Asian Film Market closed its four-day run yesterday at the Busan Exhibition Convention Center (BEXCO) with Royston Tan’s [pictured] 69 winning the Asian Project Market’s Busan Award.

  • Showbox sells A Company Man to a slew of territories

    9-Oct-2012

    Korean sales company Showbox has announced a slew of deals on action drama A Company Man at Busan’s Asian Film Market

  • Korea's 9ers closes two Japanese deals in Busan

    9-Oct-2012

    Korean sales company 9ers Entertainment has clinched two sales to Japan during the on-going Asian Film Market in Busan.

  • Asian Film Market opens with sales announcements

    9-Oct-2012

    Busan’s Asian Film Market kicked off yesterday (Oct 8) with a patter of business including Thai sales company Gmm Tai Hub (GTH) selling thriller Countdown to Indonesia and Taiwan.

  • Lotte, Happinet to co-produce Kim Sung-soo's Nameless

    8-Oct-2012

    Korea’s Lotte Entertainment has announced a Korea-Japan co-production titled Nameless, based on award-winning Japanese sci-fi mystery novel Genome Hazard, written by Tsukasaki Shiro and published by Shogakukan Inc.

  • Busan film festival opened by Lust, Caution star

    4-Oct-2012

    The 17th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opened today with a star-studded red carpet, fireworks and Hong Kong crime action thriller Cold War.

  • Finecut seals further deals on Pieta

    18-Sep-2012

    Korean sales company Finecut has closed further deals on Kim Ki-duk’s Venice Golden Lion winner Pieta, including the sale of rights for French-speaking Europe (excluding Belgium) to Pretty Pictures.

  • South Korea selects Pieta as Oscar submission

    13-Sep-2012

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced Kim Ki-duk’s recent Venice Golden Lion winner Pieta as South Korea’s submission for the Academy Awards’ best foreign language film category.

  • Busan to open with Cold War, close with Television

    10-Sep-2012

    The 17th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) announced its official line-up today with Bill Kong-produced police drama Cold War to open the fest with stars Tony Leung Ka-fai and Aaron Kwok in attendance. BIFF will close with Mostofa Farooki’s Bangladeshi satire Television.

  • Finecut seals raft of deals on Venice title Pieta

    5-Sep-2012

    Korean sales company Finecut has announced a raft of sales for Kim Ki-duk’s Pieta after its screening at the Venice Film Festival. The competition film was met with standing ovations yesterday.

  • Mordini, Dinslage among Busan Flash Forward competitors

    5-Sep-2012

    The 17th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced eight films for its Flash Forward competition, including three world premieres and five international premieres.

  • Busan film festival unveils New Currents line-up

    3-Sep-2012

    The 17th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced its New Currents competition, which includes six world premieres and four international premieres.

  • Wakamatsu named as Busan's Asian Filmmaker of the Year

    30-Aug-2012

    The 17th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced Japanese filmmaker Wakamatsu Koji as Asian Filmmaker of the Year.

  • Finecut sells Pieta to Italy's Good Films

    30-Aug-2012

    Korean sales company Finecut has announced that Kim Ki-duk’s Pieta has sold to Good Films for Italy ahead of its premiere in the Venice film festival’s competition.

  • Lilou's Adventure takes Red Chameleon at CinDi

    29-Aug-2012

    The 6th Cinema Digital Seoul (CinDi) Film Festival wrapped with Lilou’s Adventure, directed by Japan’s Izuru Kumasaka, taking the Red Chameleon Award.

  • Bela Tarr, Arturo Ripstein to head Busan juries

    29-Aug-2012

    The 17th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced its upcoming juries to include filmmakers Bela Tarr and Arturo Ripstein, Toronto fest director Cameron Bailey and Nobel laureate Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio.

  • Banned Thai film to screen at Korea’s CinDi digital fest

    23-Aug-2012

    Banned Thai political drama Shakespeare Must Die, directed by Ing K, will be among the films screening in the Asian Competition section of the 6th Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival (CinDi).

  • Ko Suk-man to head Jeonju International Film Festival

    21-Aug-2012

    South Korea’s Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) has named Ko Suk-man its new festival director.

  • The Thieves clocks up more than 10 million admissions

    16-Aug-2012

    Choi Dong-hoon’s heist movie The Thieves has become the sixth Korean film to clock up over 10 million admissions at the local box office.

  • Wang Xiaoshuai, Lav Diaz among Busan’s APM selections

    13-Aug-2012

    Busan’s Asian Project Market (APM) has announced 30 selections for this year, including projects from Wang Xiaoshuai, Lav Diaz, Min Kyu-dong, Royston Tan, and Jeon Soo-il.

  • Korea’s Opus, Zip secure investment from Spackman Group

    7-Aug-2012

    New York and Hong Kong-based investment holding company Spackman Group has established a subsidiary to invest in the upcoming slates of Korean production companies Opus Pictures and Zip Cinema.

  • Space Brothers scoops top prize at PiFan

    30-Jul-2012

    The 16th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) closed over the weekend with the Best of Puchon award going to Space Brothers from Japanese filmmaker Yoshitaka Mori.

  • Safebreaker wins top award at NAFF closing

    25-Jul-2012

    Puchon’s Network of Asian Fantastic Film (NAFF) wrapped today with the top Bucheon Award going to Ted Chung’s project Safebreaker.

  • PiFan opens with inaugural Producers’ Choice award

    19-Jul-2012

    The 16th Puchon International Film Festival (PiFan) opened tonight with an inaugural Producers’ Choice Award going to Ha Jung-woo and Ha Ji-won.

  • Bong Joon-ho wraps Snow Piercer in Prague

    17-Jul-2012

    Director of The Host Bong Joon-ho has wrapped shooting what looks to be Korea’s most expensive film to date, Snow Piercer.

  • Busan partners with Al Jazeera on doc support

    17-Jul-2012

    The Busan film festival’s Asian Network of Documentary (AND) is partnering with Al Jazeera English (AJE) on documentary scheme Viewfinder: Asia (working title).

  • Korean admissions reach record 83m in first half of 2012

    4-Jul-2012

    South Korean cinema admissions have hit a record high in the first half of 2012, increasing by 21% to 82.7 million, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).

  • Makhmalbaf among BIFF’s Asian Cinema Fund recipients

    3-Jul-2012

    The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced 31 Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) recipients this year, including Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s The Gardener for post-production funds.

  • Noth to be among international guests at PiFan

    27-Jun-2012

    Golden Globe-nominated actor Chris Noth will be on the red carpet at the 16th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) next month.

  • Horror Stories, For Love’s Sake to bookend PiFan

    27-Jun-2012

    Asia’s largest genre film fest, the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) has announced a line-up of 230 films from 47 countries for its 16th edition.

  • Screen's Filmart panel explores online access to China, rest of Asia

    19-Mar-2012

    How to monetize expensive TV and film content online in Asia was the topic in the opening Filmart panel yesterday “New Prospects for Online Distribution Of Entertainment Content” which featured speakers from Chinese web platforms Youku and Qiyi.

  • Lotte picks up sales on Ghastly, Architecture 101

    19-Mar-2012

    South Korean sales company Lotte Entertainment is launching sales at Filmart on horror film Ghastly starring Hyo-min of popular girl group T-ara in her acting debut.

  • Memento Mori's Min Kyu-dong directs romcom for M-Line

    19-Mar-2012

    South Korean sales company M-Line Distribution is launching sales on romantic comedy All About My Wife at Filmart in Hong Kong.

  • Showbox sends Thieves around Asia

    19-Mar-2012

    Showbox seals key Asian territory deals on Macau diamond heist film The Thieves from Korean director Choi Dong-hoon.

  • Finecut calls into Love 911

    14-Mar-2012

    South Korean sales company Finecut has picked up the upcoming romance Love 911 ahead of Hong Kong Filmart.

  • Daisy’s Nam spreads Taste of Money

    9-Feb-2012

    EXCLUSIVE: South Korea’s Daisy Entertainment has brought in a new director for its nascent International Sales division - Erica Nam, formerly of Mirovision.

  • Finecut acquires Hong Sang-soo's Another Country

    6-Feb-2012

    The South Korean sales company will be screening a promo reel at the upcoming European Film Market.

  • South Korea's record 2011 box office up 7.4% year-on-year

    31-Jan-2012

    KOFIC reports that gross was $1.1bn for the year.

  • Korea's CJ CGV and Lotte add new cinemas in Vietnam

    19-Jan-2012

    South Korea’s two leading exhibitors CJ CGV and Lotte Cinema are adding steam to their launches into Vietnam, a market of increasing interest in the region.

  • Sector 7 becomes highest grossing Korean film in China

    21-Dec-2011

    Cosmetic surgery rom-com 200 Pounds Beauty formerly held the record for highest grossing Korean film released in China.

  • Korean hit Leafie sells English-language rights

    30-Nov-2011

    Toronto-based 108 Media Group pick up Korean hit for all English-language rights.

  • Finecut closes more post-AFM deals for titles including Leafie

    22-Nov-2011

    South Korean sales company Finecut has announced further deals from the AFM led by Leafie, Korea’s highest grossing animation, which sold to Ascot Elite for German-speaking territories and Conquest Filmes for Brazil.

  • Lee Byung-hun to star in Choo Chang-min's Masquerade

    17-Nov-2011

    Shooting is due to begin on the $8m costume drama for South Korean studio CJ E&M.

  • Miyake's Beyond The Wave wins TIFFCOM new talent award

    27-Oct-2011

    Murayama’s Banapara also gets development award.

  • TIFFCOM kicks off with buyer attendance up 12%

    24-Oct-2011

    Exhibitors also up from last year, with overseas exhibitors including BBC Worldwide, Telefilm Canada, Gaumont.

  • KOFIC unveils plans to grow Korean industry to $1.3bn by 2013

    24-Oct-2011

    Plans to boost international co-productions as well as promoting Korean locations and other initiatives.

  • Tokyo kicks off post-disaster edition with help from Jovovich, Chan

    23-Oct-2011

    The 24th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) kicked off Friday [Oct 23] with its ecologically-themed green carpet welcoming international stars such as Jackie Chan, Fan Bing Bing and Milla Jovovich, who starred in the Opening Film The Three Musketeers 3D.

  • Busan closes with admissions jump; new Cinema Center leaking during rain

    14-Oct-2011

    Busan’s New Currents Award shared by Mourning and Nino.

  • My Man wins Busan award at Asian Project Market

    14-Oct-2011

    The 6th Asian Film Market’s newly renamed Asian Project Market (APM), formerly known as the Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP), closed with Kumakiri Kazuyoshi’s My Man – Watashino Otoko winning the Busan Award.

  • Asian Film Market closes with 39% rise in attendance; European presence boosted

    13-Oct-2011

    Busan’s Sixth Asian Film Market closed today (Oct 13) with a 39% increase of participants since last year.

  • Toei sells Hard Romanticker to South Korea, Hong Kong

    13-Oct-2011

    At the 6th Asian Film Market, Japanese sales company Toei has sold the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) Midnight Passion title Hard Romanticker to Joy & Contents Group for South Korea and to Sundream for Hong Kong.

  • Finecut sells Poongsan to Japan's Asia Films

    13-Oct-2011

    South Korean sales company Finecut has announced a slew of deals done at the Asian Film Market and Mipcom which include the Busan festival title Poongsan to Asia Films for Japan.

  • CJ, Sovik, Isu launch new funds at Busan's Asian Film Market

    12-Oct-2011

    Leading established investors such as CJ, Sovik and Isu presented their initiatives to a packed hall of filmmakers at the Busan Exhibition Convention Center (BEXCO) yesterday (Oct 11).

  • GTH secures pre sales on The Billionaire

    12-Oct-2011

    At the 6th Asian Film Market, Thai sales company Gmm Tai Hub Company Limited (GTH) has presold The Billionaire to CT Chakawara for Indonesia, Bees Factory for Taiwan and GV for Singapore.

  • Busan's Asian Film Market kicks off with registration up 24%

    10-Oct-2011

    Busan’s 6th Asian Film Market opened today (Oct 10) in its new venue at the Busan Exhibition Convention Center (BEXCO) with a 67% increase in sales booths and a 24% increase in participant registration year-on-year.

  • Pony Canyon picks up Busan opener Always

    10-Oct-2011

    South Korean distributor Showbox/Mediaplex has sold Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opening film Always, directed by Song Il-gon, to Pony Canyon for Japan.

  • Busan kicks off 16th festival to roars of applause in new cinema center

    6-Oct-2011

    The 16th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opened today (Oct 6) in the newly completed Busan Cinema Center with a star-studded red carpet and the world premiere of Song Il-gon’s Always.

  • Finecut's new deals include Arirang to Italy, Day He Arrives to France

    9-Sep-2011

    Korean sales company Finecut has announced a raft of deals as the Toronto International Film Festival kicks off.

  • Busan International Film Festival unveils line-up

    8-Sep-2011

    The 16th edition of the festival will open with Song Il-gon’s tragic love story Always, starring So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo.

  • Busan unveils ten titles in Flash Forward competition

    6-Sep-2011

    Canadian films have fared well in the competition for up and coming non Asian directors.

  • South Korea submits The Front Line for Oscar race

    24-Aug-2011

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced The Front Line, directed by Jang Hun, will be the Republic of Korea’s entry to the Academy Awards’ foreign language film category.

  • Pema Tseden’s Old Dog sweeps awards at Seoul's CinDis

    24-Aug-2011

    Tibet-set Old Dog takes the Red, Green and White Chameleon Awards.

  • Busan International Film Festival unveils New Currents line-up

    24-Aug-2011

    The 16th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced 13 films from 12 countries for the New Currents competition of up-and-coming Asian directors.

  • Chinese remake planned for Korean hit My Wife Is A Gangster

    22-Aug-2011

    Budget of $6.2m will be financed 100% out of China.

  • Busan's Asian Project Market selections include China-set Dangerous Liaisons

    17-Aug-2011

    Busan’s Asian Project Market (APM) has announced 30 selections for this year’s edition including projects from Hur Jin-ho, Nonzee Nimibutr, Ryoo Seung-wan, Harada Masato and Lin Cheng-Sheng.

  • Korea's CinDi digital cinema festival to screen Day He Arrives, Arirang

    17-Aug-2011

    The fifth Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival (CinDi) opens today (Aug 17) with Hong Sang-soo’s The Day He Arrives.

  • Lee Jang-ho to head new umbrella Film Korea

    12-Aug-2011

    South Korean regional film commissions and entertainment industry groups have organised to launch Film Korea today (Aug 12) at the Jecheon International Music Film Festival.

  • Busan's Asian Cinema Fund backs films including Venice-bound Cut

    8-Aug-2011

    The 16th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced 31 selections for this year’s Asian Cinema Fund (ACF).

  • Rubber takes top prize at PiFan

    25-Jul-2011

    Best director prize goes to Na Hong-jin for The Yellow Sea.

  • PiFan's NAFF gives top prize to Indonesian director Joko Anwar

    21-Jul-2011

    The Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) wrapped its 4th Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) yesterday (July 20) with the main Bucheon Award going to Indonesian director Joko Anwar’s Modus Anomali.

  • Isabelle Huppert now shooting new Hong Sang-soo film

    11-Jul-2011

    French actress Isabelle Huppert is starring in Korean auteur director Hong Sang-soo’s next film. In accordance with the director’s fluid working style, the film is as yet untitled and the story is under wraps.

  • CJ CGV buys Vietnam's top exhibitor

    8-Jul-2011

    Leading Korean exhibitor CJ CGV has announced it has acquired Vietnam’s top cinema chain Megastar Media Company today (July 8) for $73.6m.

  • PiFan line-up to include Blind, The Yellow Sea

    14-Jun-2011

    The 15th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) has announced it line-up, with the event to open with Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told, the documentary which premiered in Cannes recently.

  • ScreenSingapore wraps with Larry Crowne, attracts 700 trade attendees

    13-Jun-2011

    6,000 people attended the inaugural ScreenSingapore event which pulled in 700 trade attendees

  • ScreenSingapore panel examines strategies for local-language productions

    8-Jun-2011

    At the inaugural ScreenSingapore, speakers discussed the importance of profiting at the local box office with local language productions as global box office matures.

  • China's Zonbo, Singapore's Homerun Asia partner on slate of films

    7-Jun-2011

    First project will be a remake of Dangerous Liaisons.

  • ScreenSingapore kicks off with Devil Inside Me; Expo starts tomorrow

    6-Jun-2011

    The inaugural ScreenSingapore opened last night (June 5) with the world premiere of the Chinese thriller The Devil Inside Me, directed by Zhang Qi and starring Tony Leung Ka-fai and Kelly Lin.

  • Emperor, Clover sign four-film deal for Singapore

    6-Jun-2011

    Announced during the inaugural ScreenSingapore event, Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures and Clover Films have closed a four-film deal for Singapore.

  • PiFan's It Project selects 18 films from 8 territories

    1-Jun-2011

    New projects from Joko Anwar, Woo Ming Jin, Daniel Chan and more.

  • CJ heads into Cannes with slew of pre-sales

    11-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Korea’s CJ Entertainment has announced a raft of presales on its titles in the Cannes market.

  • Jean Gentil wins top award at Jeonju Film Festival

    9-May-2011

    Israel Cardenas and Laura Amelia Guzman drama takes top Woosuk Award

  • JIFF gets underway with Golden Bear winner A Separation

    28-Apr-2011

    The 12th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) opened on Thursday [28] with the Iranian film Nader And Simin, A Separation.

  • Korean Film Council reveals plan to support local industry

    14-Apr-2011

    It will support location shoots and coproductions, invest in contents funds and provide support for labour costs on low-budget films.

  • Busan's Asian Cinema Fund expands

    13-Apr-2011

    The Busan festival’s Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) has added two new funds to support documentary film projects – the DMZ Fund for Asian projects about conflict areas and the Busan Film Commission Fund for documentary post-production support.

  • Kim Eui-suk becomes chairman of Korean Film Council

    29-Mar-2011

    His term will run to March 29, 2014.

  • Sidus sells Camellia to Movie On in Japan

    23-Mar-2011

    South Korea’s Sidus FNH has announced a raft of deals on its titles, led by the omnibus film Camellia, produced by the Busan film festival and showcasing stories set in the port city of Busan.

  • New era of Busan to give strong launch to Cinema Center, Lee says

    22-Mar-2011

    Busan International Film Festival director Lee Yong-kwan and honorary festival director Kim Dong-ho met with Screen at Hong Kong Filmart for an exclusive talk about Lee’s new solo directorship.

  • Tianjin firms up Rabbit distribution, dubbing cast

    22-Mar-2011

    Tianjin Film Studio has recruited comedic star Fan Wei (If You Are The One) and Yan Ni (A Simple Noodle Story) to head the dubbing cast of its 3D kung fu animated film Legend Of A Rabbit.

  • Filmart, HKIFF rally behind Japan

    21-Mar-2011

    In the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan, Hong Kong Filmart and the concurrent Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) are rallying to show support for the Japanese film industry as exhibitors attempt to carry on with business as usual.

  • Drucker bestseller tops TBS sales slate

    21-Mar-2011

    Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS) is debuting a slate at Hong Kong Filmart led by Drucker In The Dug-Out, the story of how a girl mistakenly uses business consultant Peter Drucker’s Management principles to shape up her high school baseball team.

  • Choi Dong-hoon assembles stars for Macao heist pic

    21-Mar-2011

    South Korean director Choi Dong-hoon is putting together a top flight cast for his upcoming The Professionals, led by Kim Yun-seok from The Yellow Sea, Gianna Jun from Blood The Last Vampire, Kim Hye-su from Tazza: The High Rollers and Lee Jung-jae from TheHousemaid.

  • FineCut sells Chaw, Cyrano to Japan

    21-Mar-2011

    Korean sales company FineCut has closed two deals for Korean titles Chaw and Cyrano Agency in Japan.

  • Busan IFF pacts with China's Zonbo Media

    21-Mar-2011

    Newly renamed Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and Chinese investment and distribution company Zonbo Media have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for industry exchange and greater cinema-cultural business collaboration.

  • Korea's KT&G launches film business division

    15-Mar-2011

    KT&G (originally Korea Tobacco & Ginseng and now re-styled as Korea Tomorrow & Global Corporation) Sangsangmadang has launched its Film Business Division with an aim to co-produce, co-finance and find films for its newly updated CineLab as well as to invest in, acquire, distribute and exhibit local and foreign films.

  • Asian Side of the Doc wraps with two project awards, one pitch prize

    14-Mar-2011

    Participants up 60% to 340, with two-thirds from Asia.

  • CJ Systems gets leading stake in post house AZWorks

    14-Mar-2011

    CJ Group subsidiary CJ Systems buys up majority share in AZWorks, other subsidiaries merge into CJ E&M

  • Showbox has strong EFM sales for Detective K

    7-Mar-2011

    South Korean distributor plans to work on North American release via CGV.

  • FineCut sells 71-Into The Fire to Showbox for US, Australia

    3-Mar-2011

    Korean sales company FineCut has announced post-EFM deals including Korean War film 71- Into The Fire which the film’s UK distributor Showbox Media Group has picked up US and Australia rights for as well.

  • BIFF announces further changes

    25-Feb-2011

    The newly renamed Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced changes in its main venues and the foundation of a subsidiary research lab in addition to changes in official names.

  • Pusan festival changing its name to Busan International Film Festival

    21-Feb-2011

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) is set to change its name to Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).

  • Gold View lands Italian deal for Rising Sex

    17-Feb-2011

    Japan’s Gold View has sold 72-year-old pornographer documentary Yoyochu – In The Land Of The Rising Sex to Rai Three for Italy.

  • BKO continues to punch with buyers

    17-Feb-2011

    Sahamongkolfilm International secures spate of deals on action film.

  • Singapore’s MDA opens submissions for International Film Fund

    16-Feb-2011

    Media Development Authority will invest up to $3.9m in each selected film.

  • AMR strikes VOD deals with Tidepoint, New People

    16-Feb-2011

    Asian VOD distributor in North America signs two deals.

  • China's Rabbit goes to France

    16-Feb-2011

    Tianjin Film Studio’s Legend Of A Rabbit is hopping along with a sales.

  • Media Asia closes more sales on Bruce Lee, My Brother and Legend of The Fist

    16-Feb-2011

    Hong Kong’s Media Asia has done a slew of deals on its titles, including for period biopic Bruce Lee, My Brother, directed by Raymond Yip and Manfred Wong.

  • Times Group makes friends with Hitler

    15-Feb-2011

    Rakesh Ranjan Kumar to direct feature on Mahatma Gandhi.

  • Pusan, Mumbai festivals link together

    14-Feb-2011

    Pusan and Mumbai festivals sign MOU for mutual support.

  • Beijing festival organisers open for submissions

    14-Feb-2011

    Organizers of the inaugural Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF) are in Berlin, taking submissions for the fest to be held April 23 - 28 this year.

  • Dadi, Myung partner on animated Leafie

    14-Feb-2011

    Chinese Distributor Dadi and Myung Films are partnering to release the Korean production house’s first feature animation Leafie: A Hen Into The Wild.

  • Open Sesame takes on Pyuupiru doc

    13-Feb-2011

    Japanese sales agent Open Sesame picks up rights to Pyuupiru 2001 - 2008.

  • Korea's Zamie starts up with 'Uzbek Trainspotting'

    13-Feb-2011

    Korean producers Ellen Y.D. Kim and E.K. Heo have set up a new production and acquisitions company, Zamie Pictures.

  • Buyers hopping for hot Chinese animation Rabbit

    13-Feb-2011

    Tianjin Film Studio off to a roaring start with Legend Of A Rabbit.

  • Fortissimo kicks off busy year of 20th anniversary celebrations

    12-Feb-2011

    Events throughout the year include HKIFF retrospective, MoMA programme and EYE masterclasses.

  • Japan's TBS has a knockout with Tomorrow's Joe

    12-Feb-2011

    Japan’s Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS) has done a slew of pre-sales on Tomorrow’s Joe, a live action feature based on a hit boxing manga from the 1960s and 70s.

  • Korean experts launch PIC

    12-Feb-2011

    Korean film industry execs E.J. Cho, formerly of United Pictures, and Ji-yoon Lim, formerly of FineCut, have launched an international consulting agency for film and entertainment business, PIC (People In Communications).

  • Finecut thrills buyers with Midnight F.M.

    12-Feb-2011

    Korean sales company FineCut has announced a slew deals including last year’s Cannes title Bedevilled, which recently won the Grand Prix at the Gérardmer Fantastic Film Festival and sold to Distrib Films for France.

  • Buyers storm The Front Line from Showbox

    12-Feb-2011

    Korean distributor Showbox / Mediaplex has pre-sold war drama The Front Line to Showbox Media Group for UK and STG Multimedia for Thailand.

  • Bodyguards team throws Flying Guillotines with We Distribution

    11-Feb-2011

    Hong Kong-based We Distribution is launching pre-sales on The Flying Guillotines, from the award-winning hit team who created Bodyguards And Assassins.

  • Buyers struck by Sahamongkolfilm's Bangkok Knockout

    11-Feb-2011

    Sahamongkolfilm International has done a raft of pre-sales deals on action adventure Bangkok Knockout: BKO, due for a world premiere in Berlin Feb 12.

  • Distribution Workshop takes on Jet Li project White Snake

    11-Feb-2011

    Hong Kong-based sales outfit takes $25m-budgeted The Sorcerer And The White Snake.

  • Eros pacts with Ocher to produce Rana

    10-Feb-2011

    Eros International and Ocher Studios team for K.S Ravikumar feature.

  • Buyers ravenous for Sushi from Fortissimo

    10-Feb-2011

    Company has busy Berlinale including competition world premiere of Come Rain, Come Shine.

  • CJ Entertainment makes pre sales on Sector 7

    10-Feb-2011

    Korean distributor CJ Entertainment has pre-sold the 3D sea creature thriller Sector 7, its projected summer tentpole blockbuster.

  • M-line heats up with Haunters deals pre-EFM

    10-Feb-2011

    Korea’s M-line Distribution has done a slew of pre-sales on the action drama Haunters, starring young heartthrobs Gang Dong-won and Koh Soo.

  • Niners slate includes Ronin Pop starring ZE:A

    10-Feb-2011

    Korean sales company also working on Mary, Miss Conspirator and Late Blossom.

  • FineCut has busy pre-EFM sales

    9-Feb-2011

    Korean sales agent FineCut has sold the recent Rotterdam Tiger Award co-winner The Journals Of Musan to Star Sands for Japan and S.N.R.T. for Morroco TV.

  • Distribution Workshop boards The Flying Machine

    9-Feb-2011

    The Hong Kong sales firm has acquired rest of world sales rights together with BreakThru Films.

  • Sidus FNH on board for Im Sang-soo's next film

    31-Jan-2011

    Follow-up to The Housemaid will be about a man who is hired by a rich family to take care of their private affairs and business.

  • Straub, Denis, Guerin line up for Jeonju Digital Project

    26-Jan-2011

    The 12th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) has confirmed the directors for this year’s Jeonju Digital Project omnibus as Jean-Marie Straub, Claire Denis and José Luis Guerin.

  • Korean box office rises 6.5% to record $1.02 billion

    20-Jan-2011

    The Korean Film Council has announced its 2010 industry report with box office gross up 6.5% year-on-year to a record $1.02bn (KW1,150,100,000,000) despite admissions dropping 9.6% to 146.8 million.

  • Kang Je-gyu shooting star-studded My Way

    19-Jan-2011

    WWII film’s budget is reported to be about $27m.

  • Asian Side of the Doc will welcome 350 participants in Seoul

    19-Jan-2011

    As the next leg of the Sunny Side Global Network Tour, the second Asian Side of the Doc (ASD) coproduction market will be held in Seoul, Korea from March 7-10.

  • Korea's box office admissions slip 5% in 2010

    12-Jan-2011

    Leading local exhibitor CJ CGV has announced South Korea’s 2010 box office admissions went down 5.1% year-on-year, with an estimated 148,403,921 admissions.

  • Park Chan-wook collaborates on iPhone short to get theatrical launch

    11-Jan-2011

    Korean auteur Park Chan-wook has co-directed a 30-minute film with his brother Park Chan-kyong which Korea Telecom (KT) says will be the first short film in the world shot entirely on Apple’s iPhone 4 to be screened in theatres.

  • Secret Sunshine's Jeon set to start shooting Countdown this month

    5-Jan-2011

    Cannes award-winning actress Jeon Do-yeon (pictured) is set to star in Countdown, a drama/action film produced by the notable South Korean production company B.O.M.

  • Lotte Cinema launches first theatre in China

    17-Dec-2010

    Major South Korean exhibitor Lotte Cinema is set to launch its first theatre in mainland China.

  • Iwai Shunji

    18-Nov-2010

    Japanese film-maker Iwai Shunji talks about his first English language film Vampire, starring Kevin Zegers and Keisha Castle-Hughes, currently in post production.

  • Korean Film Council chairman resigns

    10-Nov-2010

    Cho Hee-moon forced to resign from KOFIC; Pretty Pictures raises transparency issues over The Housemaid.

  • Korea prospects

    5-Nov-2010

    From English-language action comedies to local tentpoles and a remake of Ghost, Jean Noh profiles some of the hottest upcoming Korean productions

  • A Cut above

    5-Nov-2010

    In just two years, FineCut has established itself as a leading sales agent for hot South Korean and international titles. Jean Noh talks to company CEO Youngjoo Suh

  • Beyond borders

    5-Nov-2010

    As it expands into China, Japan and the US, CJ Entertainment’s Mike Suh tells Jean Noh about the company’s mission to become a global studio

  • Korea at the cutting edge

    5-Nov-2010

    The production sector in Korea may be adjusting to the new economic reality with smaller budgets — but the territory’s films have impressed at major festivals in 2010. Jean Noh reports

  • Riding the digital wave

    5-Nov-2010

    Broadband penetration in Korea may be the highest in the world, but growth of IPTV and VoD has been slow and there is more pressure than ever on theatrical revenues. Jean Noh reports

  • Cool summer

    5-Nov-2010

    Admissions are down in Korea so far this year, and exhibitors missed the local hits which made summer 2009 so successful. Jean Noh explores the territory’s appetite

  • "Busy" TIFFCOM sees visitors and exhibitors increase

    28-Oct-2010

    The Tokyo International Film Festival’s market reports rise in visitors and exhibitors.

  • Yuya Ishii picks up award as Tokyo Project Gathering wraps

    28-Oct-2010

    The director picked up this year’s TPG Award for Hara Ga Kore Nande

  • TIFFCOM panelists give advice to European filmmakers in Japan

    27-Oct-2010

    European filmmakers need to be savvy about new media, film festivals and diversified sales models in Japan, according to panelists at a UniJapan Entertainment Forum on European films in the Japanese market today at TIFFCOM.

  • Joint Entertainment gets Memory Loss in Toyko

    27-Oct-2010

    The Taipei-based sales agent picks up title touted as Taiwan’s first 3D animation.

  • Hiatus acquires two hot titles at Pusan

    18-Oct-2010

    The company has picked up Taiwan rights to Incendies and The Solitude Of Prime Numbers.

  • Pusan New Current Award goes to The Journals of Musan, Bleak Night

    18-Oct-2010

    The 15th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) closed with the New Currents Award going ex-aequo to two Korean films - Park Jung-Bum’s The Journals of Musan and Yoon Sung-Hyun’s Bleak Night.

  • Pusan seminar sees transmedia future

    14-Oct-2010

    Transmedia is the future of storytelling, according to panelists at the Pusan International Film Festival’s seminar Transmedia: Maximizing Creativity through Blending Contents, Media and Technologies.

  • Asian Film Market participation jumps 44%

    13-Oct-2010

    The fifth Asian Film Market in Pusan, Korea wrapped this week after a four-day run with 108 companies from 26 countries representing a 44% increase in participation.

  • CJ has strong Pusan market with Ghost remake

    13-Oct-2010

    South Korean distributor/sales company CJ Entertainment has done a slew of deals at Pusan’s Asian Film Market, including pre-sales on the Paramount Pictures Japan remake of Ghost to Catchplay for Taiwan.

  • FineCut's latest deals include Poetry to Edko

    13-Oct-2010

    South Korean sales agent FineCut has sealed a raft of deals at Pusan International Film Festival’s Asian Film Market including Lee Chang-dong’s Poetry which sold to Edko for Hong Kong.

  • Mirovision's Pusan sales include deals with Gaga

    13-Oct-2010

    South Korean sales agent Mirovision has announced sales from Pusan’s Asian Film Market, led by sales to Gaga Communications for Japan. The company has picked up Im Sang-soo’s Cannes competition film The Housemaid and sports drama Lifting King Kong.

  • Toei introduces Strangers to Korea's Mountain Pictures

    13-Oct-2010

    At Pusan’s Asian Film Market, Japanese distributor Toei has signed a deal with Korean buyer Mountain Pictures for Junji Sakamoto’s mystery thriller Strangers In The City.

  • Pusan Promotion Plan bites for Mushroom Watermelon

    13-Oct-2010

    The Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) project market closed today (Oct 13) with top Pusan Award of $20,000 going to Ogigami Naoko’s Mushroom Watermelon.

  • Korean sales agency Panda launches at Asian Film Market

    12-Oct-2010

    South Korea-based Panda Media has made its market debut at the Asian Film Market, running parallel to the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF).

  • Busan Film Commission, Film Auckland sign agreement

    11-Oct-2010

    Film Auckland and the Busan Film Commission (BFC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the aim of increasing cooperation between their respective audiovisual industries.

  • The man behind Pusan: Kim Dong-ho

    8-Oct-2010

    Launched in 1996, the Pusan International Film Festival (Oct 7-15) quickly became established as an international hub for Asian cinema. As he prepares for his final festival before retirement, founding festival director Kim Dong-ho speaks to Jean Noh about Pusan’s swift growth ? and its future

  • FineCut secures deals on Hahaha and Poetry

    14-Sep-2010

    Korean sales company FineCut has signed new deals in Toronto for two auteur titles - Hong Sang-soo’s Hahaha and Lee Chang-dong’s Poetry.

  • A Barefoot Dream is Korea's surprise Oscar submission

    9-Sep-2010

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced Kim Tae-kyun’s A Barefoot Dream will be submitted as South Korea’s candidate for the 2011 Academy Awards’ Best Foreign Language Film category nominations.

  • Pusan to open with Zhang Yimou's Under The Hawthorne Tree

    7-Sep-2010

    The 15th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced their line-up with the international premiere of Zhang Yimou’s Under The Hawthorne Tree to open the fest.

  • Park Kwang-su to step down from Busan Film Commission

    6-Sep-2010

    Founding director of South Korea’s Busan Film Commission (BFC) Park Kwang-su is to step down from his position as head of the locations services organization. Filmmaker Oh Seok-geun will take his place as of tomorrow (Sept 7).

  • Pusan plans special programme on Kurdish cinema

    3-Sep-2010

    Also, festival reveals Tsai Ming Liang will be honoured as Asian Filmmaker of the Year.

  • FineCut has sales spree including two deals for Japan

    2-Sep-2010

    South Korean sales company FineCut has sold a raft of films including two to Japan - Korean War film 71 – Into The Fire, which sold to Kadokawa Pictures and Cannes Critics’ Week title Bedevilled, which sold to King Records.

  • Pusan unveils jurors including Wada Emi

    31-Aug-2010

    The 15th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) will have Academy Award-winning costume designer Wada Emi heading its New Currents jury while Sundance festival director John Cooper will head the Flash Forward jury.

  • Pusan to launch new online screening service

    27-Aug-2010

    Secure site will offer festival and market films as well as Pusan Promotion Plan directors’ previous works.

  • Tokyo Project Gathering's 28 selections include Ryuichi Hiroki, Pen-ek Ratanaruang

    24-Aug-2010

    The sixth Tokyo Project Gathering (TPG) has selected an increased 28 projects this year.

  • Pusan Promotion Plan takes on new projects from Tsai, Ovashvili, Trapero, Pang

    18-Aug-2010

    The 15th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced 27 selections for the Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) including projects from Tsai Ming Liang, Oxide Pang, Xie Fei, Choi Dong-hoon and Anocha Suwhichakornpong.

  • Kim Dong-ho to step down from Pusan role

    6-Aug-2010

    Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) founding director Kim Dong-ho will make this year’s edition his last.

  • Major Korean film-makers plan move to media city in Goyang

    4-Aug-2010

    Im Kwon-taek, Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook, Ryoo Seung-wan, Kim Jee-woon, Jang Jin, and Choi Dong-hoon are among those moving to new hub.

  • Korean competitors work together on Im Kwon-taek's 101st film

    3-Aug-2010

    Korean master Im Kwon-taek’s 101st film is set to be co-distributed by South Korea’s top three investor-distributors: CJ Entertainment, Showbox Mediaplex and Lotte Entertainment.

  • Pusan Asian Cinema Fund supports Tan Chui Mui, Ashvin Kumar

    27-Jul-2010

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has selected 27 winners for this year’s Asian Cinema Fund (ACF), including Tan Chui Mui’s second feature The Year Without a Summer for post-production support.

  • PiFan top awards go to Bedevilled, Monsters, Fire of Conscience

    23-Jul-2010

    At the 14th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan), Jang Cheol Su’s graphic thriller Bedevilled snapped up the top Best of Puchon Award, along with the Fujifilm Eterna Award and Best Actress Award for Seo Yeong Hee.

  • Puchon It Project award goes to James Leong's Camera

    22-Jul-2010

    Asia’s largest genre film fest, the Puchon International Film Festival (PiFan) wrapped its third Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) today with the top Puchon Award for the It Project market going to James Leong’s Camera.

  • Mirovision sells The Housemaid to IFC

    20-Jul-2010

    South Korean sales agent Mirovision has sold Im Sang-soo’s Cannes competition title The Housemaid to IFC Films for the US.

  • Korean box-office grosses up 14% thanks to 3D boom

    6-Jul-2010

    South Korean box office gross went up 14.6% year-on-year in the first half, despite a 3.9% dip in admissions, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).

  • PiFan to open with The Experiment, close with Death Bell 2

    16-Jun-2010

    Asia’s largest genre film fest, the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) will open with the world premiere of the The Experiment, directed by Paul Scheuring (TV’s Prison Break) and starring Adrien Brody and Forest Whitaker.

  • Korea's N.E.W and Gyeonggi Commission form $16m fund

    9-Jun-2010

    South Korean distributor Next Entertainment World (N.E.W.) and Gyeonggi Performing & Film Commission have formed a partnership to create a KW20bn ($16.02m) investment fund specializing in visual contents.

  • Korea's CJ CGV to open new Los Angeles multiplex

    8-Jun-2010

    Leading Korean exhibitor CJ CGV is set to open a mulitplex in LA on June 11. CGV LA will have three screens, 600 seats and 3D projection.

  • Finecut sells well on Cannes quartet

    4-Jun-2010

    Poetry, Hahaha, Carancho, Bedevilled score multiple international sales after festival.

  • PiFan's project market selects 15 genre projects

    1-Jun-2010

    The projects from eight countries include AM11:00 by director Shin Terra (Black House) and John Cairns’ Japanese project School Girl Apocalypse, with producer Yukie Kito (Tokyo Sonata) attached.

  • Optimum strikes UK deal with Finecut for I Saw The Devil

    31-May-2010

    The film also pre-sold to Bir Film for Turkey and Catchplay for Taiwan.

  • Lotte comes on board for 3D animation Outback

    14-May-2010

    Major Korean distributor Lotte Entertainment has announced that it will become the main investor in Outback, an English-language 3D animated feature. The deal is a first for a Korean company.

  • Georgian film Susa wins top prize at Jeonju

    9-May-2010

    Korea’s JIFF ran April 29 - May 7, screening 208 films from 48 countries.

  • South Korea

    31-Mar-2010

    South Korea’s box office hit a record high in 2009 grossing $940m, up 12.7% year on year. Admissions rose 5.1% to 154.9 million.

  • Jeonju to open with Park Jinoh's Should've Kissed

    31-Mar-2010

    South Korea’s 11th annual JIFF will close with Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio’s To The Sea.

  • Signs of strength at FilMart 2010

    25-Mar-2010

    Busy Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FilMart) draws to a close with several deals completed and record attendance.

  • Jeonju lines up eight-film competition of Korean independent films

    24-Mar-2010

    The 11th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF), which this year runs from April 29 to May 7, has announced its Korean feature film competition line-up of eight independent films, including She Came From, directed by Kim Sung-ho (Into The Mirror).

  • Asian Film Archive to premiere restored Moon Over Malaya

    24-Mar-2010

    Singapore-based Asian Film Archive, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, has announced the premiere of its newly restored and digitized version of the only surviving print of 1957 film Moon Over Malaya.

  • Poised to strike

    23-Mar-2010

    Thai films are scoring at home and overseas. Jean Noh looks at some of the hottest films from Thailand coming in 2010

  • CTV buys France on CJ's thriller No Mercy

    23-Mar-2010

    Korean distributor CJ Entertainment has sold thriller No Mercy to CTV for French-speaking territories.

  • Showgate sells Yukisada's Parade to Taiwan

    23-Mar-2010

    Japanese sales agent Showgate has sold ensemble drama Parade, directed by Isao Yukisada (pictured) (Crying Out Love At The Center Of The World) to Bees Factory for Taiwan.

  • Pretty Pictures takes on The Housemaid for France

    22-Mar-2010

    Korean producer/distributor Mirovision has pre-sold Im Sang-soo’s (pictured) remake of Kim Ki-young’s classic erotic thriller The Housemaid to Pretty Pictures for France.

  • M-Line seals German, Benelux, Latin presales on Blades Of Blood

    22-Mar-2010

    Korean sales company M-Line Distribution has pre-sold Blades Of Blood to Splendid for Germany and Benelux and to VIP888 for South America.

  • Korean stars line up for Grand Prix from Sidus

    22-Mar-2010

    Sidus FNH has announced that top Korean stars Kim Tae-heen (pictured) (Iris, The Restless) and Lee Joon-ki (King And The Clown) have been cast in Grand Prix, directed by Yang Yun-ho (Iris, Fighter In The Wind).

  • Showbox in UK goes Into The Fire with Finecut

    22-Mar-2010

    Korean sales company Finecut has announced a slew of deals including the big-budget war drama 71 – Into The Fire, directed by John H. Lee and starring Kwon Sang-woo, which pre-sold to Showbox for UK.

  • United Pictures gets Superhuman

    22-Mar-2010

    Seoul-based United Pictures (UP) has picked up sales on fantasy action film The Superhuman, starring Gang Dong-won from the recent hits Secret Reunion and Woochi (pictured) and Goh Soo from The White Night.

  • Film industry calls for release of Iranian director

    10-Mar-2010

    Film organisations around the world are protesting the arrest of Iranian director Jafar Panahi

  • PiFan names Kim Young-bin as director

    24-Feb-2010

    PiFan announces new director ahead of its upcoming edition in July.

  • Korea’s CLP steps up with new KT deal

    12-Feb-2010

    South Korean buyer CLP International has announced a deal with the territory’s largest telecom operator Korea Telecom (KT) to supply them with overseas box office hits for KT’s IPTV service Qook.

  • Finecut does deal with Kim Jee-woo's Devil

    11-Feb-2010

    Korean sales company FineCut has announced it has picked up I Saw The Devil, the upcoming film from Kim Jee-woon, hit director of The Good, The Bad, The Weird.

  • KOFIC boosts financial support for 3D schemes

    8-Feb-2010

    The Korean film industry body has increased its support budget and announced a conversion deal between Stereopictures and Warner Bros.

  • Jeonju reveals directors for annual digital omnibus

    2-Feb-2010

    The 11th Jeonju International Film Festival reveals directors for annual digital omnibus.

  • Korean film exports dropped 32.9% in 2009

    26-Jan-2010

    Korean film exports fell by 32.9% last year, according to new data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).

  • Finecut takes sales rights to John H Lee's $10m Korean war epic

    20-Jan-2010

    Seoul-based sales company Finecut has picked up John H. Lee’s $10m upcoming Korean War movie, currently called 71 – Into The Fire.

  • Fox to co-finance Na Hong-jin's The Murderer

    19-Jan-2010

    Fox International Productions will co-finance Showbox Mediaplex’s The Murderer, to be directed by Na Hong-jin.

  • Sidus to launch sales for Busan omnibus at Berlin

    12-Jan-2010

    Korea-based Sidus FNH will launch sales for the Pusan International Film Festival’s omnibus Busan Project (working title) at next month’s European Film Market in Berlin.

  • Local films drove 4.8% box office rise in South Korea, says CJ CGV

    7-Jan-2010

    South Korea’s 2009 box office admissions rose by 4.8% year-on-year to 156,319,224 tickets, according to estimates by leading local exhibitor CJ CGV.

  • Symphony 3D acquires Korea’s MasterImage

    17-Dec-2009

    US-based Symphony 3D Holdings has acquired Korean 3D solution provider MasterImage Co. Infused with a $15m investment, the company has been renamed MasterImage 3D, LLC and moved to headquarters in Burbank, California.

  • Song boards Korean remake of A Better Tomorrow

    8-Dec-2009

    The Korean remake of John Woo’s classic Hong Kong noir film A Better Tomorrow (pictured) is set to be directed by Song Hae-sung, with a cast of young stars including Song Seung-hun and Ju Jin-mo.

  • Korea’s Finecut wraps up pre-sales on action thriller Iris

    20-Nov-2009

    South Korean sales outfit Finecut has announced a slew of AFM pre-sales deals on the espionage action thriller Iris: The Movie, starring pan-Asian heart-throb Lee Byung-hun.

  • Korea’s CJ CGV opens third multiplex in China

    16-Nov-2009

    Major South Korean exhibitor CJ CGV is set to open its third multiplex in China on Nov 19 – the CGV Wuhan – located in the capital of Hubei Province, which will have six screens, 940 seats and 3D projection.

  • KOFIC presents reform plan to culture ministry

    12-Nov-2009

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC), led by recently-appointed chairman Cho Hee-moon, reported on a plan for reform today (November 11) to the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Yoo In-chon.

  • PIFF, Chapman University team for Pusan West

    9-Nov-2009

    Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has formed a partnership with Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts to launch a filmmaker showcase to bring a selection of Korean films and filmmakers from PIFF to the US.

  • Jeon to star in remake of The Housemaid

    2-Nov-2009

    Cannes award-winning actress Jeon Do-yeon is set to star in Im Sang-soo’s remake of the Korean classic thriller The Housemaid.

  • South Korea at AFM

    1-Nov-2009

    Leading ladies are set to dazzle

  • Haeundae pirates convicted by Korean court

    29-Oct-2009

    In a landmark case for South Korea, Seoul Central District Court has convicted three people of pirating CJ Entertainment’s tsunami blockbuster Haeundae.

  • Kwak to direct 3D live-action Battle Of Yellow Sea

    29-Oct-2009

    Korean director Kwak Kyung-taek is set to direct a 3D live-action film, tentatively titled The Battle Of Yellow Sea, about the explosive naval engagement between North and South Korea on the second-to-last day of the 2002 World Cup.

  • Showbox picks up Japanese-Korean vampire thriller Higanjima

    28-Oct-2009

    Korean sales outfit Showbox Mediaplex has picked up Kim Tae-kyun’s vampire action thriller Higanjima for worldwide sales excluding Korea and Japan.

  • Empire Of Silver, Petition take top awards at Hawaii fest

    22-Oct-2009

    The 29th Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) has awarded its Halekulani Golden Orchid for Narrative Feature to Yao Shuhua’s Empire Of Silver and its Golden Orchid for Documentary Feature to Zhao Liang’s Petition.

  • Japan’s Sedic enters international sales

    21-Oct-2009

    Japanese production company Sedic International has launched a sales division at TIFFCOM, with films including Junji Sakamoto’s Zatoichi The Last and 3D erotic film The Perfect Education, Love In Akihabara.

  • NETPAC members launch Asian cinema web-site

    20-Oct-2009

    Members of the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) have set up an English-language streaming website of award-winning films at AsiaPacificFilms.com.

  • Korean sleeper hit Old Partner secures Japanese release

    19-Oct-2009

    Korean sales company Indiestory has announced that sleeper hit documentary Old Partner is due to open in Japan this December.

  • Kick Off, Trouble take New Currents Award at PIFF

    16-Oct-2009

    The 14th Pusan International Film Festival closes today (Oct 16) with the top New Currents award going to Shawkat Amin Korki’s Kick Off and So Sang-min’s I’m In Trouble.

  • Aoyama’s Decadent Sisters takes top prize at PPP

    14-Oct-2009

    The four-day Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) wrapped on Wednesday night, with the Pusan Award going to Japanese director Shinji Aoyama’s Decadent Sisters.

  • Asian Film Market still quiet but busier than last year

    14-Oct-2009

    The Asian Film Market closed its four-day run today (Oct 14) with an increase in participants and a general consensus that the market was quiet but still important for setting up deals and networking.

  • Vietnam to launch international film festival

    13-Oct-2009

    The city of Hanoi is set to celebrate its 1000th anniversary with the opening of Vietnam’s first international film festival in 2010.

  • CJ launches joint venture with Japan’s T-joy

    11-Oct-2009

    Korea’s CJ Entertainment and T-Joy, the theatre chain affiliate of major Japanese studio Toei, are launching a joint investment and distribution venture that will start operations in April 2010.

  • PIFF, EAVE join forces to boost Asian-Euro collaboration

    11-Oct-2009

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) and Europe’s EAVE organisation have announced the launch of “EAVE Ties That Bind”, a new development workshop for Asian and European film producers.

  • PIFF lines up Asian auteurs for omnibus project

    11-Oct-2009

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced the production of an omnibus film about people falling in love in the city of Busan, to be executive produced by festival head Kim Dong-ho.

  • Flynn takes UK rights to Taiwanese drama

    7-Oct-2009

    London-based Flynn Entertainment has acquired Ian Lou’s award-winning Taiwanese film A Place Of One’s Own for UK theatrical release in spring 2010.

  • Finecut sells Chaw to Australia’s Madman

    7-Oct-2009

    South Korean sales company Finecut has announced a slew of Toronto deals, led by black comedy Chaw which has been sold to Madman Entertainment for Australia.

  • PPP opens up the world

    2-Oct-2009

    This year’s Pusan Promotion Plan (Oct 11-14) is showcasing new projects from some of Asia’s superstar film-makers, as well as international rising talents.

  • PPP 2009 project list

    2-Oct-2009

    Screen International brings you the 2009 Pusan Promotion Plan list.

  • Pusan pulls out all the stops

    2-Oct-2009

    Seemingly undaunted by financial gloom, this year’s Pusan International Film Festival (Oct 8-16) boasts a record 355 films and a new cash prize. But will travel-weary buyers and sellers be in town to see them?

  • Meet the neighbours

    2-Oct-2009

    International buyers are looking forward to this year’s Asian Film Market (Oct 11-14) as a place to do business with their Asian colleagues.

  • Terracotta takes UK rights to Yang’s Breathless

    1-Oct-2009

    Terracotta Distribution has acquired UK rights to Rotterdam Tiger award-winner Breathless from Korea’s Showbox Mediaplex.

  • Hindi film Black scores at Korean box office

    15-Sep-2009

    South Korea’s box office is seeing a new phenomenon with Hindi film Black clocking up over 700,000 admissions and staying ahead of all other foreign releases in its third week.

  • Optimum chews on Fine Cut’s Chaw

    13-Sep-2009

    South Korean sales agent Fine Cut has announced its first deal at the Toronto festival, selling the man-eating boar comedy Chaw to Optimum Releasing for UK.

  • Pusan film festival to screen record 355 films

    9-Sep-2009

    The 14th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) will screen a record 355 films from 70 countries, including with 98 world premieres and 46 international premieres.

  • Cho appointed as head of Korean Film Council

    8-Sep-2009

    South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports has named critic and professor Cho Hee-moon as the new chairman of the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).

  • Chopra named as PIFF’s Asian Filmmaker of the Year

    3-Sep-2009

    The 14th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced that legendary Bollywood director-producer Yash Chopra will receive its Asian Filmmaker of the Year award.

  • The Host 2 to receive funding for CGI development

    2-Sep-2009

    The Korea Creative Contents Agency (KOCCA) has announced that The Host 2 is the winner of its Global Projects Technology Development Support Program.

  • Asia prepares for 3D injection

    27-Aug-2009

    Producers at Korea’s Naff have highlighted the boost to revenues that local 3D films can bring.

  • Korea selects Mother as foreign-language Oscar entry

    11-Aug-2009

    The Korean Film Council has announced Korea’s submission to the Oscars Best Foreign Language Film category as Bong Joon-ho’s mystery thriller Mother.

  • PPP unveils line-up including Bong, Aoyama projects

    10-Aug-2009

    South Korea’s Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) has announced its 2009 line-up of 30 projects from 21 countries, which includes Aoyama Shinji’s Decadent Sisters and Bong Joon-ho’s Le Transperceneige, produced by Park Chan-wook.

  • Pusan's Asian Cinema Fund supports 25 projects

    5-Aug-2009

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced 25 recipients of its Asian Cinema Fund and has revealed two new funds to support overseas projects and distribution.

  • Haeundae takes South Korean box office by storm

    4-Aug-2009

    Tsunami blockbuster Haeundae has taken the South Korean box office by storm clocking up 5 million admissions from 712 screens in less than two weeks.

  • NAFF’s second edition praised by guests

    24-Jul-2009

    PiFan’s Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) wrapped its second edition (July 20-23), with guests applauding the quality of the project meetings, and the impressive roster of decision-makers that it managed to attract.

  • Macrograph, Entourage line up Korea’s first 3D horror

    24-Jul-2009

    Korean visual effects house Macrograph and production company Entourage are joining forces on Korea’s first 3D horror film, Soul Mate, to be directed by Kim Ji-hwan.

  • KOFIC to back Im Kwon-taek’s 101st film

    22-Jul-2009

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) is awarding master director Im Kwon-taek $319,200 (KW400m) in cash and up to $159,600 (KW200m) in services for his 101st film Sanghwaji (working title).

  • Singapore’s Boku Films to co-produce The Host sequel

    22-Jul-2009

    Singaporean production company Boku Films has signed an MOU with Korea’s Chungeorahm to co-produce and invest $5m in the Korean sequel to hit monster movie The Host.

  • Amuse Soft steps up for Hur’s Season Of Good Rain

    21-Jul-2009

    Korea’s Pancinema has pre-sold Hur Jin-ho’s upcoming romance Season Of Good Rain (working title) to Japan’s Amuse Soft Entertainment.

  • Asian producers embrace 3D filmmaking

    20-Jul-2009

    While 3D filmmaking is still in the early stages in Asia, speakers at a forum held today by Korea’s Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) agreed that the technology is set to broaden the cinema-going demographic and help the Asian industry bust through tough economic times.

  • Hur Jin-ho wraps feature-length Season Of Good Rain

    15-Jul-2009

    Korean director Hur Jin-ho has extended his section of pan-Asian omnibus Chengdu, I Love You into a feature entitled Season Of Good Rain (working title), which is scheduled for an autumn release.

  • Prosecution of young offenders reaches record levels

    9-Jul-2009

    Jean Noh brings you the South Korean piracy report.

  • SFC awards funds to co-production projects

    8-Jul-2009

    The Seoul Film Commission has announced the six winners of its first international co-production grant, which awards up to $15,600 in development funding to projects that will partly shoot in Seoul. 

  • Korean box office surges in first half of 2009

    6-Jul-2009

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced that South Korean box office receipts reached a record $375.68m (KW476.8bn) in the first half of 2009.

  • Kang resigns as chairman of Korean Film Council

    2-Jul-2009

    South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Yoo In-chon, has announced that he has accepted the resignation of Korean Film Council (KOFIC) chairman Kang Han-sup.

  • Korea’s CJ CGV joins ticket price increases

    2-Jul-2009

    Following Korea’s other exhibitors Megabox, Lotte Cinema and Cinus, leading multiplex chain CJ CGV has announced today that it will also raise ticket prices for the first time in eight years.

  • Two more Korean exhibitors increase ticket prices

    1-Jul-2009

    Korean exhibitors Lotte Cinemas and Cinus have joined Megabox in raising ticket prices, in an almost industry-wide move that marks the first ticket price increases in eight years.

  • E J-yong starts shooting ensemble drama Actresses

    18-Jun-2009

    Untold Scandal director E J-yong has started production on his upcoming film Actresses (working title) with an ensemble cast of six of Korea’s top female thespians.

  • PiFan to open with international premiere of M.W.

    17-Jun-2009

    This year’s Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) will feature 15 world premieres and 15 international premieres, including opening film M.W., a live-action adaptation of the Osamu Tezuka manga of the same name.

  • Michael Bay apologises to Korean fans

    16-Jun-2009

    Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen director Michael Bay has been compelled to send a note of apology to press and fans in Korea following controversy on his recent publicity tour.

  • PiFan unveils five projects for KOFIC development lab

    10-Jun-2009

    Korea’s Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) has announced the five projects that will take part in the KOFIC Filmmakers’ Development Lab (FDL), which this year will take place during the festival.

  • PIFF launches $20,000 award for non-Asian directors

    9-Jun-2009

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has created the $20,000 Flash Forward Award for first or second-time directors from non-Asian countries.

  • M-Line seals German deal on My Girlfriend Is An Agent

    8-Jun-2009

    South Korean sales agent M-Line Distribution has announced a raft of Cannes deals including the sale of espionage comedy My Girlfriend Is An Agent to Splendid for Germany and Benelux.

  • Japan’s SPO swoops on Showbox duo

    8-Jun-2009

    Korean seller Showbox has announced a slew of post-Cannes sales led by SPO picking up Japanese rights for stock market swindle thriller The Scam and low-budget melodrama More Than Blue.

  • Moon to star in Hong Sang-soo’s next film

    5-Jun-2009

    Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo has cast Venice award-winning actress Moon So-ri (Oasis) and Hong regular Kim Sang-kyung in his upcoming film.

  • Korea’s CJ CGV expands arthouse film programme

    3-Jun-2009

    Leading Korean exhibitor CJ CGV is establishing a specialty films team and expanding its “Movie Collage” arthouse film programme from seven to ten screens.

  • Ha Jung-woo to star in Lee’s melodrama And Us

    2-Jun-2009

    Korean director Lee Yoon-ki has cast The Chaser star Ha Jung-woo and Sunny starlet Su Ae in his upcoming melodrama And Us (working title).

  • Mother has biggest opening of the year in Korea

    1-Jun-2009

    Bong Joon-ho’s thriller Mother has beaten Park Chan-wook’s Thirst to become the biggest opener of the year in South Korea.

  • PiFan announces line-up for NAFF It Projects market

    19-May-2009

    The Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan), Asia’s largest genre film festival, has announced the line-up for its sophomore Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) It Project market.

  • Overlook turns Macabre for Europe and US

    16-May-2009

    Overlook Entertainment has picked up Europe and US rights for horror film Macabre, the first feature from new Asian genre label Gorylah.

  • South Korea launches plan to combat online piracy

    14-May-2009

    File sharing websites and producers in South Korea have developed a three-step plan to combat piracy.

  • Jeonju marks 10th anniversary with record attendance

    11-May-2009

    Jeonju International Film Festival, South Korea’s second biggest festival, celebrated its 10th anniversary edition with a record-breaking attendance and the launch of a new market.

  • Korean Film Council unveils five-year funding plan

    8-May-2009

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced a five-year policy plan for developing the local industry which includes funds for international co-productions and loan guarantees.

  • Thirst tops Korean box office over holiday weekend

    5-May-2009

    Park Chan-wook’s vampire film Thirst has topped South Korea’s box office, beating X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and clocking up the biggest opening for a local film so far this year

  • Brand New Life added to Cannes line-up

    4-May-2009

    The Cannes Film Festival official selection has added Ounie Lecomte’s debut feature A Brand New Life to its Special Screenings category.

  • Market report Korea

    4-May-2009

    Sumptuous foreign costume dramas are seducing Korean audiences, while action films also work well.

  • Korea’s Showbox picks up trio ahead of Cannes

    1-May-2009

    Showbox Mediaplex has picked up international rights to art heist mystery Insadong Scandal, hardcore thriller Missing and omnibus film Five Senses Of Eros.

  • Hong Kong's PAM pumps equity into Scandal

    28-Apr-2009

    South Korea producer-distributor Ssamzie Entertainment has sold a $500,000 equity stake in up coming heist film Insadong Scandal to Prince Asset Management (PAM).

  • Laila's Birthday takes top honour at Singapore fest

    26-Apr-2009

    The 22nd Singapore International Film Festival has awarded its top honour, the Silver Screen Awards’Best Asian Feature Film, to Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi’s Laila’s Birthday.

  • Distant Horizon picks up Butcher for North America

    23-Apr-2009

    Upstart Korean production and distribution company INew Entertainment has sold Kim Jin-Won’shorror feature debut The Butcher to Distant Horizon for North American distribution.

  • Imprint dials up Mirovision for US remake of Phone

    22-Apr-2009

    Seoul-based sales agent Mirovision has announced that it is teaming with LA-based Imprint Entertainment to co-produce a US remake of Ahn Byung-ki’s Korean horror film Phone.

  • KOFIC selects 29 screens for Artplus Cinema programme

    9-Apr-2009

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced that it is providing $795,000 (KW1.08bn) towards the 29 screens that it has selected for its Artplus Cinema Network funding scheme for this year.

  • KOFIC hands out $1.82m under two funding schemes

    7-Apr-2009

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced it will award a total of $1.82m (KW2.4bn) to the 24 winning projects of its Korean Film Production Support Program and its Korean Film Development Support Program.

  • Korea's Jeonju film festival launches indie projects market

    1-Apr-2009

    South Korea’s Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) is celebrating its tenth edition with a number of events including the launch of a Korean indie projects market and anniversary screenings of JIFF previous awardees and first films.

  • CJ seals further deals on disaster movie Haeundae

    30-Mar-2009

    Seoul-based distributor CJ Entertainment has announced further pre-sales from Hong Kong Filmart on JK Youn's tsunami-attacks-Busan film Haeundae.

  • CJ scores Singapore, Malaysia presales on Haeundae

    24-Mar-2009

    Seoul-based distributor CJ Entertainment has pre-sold JK Youn’s tsunami-attacks-Busan filmHaeundaeto VSG for Singapore and Malaysia.’Haeundae is a concept film with high production values - Hans Ulrich who worked on A Perfect Storm, Star Wars 4 and 5, and The Day After Tomorrow is supervising the CGI, and so far it looks great. It’s been attracting buyers since we opened sales for it in Berlin,’ ...

  • Hit Singapore director Jack Neo plans ghost story triptych

    23-Mar-2009

    Record-breaking Singaporean hit director Jack Neo (I Not Stupid)has announced a new projectGot Ghost Meh(working title) in development.Neo plans to make a 90-minute feature film made up of three parts - each a 30-minute-long ghost story ...

  • P.A.M. Korea Media enters sales with thriller Bloody Shake

    23-Mar-2009

    P.A.M. Korea Media has launched into international sales with the market debut of director Kim Jee-yong’s Bloody Shake, a psychological thriller with visceral and bloody imagery.The film follows seven characters - including a priest, a pickpocket and a lesbian butcher - in a relay of seven murderous stories, which all turn out to be the stress-fueled dreams of a salaryman under pressure at work.

  • Raintree, Wayne Wang prepare Singapore historical thriller

    23-Mar-2009

    MediaCorp Raintree Pictures has announced much-anticipated further details on its historical film 1965 - currently in development with Wayne Wang lined up to direct.Based on the turbulent title year that Singapore broke away from Malaysia to become independent, 1965 will be a mainstream political thriller with a projected budget of $15m. It will ...

  • Diaphana, Canal Plus take French rights to A Brand New Life

    23-Mar-2009

    South Korean sales company Finecut has announced the pre-sales of Korea-France co-productionA Brand New Life, directed by Ounie Lecomte. Canal Plus has taken French television rights while Diaphana has picked up other French-speaking rights.A PPP 2008 project, A Brand New Life, currently in post-production, ...

  • iHQ picks up sales rights to Joo Ji-Hong's Rabbit And Lizard

    23-Mar-2009

    South Korea’s iHQ has picked up sales rights to sell Rabbit And Lizard, directed by Joo Ji-Hong, a Korean graduate of FEMIS who has spent some years in France making shorts.The award-winning director is now working with two pop idols-turned-actors - Jang Hyuk (Volcano High, Windstruck) and Sung Yuri (TV series Hong Gil-Dong).

  • Korea's Barunson acquires majority stake in Sio

    19-Mar-2009

    Barunson, the investor/producer of Korean hit The Good, The Bad, The Weird, has acquired a majority stake in Sio Films, producer of hits such as Park Chan-wook's Old Boy.

  • PIFF receives public funding boost to offset downturn

    17-Mar-2009

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) is set to receive an increase in government funding to offset the effects of the economic downturn anddiminishing corporate sponsorship.

  • KOFIC hands out p&a funding to three companies

    16-Mar-2009

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced that it will award p&a funds to LA-based Eleven Arts, Belgium's Cineart and Taiwan's Infinity International in its first p&a funding round of 2009.

  • South Korea's new sexual revolution

    13-Mar-2009

    When Sponge Entertainment CEO David Cho picked up John Cameron Mitchell's sexually explicit US indie Shortbus for South Korea back in 2006, he knew he was in for a fight. Now, after more than two years battling the Korea Media Ratings Board (KMRB), Sponge finally opened the film commercially on March 12.

  • Pusan appoints new executives and programmers

    12-Mar-2009

    The 14th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has appointed new executives to the Asian FilmMarket and programmers for the World Cinema and Asian Cinema sections.

  • KOFIC cuts funding, overhauls investment strategy

    10-Mar-2009

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has slashed its overall programme budget by 25% from last year's $42.48m (KW65.8bn) to $32.73m for 2009.

  • The secrets to Japanese box-office success

    6-Mar-2009

    Japanese cinema-goers paying $18 for a ticket tend to make conservative choices when they reach the front of the queue. This goes some way to explain the 59.5% market share garnered by local films at last year's box office. Audiences know what they will get from the new animation from Hayao Miyazaki (Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea), the latest theatrical reworking of a TV police series (Partners: The Movie) and a feature adaptation of a popular manga TV series (Boys ...

  • Sonnenfeld to direct remake of Korean hit Scandal Makers

    3-Mar-2009

    Korean sales agent M-Line Distribution has announced that Barry Sonnenfeld (Men In Black) is attached to direct and executive produce the US remake of Korean sleeper hit Scandal Makers.

  • Busan celebrates opening of AZ Works post-production complex

    25-Feb-2009

    After five years of work, the city of Busan and the Busan Film Commission (BFC) are celebrating the opening of the 'AZ Works on the beach' post-production complex in Busan's newly developing Centum City.

  • Singapore film festival to open with Sincerely Yours

    25-Feb-2009

    The 22nd Singapore International Film Festival (April 14-25) will open with Sincerely Yours from debuting Taiwanese feature director Rich Lee. The film explores the plight of illegal foreign workers in Taiwan with a multi-national cast.

  • CJ Entertainment to invest $60m in local and overseas projects

    25-Feb-2009

    Leading Korean investor/distributor CJ Entertainment CEO Katherine Kim has announced that the company will be investing $46.5m - $53.1m this year in 13-15 local releases and another $6.64m in 5-10 overseas projects in the US, China and Japan.

  • Low-budget doc stampedes South Korean box office

    25-Feb-2009

    Old Partner, a documentary about an old man and his cow, has topped the South Korean box office with 419,295 admissions from 276 screens this past weekend.

  • Korea's Sponge Entertainment wins Shortbus ratings battle

    20-Feb-2009

    After two years, Sponge Entertainment has won the fight to screen John Cameron Mitchell's sexually explicit film Shortbus in South Korea with a 'Teenager Restricted' rating.

  • Hyde Park, Activers to co-produce Korean Mata Hari story

    16-Feb-2009

    Korea's Activers Entertainment has announced a deal with Ashok Amritraj's Hyde Park Entertainment and investment banking firm Film Financial Services (FFS) to co-produce Against Conspiracy (working title), a $20m film based on 'the Korean Mata Hari story' of Kim Soo-im, a woman accused of and executed for being a North Korean spy in 1950.

  • Kim Ki-duk Film sues Korea's Studio 2.0

    12-Feb-2009

    Korean director Kim Ki-duk's production company, Kim Ki-duk Film, has filed suit against distributor Studio 2.0 for suspicion of profits embezzlement from the box office success Rough Cut, directed by Kim Ki-duk protege Jang Hun.

  • Indiestory's Old Partner becomes Korea's top independent film

    11-Feb-2009

    Korean film distributor Indiestory's Old Partner, an ultra-low-budget documentary about an octogenarian man, his wife and his loyal, hard-working cow of 30 years has become South Korea's biggest independent film hit on record.

  • Sponge teams with CJ CGV to release indie titles

    10-Feb-2009

    Korean importer/producer Sponge Entertainment has announced a deal with leading exhibitor CJ CGV to screen a slate of Sponge's upcoming local independent films.

  • Korean films boost exports but lose local market share

    2-Feb-2009

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has reported that export figures for Korean films bounced up 40% year-on-year to total $20.54m, based on minimum guarantees, ending a freefall that started in 2004.

  • Finecut picks up new feature from Hong Sang-soo

    28-Jan-2009

    Seoul-based Finecut has picked up worldwide sales rights for Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo's upcoming feature Jal Aljido Mot Hamyeonsuh (original title).

  • Red Cliff II scales Korea's Lunar New Year box office

    27-Jan-2009

    The second part of John Woo's action epic Red Cliff topped South Korea's Lunar New Year holiday charts, with the film grossing $2.7m since its release on Jan 22.

  • CJ picks up two KAFA films debuting in the Berlinale

    27-Jan-2009

    Leading Korean distributor CJ Entertainment has picked up worldwide rights to two Berlinale Forum films - Members Of The Funeral and The Day After - both from the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA)'s inaugural cycle of feature-length graduation films.

  • Katharine Kim appointed CEO ofCJ Entertainment

    23-Jan-2009

    Katharine Kim has been appointed CEO of leading Korean investor/distributor CJ Entertainment.

  • M-Line Distribution picks up Scandal Makers and A Frozen Flower

    22-Jan-2009

    Sales agent M-Line Distribution has picked up international sales rights to top Korean box office hits Scandal Makers (a.k.a. Overspeed Scandal) and A Frozen Flower.

  • The Good, The Bad, The Weird tops nominations for Asian Film Awards

    21-Jan-2009

    The Good, The Bad, The Weird - Kim Jee-woon's rollicking Oriental Western -has racked upeight nominations for this year's Asian Film Awards, including those for best film, director and cinematographer.

  • Asia-Pacific Box-Office Round-Up - China in the black as many see red

    16-Jan-2009

    China continued its box-office surge in 2008, with a 26.7% rise on the previous year. Box-office receipts in China finished at $617.1m (rmb4.2bn) according to figures from the Film Bureau under the State Administration of Radio, Film And Television (Sarft) - the sixth year in a row the territory has published a growth rate of more than 20%.

  • Naomi Kawase, Lav Diaz join Hong on Jeonju Digital Project

    13-Jan-2009

    The 10th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF)'s three-part digital omnibus this year will feature short films from Japan's Naomi Kawase and the Philippines' Lav Diaz in addition to the previously announced short from Korea's Hong Sang-soo.

  • Korean admissions down 5.3% according toCJ CGV

    7-Jan-2009

    Leading South Korean exhibitor CJ CGV has reported that the nation's total admissions for 2008 came to 149.18 million, down 5.3% year-on-year according to in-house tallies which are based on reported figures and estimates.

  • Korea's Lotte Cinema opens third multiplex in Vietnam

    18-Dec-2008

    South Korea's Lotte Cinema has today opened its third multiplex in Vietnam. The six-screen, 1,400-seat cinema is located in the Phu My Hung (a.k.a. Saigon South) area of Ho Chi Minh city.

  • Korea's Gyeonggi province retools incentive programme

    9-Dec-2008

    South Korea's Gyeonggi province has announced a 10% rebate incentive for film and TV drama productions shooting on location in the region, to replace its previous incentive programme.

  • KOFIC awards Filmmakers Development Lab grant to Danny Lee

    9-Dec-2008

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced Danny Lee as the winner of the 2008 KOFIC Filmmakers Development Lab (FDL) grant of $15,000 for his feature film script Winter War.

  • Hong Sang-soo to take part in Jeonju Digital Project

    5-Dec-2008

    Korean auteur director Hong Sang-soo is participating in Jeonju Digital Project 2009, the trifecta omnibus produced by Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF).

  • Warner Bros to release Dark Knight on VOD before DVD in Korea

    3-Dec-2008

    Warner Brothers Digital Distribution in Korea will put Dark Knight out on video-on-demand (VOD) Dec 5 - two weeks before the DVD release, making it the first time a major Hollywood studio gives a blockbuster a 'pre-DVD VOD' release.

  • Showbox Mediaplexpicks up Breathless, The Pot from Pusan line-up

    1-Dec-2008

    Korea’s Showbox Mediaplex has picked up for international sales two independent films -Yang Ik-june’s Breathless and Kim Tae Gon’s The Pot - from the recent Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) line-up.

  • Warner Brothers content to go on KTF mobiles in Korea

    25-Nov-2008

    Korean mobile internet provider KTF will be offering latest Warner Brothersmovies and TV series in a specialscreening section starting tomorrow (Nov 26).

  • Koreainvests $271m in manga, animation, character-merchandising

    24-Nov-2008

    South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism is planning to invest $271m (KW410bn) in the manga, animation and character-merchandisingindustries to develop 'one-source, multi-use (OSMU)killer content' by 2013.

  • Forever The Moment wins bestfilm at Korea's Blue Dragons

    20-Nov-2008

    South Korean Director Yim Soon-rye's Forever The Moment walked away with the best picture award at the 29th Blue Dragon Awards in Seoul.

  • GTH horror Coming Soon to Eastern Europe

    14-Nov-2008

    Thailand's GMM Tai Hub (GTH) has announced a raft of AFM sales led by horror title Coming Soon, directed by Shutter co-scriptwriter Sophon Sakdaphisit, which sold to Mido Films Brno for the Czech Republic, Bir Film for Turkey and Queen Films for Indonesia.

  • Korea's UP sells Frozen Flower to Germany and Japan

    13-Nov-2008

    Korea's United Pictures (UP) has sold director Yu Ha's upcoming period piece A Frozen Flower to Splendid for Germany and the Benelux, and to KNTV for Japan - for a cumulative total of $1.5m at the AFM.

  • Serenity Entertainment buys Paco for Taiwan from Showgate

    10-Nov-2008

    Japan's Showgate has sold the hit 3D and live action film Paco And The Magical Book to Serenity Entertainment for Taiwan. Directed by Tetsuya Nakashima (Kamikaze Girls, Memories Of Matsuko), the film has an all-star cast including Satoshi Tsumabuki (Dororo), Koji Yakusho (Babel), and Anna Tsuchiya (

  • Stylejam sells Fine, Totally Fine to Third Window in UK

    10-Nov-2008

    Japanese independent Stylejam has sold director Yosuke (Tora) Fujita's comic love triangle story Fine, Totally Fine to Third Window Film for the UK. Stylejam also sold two films starring Joe Odagiri - humorous wedding feud story Then Summer Came to Cinema Valley for Korea, and Satoshi (In The Pool) Miki's walk-across-Tokyo ...

  • CJ Entertainment sells Mother to France, Thirst to UK

    9-Nov-2008

    CJ Entertainment has pre-sold Bong Joon-ho's Mother to Diaphana for France and Park Chan-wook's Thirst to Palisades Tartan for UK. Diaphana previously distributed CJ's Secret Sunshine which it picked up immediately before last year's Cannes - where it took best actress for Jeon Do-yeon, opening it in France on 65 prints. Palisades Tartan is ...

  • Gold View returns to homeland with The Clone

    9-Nov-2008

    Japanese sales and production company Gold View has picked up the Wim Wenders executive-produced film The Clone Returns To The Homeland for international sales.When astronaut Kohei Takahara dies in the line of duty he is resurrected as a clone, but he and those around him find they face unexpected spiritual and existential consequences.Kanji Nakajima (Hako-The-Box, Fe) wrote and directed ...

  • Sahamongkol closes deals for Ong Bak 2, Chocolate

    9-Nov-2008

    Thailand's Sahamongkol has sold Tony Jaa's upcoming Ong Bak 2 and hit action flick Chocolate to Madman for Australia and New Zealand, CP Digital for Russia/CIS, and Mirax for Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Czech Republic.Star TV also picked up all rights for Chocolate in Taiwan. Magnolia Pictures' genre label Magnet picked up US rights in Toronto.

  • UK, Thailand take on Ip Man from Mandarin

    9-Nov-2008

    Mandarin Films has sold biopic Ip Man, about the celebrated kung-fu master of Bruce Lee, to Showbox Media Group for the UK and Rose Media & Entertainment for Thailand.Directed by Wilson Yip Wai-shun (Dragon Tiger Gate), the film stars Donnie Yen - star of recent hit Painted Skin and award-winning action choreographer. Veteran Sammo Hung, who ...

  • Fine Cut picks up sales on Break Away and Searching For The Elephant

    8-Nov-2008

    Seoul-based Fine Cut has picked up international sales rights to LeeSong Hee-il's Break Away and SK Jhung's Searching For The Elephant (working title) starring heartthrob Jang Hyuk (Volcano High).Break Away is LeeSong's second feature after the controversial gay drama No Regret, ...

  • Cathay sells classics library to i-Cable for Hong Kong pay-TV, internet

    7-Nov-2008

    Cathay Organisation has sold its Cathay Classics Films library to i-Cable Hong Kong for Hong Kong and Macau pay-TV and internet. Separately, Cathay is issuing a DVD box set with musicals starring Grace Chan aka Ge Lan, one of the foremost actresses of her era - Wild Wild Rose, Mambo Girl and June Bride - in January 2009 when the stage remake of Wild Wild Rose ...

  • Korea's Studio 2.0 sells film package to Rose Media in Thailand

    7-Nov-2008

    Korea's Studio 2.0 has sealed a raft of deals led by Rose Media picking up melodrama Heartbreak Library for Thailand. The film stars Lee Dong-wook, whose TV series My Girl has raised his popularity in that country. Rose also snapped up the post-Korean War boys drama Once Upon A Time In Seoul, starring two other pretty boys Song Chang-Ui and Lee Wan;

  • Magnolia takes US rights to food industry doc Food Inc

    6-Nov-2008

    Magnolia Pictures has picked up US rights to Participant Media's and River Road Entertainment's feature documentary Food, Inc. The film world premiered at Toronto and is due to screen at the Berlinale, with a US release scheduled for the first half of 2009. Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment negotiated the deal on behalf of Participant and River Road, with Tom Quinn on behalf of Magnolia Pictures.Producer-director ...

  • Mirovision, M to partner on Youth Is Reckless

    6-Nov-2008

    Korea's Mirovision is partnering with M Production to produce Youth IsReckless, by Lee Myung-se, the director of the visual extravaganza M,martial arts mystery Duelists, and crime action film Nowhere To Hide.Youth Is Reckless is based on the Book ...

  • M-Line pre-sells Kitchen to Japan's Showgate

    6-Nov-2008

    New Korean sales outfit M-Line has pre-sold romantic drama Kitchen to Showgate for Japan.The $1.2m film is due for a February 2009 release in Korea. Starring Ju Ji-hun, from the pan-Asian TV series Princess Hour, the film follows members of a suicide club who end up in a gruesome survival game against a faceless murderer.Showgate also previously acquired Ju-starrer

  • Shochiku sells Tadashi Mori's Panda Diary to Wild Bunch

    6-Nov-2008

    Japanese entertainment conglomerate Shochiku has sold documentary PandaDiary to Wild Bunch for France, Benelux, Germany and Italy.Directed by Tadashi Mori, the documentary follows the lives ofendangered pandas who have never lived in the wild forest. Shot in theChendu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China and AdventureWorld in Japan, the film also features first-time footage of a newbornpanda cuddling with its mother.

  • CJ sells Bong Joon-ho's Mother to Bitters End for Japan

    6-Nov-2008

    CJ Entertainment has sold The Host director Bong Joon-ho's upcoming Mother to Bitters End for Japan.The $6m thriller is aiming for Cannes and a June 2009 release. Hot interest from Japanese buyers got the film a significant pre-sales price, according to CJ. The film stars young, popular actor Won Bin (Taegukgi) with TV veteran Kim Hye-ja who plays a mother on a desperate mission to ...

  • Fortissimo announces pre-market sales on Gigantic, Food Inc

    5-Nov-2008

    Fortissimo Films today announced a raft of pre-market sales to major territories, including Matt Aselton's Gigantic starring Paul Dano and Zooey Deschanel to BIM Distribuzione for Italy. Robert Kenner's food industry expose, Food, Inc. which saw its international premiere at Toronto, was picked up by Svensk Filmindustri for Scandinavia, United King Film Distribution for Israel, CMC Entertainment ...

  • Showbox takes on Ski Jump, library, from KM Culture

    4-Nov-2008

    Korea's Showbox Mediaplex has picked up KM Culture's upcoming sports action film Ski Jump (tentative title) directed by Kim Yong-hwa, who previously directed the hit 200 Pounds Beauty. Showbox has also made a deal to handle all KM Culture's upcoming and library titles for international sales, which include 200 Pounds Beauty and

  • AFM buzz - South Korea

    31-Oct-2008

    The South Korean investment/production bubble has popped and the local industry is suffering from the after-effects of an injection of too much blind and eager money into the sector. But the few new films that have managed to struggle through are worth checking out.

  • KOFIC unveils Korean film industry rescue package

    27-Oct-2008

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced a plan to revitalise the ailing local film industry, starting with the creation of film funds worth a combined $55.5m - including a $3.4m fund for international co-productions and another of the same amount for 'diversity films' (ie arthouse films).

  • TIFFCOM wraps successful edition despite competition

    24-Oct-2008

    Tokyo's TIFFCOM (Oct 22-24) wrapped Friday night with delegates agreeing the market was good for meetings involving Japanese counterparts, and was getting bigger and better.

  • Canada's Evokative picks up Korean drama Crying Fist

    23-Oct-2008

    Evokative Films has picked up Canadian rights to Ryoo Seung-wan's boxer drama Crying Fist, following negotiations at the recent Asian Film Market in Pusan.

  • TIFFCOM: Asia strives for regional, multi-platform content

    23-Oct-2008

    Asian territories need to work together to create content that can work across national borders and different distribution platforms, said delegates at a TIFFCOM seminar organised by UniJapan and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC).

  • Taiwan's Cape No. 7 scoops Golden Orchid in Hawaii

    15-Oct-2008

    The 28th Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) has awarded its Halekulani Golden Orchid Award for best narrative feature to Taiwanese comedy Cape No. 7, directed by Wei Te-Sheng.

  • Korea's Fine Cut sells ET, Beastie Boys to Japan

    15-Oct-2008

    South Korea's Fine Cut has closed a slew of deals in the aftermath of Pusan's Asian Film Market, led by recently-released comedy Our School's E.T., directed by K.C. Park (She's On Duty), which sold to Fine Films for Japan.

  • Scarecrows, Naked Of Defenses pick up Pusan awards

    10-Oct-2008

    The 13th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) wraps tonight (Oct 10) with the top New Currents Award going ex aequo to Roh Gyeong-tae's Land Of Scarecrows and Masahide Ichii's Naked Of Defenses.

  • Festival talk - Tokyo at the cutting edge

    10-Oct-2008

    Which festivals do you particularly rate and enjoy'

  • Tiffcom - Autumn window for Japanese productions

    10-Oct-2008

    Although it falls in a crowded autumn calendar between Toronto, Pusan, Mipcom and AFM, Tiffcom is still a good place to source increasingly strong Japanese content such as manga and animations, as well as films for remakes, TV dramas and music properties.

  • KOFIC chairman declares Korean film industry in crisis

    6-Oct-2008

    At the Korean Film Industry: Status And Vision conference over the weekend in Pusan, Korean Film Council (KOFIC) chairman Kang Han-sup took fire as he proclaimed the local industry in a 'great depression' while refusing to speak upon any detailed plans for overcoming the crisis.

  • Mirovision sells remake rights to Driving With My Wife's Lover

    6-Oct-2008

    South Korea's Mirovision has announced the sale of US remake rights for Kim Tai-sik's Driving With My Wife's Lover to Circle of Confusion at Pusan's Asian Film Market.

  • Zhang Ziyi to star in China-Korea co-production

    5-Oct-2008

    Zhang Ziyi is set to star in a big-budget romantic comedy, Sophie's Revenge, which is being made as a China-South Korea co-production. The Chinese-language film will be shot entirely in China with a local director.

  • CJ scores further sales on The Good, The Bad, The Weird

    5-Oct-2008

    CJ Entertainment has announced a raft of sales from the Asian Film Market in Pusan.

  • Pusan opens with fanfare but mourns death of local star

    2-Oct-2008

    The 13th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) opened tonight (Oct 2) at the Outdoor Theatre of the Haeundae Yachting Center with fireworks and fanfare, a star-studded red carpet, opening film Gift To Stalin and an announcement of a death and an absence.

  • Asian Film Finance: Asia opens up

    2-Oct-2008

    How can international projects access the region's slowly increasingnumbers of subsidies and incentives' JEAN NOH explores the key entrypointsFilm industries in Asia are comparatively young and less developed than their Western counterparts, where government subsidies and tax incentives are available more readily.Therefore the major reasons for shooting in Asia have usually had more to do with tapping into growth markets ...

  • Asia Film Finance: Korea opportunities

    2-Oct-2008

    Now the local bubble has burst, Korean funds are starting to invest in foreign films. JEAN NOH reportsInthe late 1990s, South Korea's government came to the realisation thatit takes a comparatively vast number of Hyundai car exports to equalthe profits of a single Hollywood hit. Economic motivation to createemployment, coupled with a cultural policy to develop national cinema,spurred the government to create several film funds ...

  • Asian Film Finance: Korea opportunities

    2-Oct-2008

    Now the local bubble has burst, Korean funds are starting to invest in foreign films. JEAN NOH reportsIn the late 1990s, South Korea's government came to the realisation that it takes a comparatively vast number of Hyundai car exports to equal the profits of a single Hollywood hit. Economic motivation to create employment, coupled with a cultural policy to develop national cinema, spurred the government to create several film funds ...

  • 2-Oct-2008

    How can international projects access the region's slowly increasingnumbers of subsidies and incentives' JEAN NOH explores the key entrypointsFilmindustries in Asia are comparatively young and less developed thantheir Western counterparts, where government subsidies and taxincentives are available more readily.Therefore the major reasons for shooting in Asia have usually had more to do with tapping into growth ...

  • Madman takes Oz rights to The Good, The Bad, The Weird

    2-Oct-2008

    Leading Korean distributor CJ Entertainment has announced the sale of the international version of Kim Jee-woon's The Good, The Bad, The Weird to Madman for Australia.

  • Eleven Arts indulges in Daytime Drinking

    30-Sep-2008

    Ahead of the upcoming Asian Film Market, South Korea's Fine Cut has announced deals for Toronto Discovery section film Daytime Drinking, which sold to Eleven Arts for North America, and horror film Hansel And Gretel, which went to Terracota Media for the UK and MFA+ Distribution for Germany and Austria.

  • South Korea, New Zealand sign co-production treaty

    30-Sep-2008

    South Korea and New Zealand have signed a co-production treaty that will allow films from both countries to enjoy the same benefits for financing, incentives and support programmes.

  • Korea's Gwangju Citygets promotionboost from October,Metafive

    29-Sep-2008

    Hong Kong-based October Pictures and Korean visual effects company Metafive Art, Science And Magic have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOU) with South Korea's Gwangju Metropolitan City to promote Gwangju as an Asian hub for international CGI projects.

  • Pusan tips Korean producers' projects, co-production conference

    28-Sep-2008

    Pusan's Asian Film Market has announced five projects for its Korean Producers In Focus (KPIF) and events for the Busan 2008 International Co-production Conference, in partnership with the Producers Guild of Korea (PGK).

  • Interview: Pusan festival director Kim Dong-ho

    26-Sep-2008

    Which festivals do you enjoy'

  • Profile: Pusan Promotion Plan

    26-Sep-2008

    The Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) co-production market has long been one of the main draws at Pusan. This year it is showcasing 30 projects from 17 countries (the Co-production PRO, launched last year, has been absorbed into PPP).

  • Pusan Special: Asia's Sundance'

    26-Sep-2008

    Is Pusan becoming the Sundance Film Festival of Asia' South Korea's leading film event certainly takes pride in showcasing independent discoveries from the region.The Hong Kong International Film Festival and Filmart in April have the Chinese-language market covered, and next month's Tokyo International Film Festival and Tiffcom, although growing in clout, are firmly rooted in the local Japanese market.

  • Pusan's Asian Film Market to host Asian Film Funds Forum

    23-Sep-2008

    The Pusan International Film Festival's 3rd Asian Film Market will be holding a three-day film financing event, the Asian Film Funds Forum (Oct 3-5), which is being co-hosted by Screen International.

  • Son quits Show East to launch M-Line Distribution

    23-Sep-2008

    South Korean film company Show East's head of international business Michelle Son has left to launch a new sales outfit, M-Line Distribution.

  • Fine Cut's Hansel And Gretel heads to Canada

    12-Sep-2008

    Canadian genre film distributor Evokative Films has picked up local rights for Korean horror film Hansel And Gretel from Fine Cut.

  • Kazakhstan's Gift To Stalin to open Pusan film festival

    10-Sep-2008

    The 13th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) will be presenting a record 315 films this year from 60 countries, with a total of 85 world and 48 international premieres.

  • Karina to head Pusan's New Currents Award jury

    4-Sep-2008

    The 13th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced its juries for the New Currents Award and Wide Angle awards.

  • BIFCOM's Film Policy Plus to discuss Asian incentives

    3-Sep-2008

    The Busan Film Commission (BFC) has announced the inaugural Film Policy Plus (FPP), an Asia Pacific film policy forum for high-level policymakers and industry professionals to be held Oct 4-5 during the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) and concurrent Asian Film Market's BIFCOM.

  • Fine Cut picks up Lee Chang-dong's Poetry

    2-Sep-2008

    South Korea's Fine Cut has picked up worldwide sales rights for Lee Chang-dong's upcoming film, tentatively titled Poetry.

  • Survival Song takes Red Chameleon award at CinDi fest

    27-Aug-2008

    The 2nd Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival (CinDi) closed with a screening of Yu Guangyi's Survival Song, which won the International Directors Jury's Red Chameleon award yesterday (Aug 26).

  • PIFF names Gulnara Sarsenova as Asian Filmmaker of the Year

    21-Aug-2008

    The 13th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced that Gulnara Sarsenova from Kazakhstan will be the recipient of its Asian Filmmaker of the Year award.

  • Chung exits Taewon to launch non-listed production outfit

    20-Aug-2008

    Korean producer Chung Tae-Won has sold his shares in KOSDAQ-listed production company, Taewon Entertainment, and is launching a new production outfit, Taewon Productions.

  • Pusan Promotion Plan reveals line-up of 30 projects

    19-Aug-2008

    The 11th Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) has announcedthe official line-up for this year's projects market - 30 projects from 17 countries selected from 200 submissions. The line-up includes work from China's Zhang Yuan, Japan's Sabu and Chinese-Korean filmmaker Zhang Lu.

  • Showbox pre-sells Rough Cut to Japan's Pony Canyon

    13-Aug-2008

    Korean sales agent Showbox has pre-sold action film Rough Cut to Pony Canyon for Japan.

  • Pusan's Asian Cinema Fund awards funding to 27 projects

    13-Aug-2008

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) Committee has announced the 27 films selected to receive backing from the Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) this year.

  • Gyeonggito supportUS-Korea ventures with $100m fund

    13-Aug-2008

    South Korea's Gyeonggi province has launched an entertainment initiative to promote co-ventures with Hollywood, which includes a $100m fund for films, animation and games projects with global appeal.

  • KOFIC submits Crossing as Korea's Oscar entry

    8-Aug-2008

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced North Korean refugee drama Crossing as its entry to the 81st Academy Awards best foreign-language film nominations.

  • KOFIC awards p&a cash to Dutch, Hong Kong distributors

    6-Aug-2008

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced that its second P&A Fund for Korean Films Abroad will be awarded to Stichting Nederlands Filmmuseum and Hong Kong's Golden Scene to distribute five films in total, including Secret Sunshine and The Chaser.

  • Hong Sang-soo starts shooting low-budget HD film

    6-Aug-2008

    Korean auteur director Hong Sang-soo has commenced shooting his ninth film, which is a high-definition (HD) project with a budget of less than $100,000, according to his production house Jeonwonsa.

  • KTH launches legal download service Fine Movie

    4-Aug-2008

    South Korean internet portal, gaming service and contents provider KTH has announced deals with several major webhard and P2P sites to launch a legal download service called Fine Movie (FM).

  • Korea's constitutional court rules against restricted rating

    31-Jul-2008

    South Korea's Constitutional Court has ruled against the Korea Media Rating Board's 'Restricted' classification, effectively compelling the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to create a revised law proposal for the legislative body.

  • Korean government to introduce completion bond scheme

    29-Jul-2008

    The South Korean government has announced plans for an inaugural completion bond system in order to back the development of local cultural content.

  • SK Telecom, Hanaro invest in new production fund

    29-Jul-2008

    South Korean mobile telecommunications operator SK Telecom, and its recently acquired subsidiary Hanaro Telecom, are investing $10m in the Benex Culture Contents Investment Fund.

  • Seoul's CinDi fest increases prize money, unveils line-up

    28-Jul-2008

    The 2nd Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival (CinDi 2008) has announced its full line-up which will include competition films from last year's top award-winners Yu Guangyi and Woo Ming Jin - each bringing their second and third films Survival Song and Days Of The Turquoise Sky, respectively.

  • Chaser takes top awards at Korea's PiFan fest

    28-Jul-2008

    The 11th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) awarded Na Hong-jin's serial murderer thriller The Chaser with its top Best of Puchon prize and the European Federation of Fantastic Films (EFFF) Asian Award. The film also took best actress for Seo Young-hee.

  • Korean film exportsup by37% in first half of 2008

    24-Jul-2008

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) hasreported local box office and export figures for the first half of the year, which show that film exports bounced up by 37% to $10.2m, after steep declines since 2005.

  • PiFan's genre projects market has successful first edition

    23-Jul-2008

    The Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF)'s inaugural projects marketwrapped today (July 23), with participants agreeing that it had been an 'energy cluster' of an event.

  • The Good, The Bad sprints past two million admissions

    21-Jul-2008

    Leading Korean distributor CJ Entertainment has announced that Kim Jee-woon's Oriental Western The Good, The Bad, The Weird has had a smash opening with 2,186,000 admissions on 821 screens as of this morning (July 21).

  • North Korean refugee drama crosses into Japan

    16-Jul-2008

    South Korean distributor/investor Big House Vantage Holdings has announced the sale of North Korean refugee film Crossing to Cinequanon for Japan.

  • Korea's Jecheon fest launches competition, support programme

    16-Jul-2008

    South Korea 's 4th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF) has announced the line-up for its inaugural competition section and a new pre-production support programme for music films.

  • IFC Films picks up US rights toThe Good, The Bad, The Weird

    16-Jul-2008

    Major Korean distributor CJ Entertainment has sold Kim Jee-woon's self-described 'Oriental Western' The Good, The Bad, The Weird to IFC Films for the US.

  • Korean film market share slides to 38% in first half

    7-Jul-2008

    Leading South Korean exhibitor CJ CGV has reported first half statistics that bring local film market share to 37.6% - the lowest since 28.4% in 2000 and down 9.7% from last year.

  • Chaser sprints off with top awards at Korea's Grand Bells

    29-Jun-2008

    Na Hong-jin's The Chaser scooped up six prizes at Korea's 45th Grand Bell Awards on Friday night (June 27), including three major awards for Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor for Kim Yoon-suk's performance

  • Korea's Chungeorahm announces Chinese sequel to The Host

    25-Jun-2008

    Korea's Chungeorahm Film, producer of Bong Joon-ho's The Host, has announced it will be co-producing a China-based sequel to the mutanthit with Chinese director Ning Hao's newly-established Stoneman Films.

  • NAFFgenre projects marketannounces full line-up andagenda

    25-Jun-2008

    The 12th Puchon International Film Festival (PiFan)'s newNetwork of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) has announced its full line-up and agenda,to run July 19-23, concurrent to the festival.

  • PiFan to open with Waltz With Bashir

    25-Jun-2008

    The 12th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) has announced its line-up and projects market agenda, with the festival to open with animated Cannes competition title Waltz With Bashir making its Asian premiere on July 18.

  • Five Korean webhards prosecuted for copyright infringement

    18-Jun-2008

    Five heads of Korean webhard (online storage) sites were arrested yesterday (June 17) by the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office for alleged copyright infringement.

  • Ji appointed as head of Korea Media Ratings Board

    12-Jun-2008

    The Korea Media Ratings Board has named Ji Myung-hyok as its new chairman for the next three years.

  • Korea, China, Japan producers call for integrated Asian market

    6-Jun-2008

    Held by Joongang Culture Media and Yonsei University's business school, the inaugural Asian Film Producer Forum took place yesterday (June 5) with leading producers Iseki Satoru (Assassin, The Battle Of Wits), Yu Dong, head of China's most prolific independent player Polybona Films, Peter Chan (The Warlords), Tcha Seung-jae, co-CEO of Sidus FNH, and Lee Jooick (The Battle Of Wits).

  • Sulwades into big-budget tsunamiproject Haeundae

    6-Jun-2008

    Top Korean actor Sul Kyoung-gu (Silmido) is set to star in the big-budget tsunami film Haeundae, directed by Yun Je-kyun (Miracle On 1st Street, My Boss, My Hero).

  • KOFICDevelopment Lab announces mentors and fellows

    5-Jun-2008

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC)'s Filmmakers' Development Lab (FDL) has confirmed its mentors, including Warner Brothers executive Lauren Craniotes, and five fellows who will be developing their English-language projects for presentation at the IFP's Independent Film Week in New York and the Asian Film Market in Pusan.

  • Asia Culture Technology Investment launches $15m content fund

    4-Jun-2008

    Korean venture capital firm Asia Culture Technology Investment (ACTI) has completed a $15m fund for films, TV drama series, performing arts, animation, and games.

  • CJ Entertainment wraps further Good Cannes deals

    3-Jun-2008

    South Korea's CJ Entertainment has announced a raft of further deals from a busyCannes, led by the UK deal for Kim Jee-woon's 'Oriental Western' The Good, The Bad, The Weird to Icon Film Distribution.

  • Hato set sail on Korea-Japan co-production Boat

    3-Jun-2008

    South Korea's Kraze Pictures has announced a co-production Boat with Japan's IMJ Entertainment to star Ha Jung-woo from recent Cannes thriller The Chaser and Satoshi Tsumabuki from arthouse favorite Josee, The Tiger And The Fish.

  • Kang to head KOFIC

    2-Jun-2008

    South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has appointed Kang Han-sup as the new chairman of the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).

  • CM Entertainment takes Darabont thriller and rom-com

    22-May-2008

    South Korean buyer CM Entertainment has snapped up two films from LA-based production and sales company The Film Department - serial killer thriller Law Abiding Citizen and rom-com The Rebound.'A lot of buyers from our territory were interested. Thrillers are the trend in Korea these days, and we snapped up Law Abiding Citizen on that basis, as well as on ...

  • CJ Entertainment sells The Good, The Bad, And The Weird

    22-May-2008

    Korean sales agent CJ Entertainment has reported sales on its Out of Competition film The Good, The Bad, And The Weird, directed by Kim Jee-woon. The film had its first screening yesterday in the market and sold to Splendid for Germany and Benelux. Deals to other Asian territories and the UK are pending.

  • Toei tastes success with Flavour Of Happiness

    22-May-2008

    Japanese seller Toei has closed a slate of deals including Flavour Of Happiness to Zootrope Films for France and Emphasis for Hong Kong. The film stars Tatsuya Fuji (Bright Future) as an aging Chinese chef and Miki Nakatani (Memories of Matsuko) as the office lady who frequents his small restaurant and eventually becomes his apprentice. ...

  • Fine Cut/Cineclick does roaring sales on Leonera

    21-May-2008

    Fine Cut / Cineclick has closed a slew of deals starting with Competition film Leonera, (Lion's Den), to Halcyon for the UK, MFA+ for Germany, Alta Classics for Spain, Ad ZVitam for France, A-Film for Benelux, and AMA for Greece. Fine Cut is currently in discussions with buyers from Italy, Taiwan, and US companies. Midnight Screening thriller The Chaser has also sold to MFA+ for Germany, ...

  • Typhoon whips up pre-sales

    21-May-2008

    Japan's Nippon Television Network Corp. (NTV) has done a raft of pre-sales on Takashi Kaneshiro starrer K-20 and typhoon disaster film 252. K-20 sold to Tiberius for Germany, Festive Film for Singapore, and M Pictures for Thailand. Based on the original story by Kitamura Soh, K-20 featured Kaneshiro as a legendary phantom thief with 20 faces. Matsu Takako and Nakamura Toru also star.The film is being directed ...

  • Buyers wake up to Kim Ki-duk's Dream

    21-May-2008

    Showbox has clinched a slew of deals headed up by Kim Ki-duk's Dream, selling to Film Sans Frontiers for France, California Filmes for Brazil, Spentzos for Greece, CP Digital for Russia, Golden Scene for Hong Kong, and Lietuvos Kinas for the Baltics.

  • CJ purrs with deals on Gu Gu, The Cat

    21-May-2008

    Korean sales company CJ Entertainment has closed a flurry of deals led by its most recent international pick-up, Japanese drama Gu Gu, The Cat, directed by Inudou Isshin (La Maison De Himiko) and starring Koizumi Kyoko (Bayside Shakedown) and Ueno Juri (Josee, The Tiger, And The Fish).

  • Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival launches market

    19-May-2008

    Korea's Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) is launching a projects market specifically for genre films during its upcoming 12th edition (July 18 - 27).Dubbed the Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF), Pifan's market is modeled on Rotterdam's Cinemart and Pusan's PPP and will run July 19 - 23.NAFF will comprise four parts: the It Project - a program for films in all stages of production to match up with co-producers and financiers. It will run ...

  • Showbox Mediaplex takes cut of $1.5m Jang Hun action film

    15-May-2008

    Korean sales company Showbox Mediaplex has picked up action film Rough Cut (working title) to be directed by latest Kim Ki-duk protege Jang Hun.

  • Lotte Cinema enters Vietnamese exhibition market

    14-May-2008

    South Korea's Lotte Cinema, affiliate of major local distributor Lotte Entertainment, has announced that it has become the first major Korean multiplex owner to buy into the Vietnamese exhibition market.

  • Argentinian film steals top prize at Jeonju

    10-May-2008

    Matias Pineiro's Argentine film The Stolen Man picked up the $10,000 top Woosuk Award at Korea's 9th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF).

  • South Korea - Korea starts to act global

    9-May-2008

    Even in the absence of a film the size of Oldboy or The Host, Korean sellers are discovering they are hardly back to square one.

  • South Korea - Weeping all the way to the bank

    9-May-2008

    An impressive 411 non-Korean films received certification from South Korea's Media Ratings Board for local release in 2007, compared with only 293 in 2006. But while some might see this as the flood gates opening to imports, local distributors believe it is just a temporary measure to fill space at the cinemas.

  • Chungmuro fest partners with Cannes Directors' Fortnight

    8-May-2008

    Korea's 2nd Chungmuro International Film Festival In Seoul (CHIFFS) has announced an inaugural competition section angled at 'classics of the future', as well as a special retrospective partnered with Cannes ' Directors Fortnight celebrating 40 years of the sidebar's films.

  • SPTI signs day-and-date VoD deal with KT Corp

    28-Apr-2008

    Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has signed a day-and-date video-on-demand (VoD) licensing deal with South Korea's KT Corporation (KT). Films covered by the deal willbe shownon KT's internet protocol TV (IPTV) service MegaTV on the same day as local home video/DVD release.

  • Korean admissions drop by 10% in first quarter

    21-Apr-2008

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced first quarter figures that show an estimated 10% drop in admissions year-on-year. South Korea saw 35.58 million admissions to the tune of $233.13m (KW231.2bn) from Jan 1- March 31, 2008.

  • Mediaplex to shut down Motion 101 production arm

    14-Apr-2008

    Major Korean entertainment company Mediaplex is set to close down its upstart production arm Motion 101, giving rise to speculation regarding its parent company Orion Group's future intentions for the film business.

  • Hanhwa launches second fund as Korean IPTV market hots up

    11-Apr-2008

    Hanhwa's second Daisy Cultural Content Investment Fund, specialising in content such as films, animation and performances, will invest $10.2m (KW10bn) over five years.

  • Korea Telecom, Softbank launch $41m content fund

    7-Apr-2008

    Korea Telecom (KT) and Japanese IT investment company Softbank have announced a $41m (KW40bn) content fund called the KT Global New Media Investment Fund.

  • Jeonju to kick off ninth edition with Kunitoshi's The Kiss

    2-Apr-2008

    Korea's Jeonju International Film Festival announced the line-up for its ninth edition, to open with the international premiere of The Kiss, by Manda Kunitoshi (The Tunnel, Unloved) from Japan.The fest will close with the world premiere of the omnibus If You Were Me 4, produced by the National Human Rights Commission with directors Lee Hyeon-seung (Il Mare), ...

  • Ten Korean cultural orgs launch federation

    27-Mar-2008

    Led by the Korean Film Producers' Association (KFPA), ten cultural content-related organisations gathered to launch the Korea Federation of Culture Industries in Seoul today, for the strategic development of their industries.

  • Studio 2.0 seals deals on Epitaph, Highway Star

    26-Mar-2008

    Korean sales agent Studio 2.0 has announced a slew of deals from Filmart led by Hong Kong 's Celestial Movies Channel picking up four titles including recent horror hit Epitaph and romantic comedy Highway Star.

  • Jeonju fest launches work in progress section

    26-Mar-2008

    Korea's Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) is launching a one-day showcase called 'Work In Progress' for independent films currently in production.

  • De Niro, Garcia and Choi on Hyun Jin's street

    19-Mar-2008

    Korean production company Hyun Jin Cinema has announced a $40m Japan-Korea-US co-production, Street of Dreams, about legendary Asian-American gangster Montana Joe to star Robert DeNiro, Andy Garcia, and Choi Min-soo.

  • Japan off blocks with Run! Run! Run!

    18-Mar-2008

    J-Pitch and UniJapan have represented five Japanese projectssupported by HAF, led by Run! Run! Run!, a Gaga Communications film to be directed by Hanawa Yukinari and produced by Hiromi Honoki.

  • Korea 's Activers sells Dream and Diary

    18-Mar-2008

    South Korean sales agent Activers has sold two Japanese films - You Are My Dream and 26 Years Diary to Ram Indo for Singapore and Malaysia.

  • NTV seeks pre-sales on manga story

    18-Mar-2008

    Nippon Television Network (NTV) is pre-selling Twentieth Century Boys, a three-part film based on Naoki Urasawa's popular manga, at Hong Kong's Filmart.The story concerns Kenji and his friends who have to combat the mysterious realisation of a 'world destruction plan' they had playfully made up as children.Buyers flew in to Filmart to check out an exclusive screening of clips today from the first episode which is due out August 31st.

  • Theron plots return of Lady Vengeance

    17-Mar-2008

    Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron is to produce and star in a remake of Korean director Park Chan-wook's hit thriller Sympathy For Lady Vengeance.

  • Activers brings Korean classics to market

    17-Mar-2008

    South Korean sales agent Activers Entertainment is debuting a classics library of Korean films at Filmart.

  • UniKorea picks up Majidi's Sparrows from Fortissimo

    17-Mar-2008

    Fortissimo Film Sales has sold Majid Majidi's Iranian film The Song Of Sparrows (Avaze Gonjeshk-ha) to UniKorea.Fortissimo's senior vice president of sales & acquisitions Winnie Lau brokered the deal with Unikorea acquisitions exec Yura Kwon.Fortissimo picked up worldwide rights to the film directly after this year's Berlinale where it won the Silver Bear for Best Actor for Reza Najie.

  • Oldboy star Yoo says Hello to rom-com

    16-Mar-2008

    Oldboy villain Yoo Ji-tae is to star in M&FC's tentatively titled Hello, Schoolgirl, a romantic comedy based on a hugely popular South Korean manga by Kang Full.

  • Terminator finds Korean future with Mars

    16-Mar-2008

    South Korea's Mars Entertainment has made a number of acquisitions including a deal for The Halcyon Company's Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins.

  • Guard posts pre-sales to UK and Thailand

    16-Mar-2008

    South Korea's Showbox Mediaplex has pre-sold mystery thriller The Guard Post to the UK's Showbox and J-Bics for Thailand.

  • Lotte's Show goes on to Germany

    16-Mar-2008

    South Korea's Lotte Entertainment has sold gangster drama The Show Must Go On to Splendid Film for Germany.

  • Han Yan film first on Fantasy slate

    16-Mar-2008

    Beijing-based Fantasy Pictures Entertainment has moved into production business with a mission to develop young generation film-makers.

  • Head of KOFIC An Cheong-sook resigns

    6-Mar-2008

    Chairperson of the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) An Cheong-sook has tendered her resignation to newly appointed minister of Culture, Sports & Tourism Yu In-Chon, citing personal reasons.

  • Fine Cut seals The Chaser remake deal with Warner Bros

    6-Mar-2008

    Korea's Fine Cut has announced the $1m sale of remake rights for Na Hong-jin's thriller The Chaser to Warner Brothers.

  • Fine Cut seals slew of deals for The Chaser, Hansel And Gretel

    19-Feb-2008

    Seoul-based sales agent Suh Young-joo's newly launched Fine Cut has announced a raft of deals from the European Film Market (EFM).

  • Buyers gobble up Showeast's Le Grand Chef

    18-Feb-2008

    South Korean sales company Showeast has announced a raft of deals on Le Grand Chef post-EFM.

  • Rain to return to Berlin for Wachowski Brothers

    13-Feb-2008

    Pan-Asian mega star Rain (aka Jung Ji-hoon) is set to star in the Wachowski Brothers' next film Ninja Assassin which is set to shoot in Berlin this year. Joel Silver is attached as producer on the Warner Brothers film.

  • Seven Days director Won to tackle Robot Taekwon V

    13-Feb-2008

    Fresh off the success of kidnap thriller Seven Days - to which Summit Entertainment recently acquired remake rights - Korean director Won Shin-yeon is gearing up to work on a live-action version of iconic Korean animation Robot Taekwon V.

  • Seven Days director Won to tackle Robot Taekwon V

    13-Feb-2008

    Fresh off the success of kidnap thriller Seven Days - to which Summit Entertainment recently acquired remake rights - Korean director Won Shin-yeon is gearing up to work on a live-action version of iconic Korean animation Robot Taekwon V.

  • Korea's Sponge enters sales with Beautiful, Chungking

    7-Feb-2008

    Major South Korean arthouse distributor Sponge Entertainment is launching international sales at the European Film Market (EFM) with Panorama title Beautiful - directed by Kim Ki-duk protege Juhn Jaihong - and Cannes and Berlin director Zhang Lu's upcoming Chungking.

  • Pusanfestival co-directors to oversee Asian Film Market

    5-Feb-2008

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced that festival co-directors Kim Dong-ho and Lee Yong-kwan will now head up the Asian Film Market.

  • Golden Network signs seven-picture deal with Sidus FNH

    4-Feb-2008

    Hong Kong-based sales agent Golden Network Asia has signed a deal with major South Korean production house and start-up local distributor Sidus FNH for worldwide rights excluding Korea to seven pictures.

  • Korea's Showbox sells M, Happiness to Japan

    3-Feb-2008

    South Korean distributor Showbox Mediaplex has announced the sales of director Hur Jin-ho's Happiness and Lee Myung-se's M to Avex for Japan.

  • Jeonju unveils African trio for digital shorts project

    31-Jan-2008

    South Korea's Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) has announced three African directors - Idrissa Ouedraogo, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun and Nacer Khemir - for its Jeonju Digital Project 2008, the festival's trademark shorts troika showcase.

  • Korean admissions up by 3.5% according to KOFIC

    30-Jan-2008

    Korean admissions increased by 3.5% to 158.8 million in 2007, according toa year-end report by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), contradicting earlier figures released by exhibitor CJ CGV which estimated a 5.5% dip in admissions.

  • Showbox picks up world rights to Kim's Dream

    28-Jan-2008

    Seoul-based distributor/investor Showbox Mediaplex has picked up worldwide sales rights excluding Japan for celebrated Korean director Kim Ki-duk’s upcoming film Dream.

  • Korea Fair Trade Commission clamps down on local majors

    16-Jan-2008

    The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) today announced it is clamping down on major multiplexes and distribution companies that are using their industry positions to end film releases early, and for altering profit-sharing rates.

  • In focus - Korea on the World Stage

    11-Jan-2008

    As much as the Korean film industry is dependent on theatrical profits, for several years it has also anticipated making money back on films from sales abroad - literally sending everything it produces to be sold internationally.

  • South Korea - The profitability factor

    11-Jan-2008

    South Korea is no stranger to talk of a crisis in the film industry, even in the midst of years of swollen admissions, record-breaking local hits and rising exports.

  • The home run

    11-Jan-2008

    As communist Vietnam opens up to foreign and diaspora film-makers, the state-driven local film industry is looking to benefit from exposure to foreign film crews and investment. Yet ghosts remain and US directors are often refused entry on arrival. Not so The Rebel director Charlie Nguyen, who grew up in California after his family emigrated from Vietnam following the fall of Saigon in 1975.

  • Bae TV series set for Korean theatrical release

    10-Jan-2008

    Korea's most expensive television series, Taewangsashin-gi, aka The Four Guardian Gods Of The King, featuring Korean Wave mega-star Bae Yong-joon, is due to hit local theatres in May.

  • Korean admissions down for first time inadecade

    7-Jan-2008

    Leading South Korean exhibitor CJ CGV has announced its year-end statistics for 2007, with nationwide admissions taking a dip for the first time in 11 years. Total admissions numbered 157,525,412, down 5.5% since 2006, but still the second highest on record.

  • Kim to replace Shin as CJ international chief

    20-Dec-2007

    Leading Korean investor/distributor CJ Entertainment has announced that head of International Business, David Shin, has stepped down.

  • KOFIC and KEIC move toward new film insurance plan

    6-Dec-2007

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) and the Korea Export Insurance Corporation (KEIC) today signed an memorandum of understanding (MOU) towards the creation of a Cultural Export Insurance specifically for films.

  • Korea's Doosabu pacts with Polygon Entertainment

    5-Dec-2007

    Korea's Doosabu Film has announced a deal for two effects-laden films with US-based Polygon Entertainment, headed by former ILM computer graphics supervisor Hans Uhlig.

  • Fox, Vertigo line up untitled thriller to shoot in Seoul

    3-Dec-2007

    Producers Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment and Bill Choi and Peter Kiernan of Management 360 are in Seoul scouting locations for an as-yet-untitled LA-cop-goes-to-Seoul project.

  • The Show Must Go On takes best film award at Korea's Blue Dragons

    26-Nov-2007

    Han Jae-rim's gangster drama The Show Must Go On nabbed Best Film and Best Leading Actor for Song Kang-ho at Korea's Blue Dragon Awards in Seoul on Friday.Hur Jin-ho picked up the Best Director award for his melodrama Happiness which portrays a love story between two terminally ill patients, starring Lim Soo-jun and Hwang Jung-min.Jeon Do-yeon took Best Actress for her performance ...

  • Park Kwang-su to step down as head of Asian Film Market

    9-Nov-2007

    Asian Film Market head Park Kwang-su is to step down from his position before the next edition.

  • Korea's CJ CGV, Lotte join forces for d-cinema

    9-Nov-2007

    Leading Korean exhibitors CJ CGV and Lotte Cinema are setting up a 50:50 joint venture called D-cinema Korea to increase the use of digital projection in theatres.

  • Jang to direct Korean remake of A Better Tomorrow

    4-Nov-2007

    Veteran Korean filmmaker Jang Hyun-soo is attached to direct the Korean remake of John Woo's classic 1980s Hong Kong action film A Better Tomorrow.

  • Showbox snaps up Konchalovsky's Nutcracker

    1-Nov-2007

    Major Korean distributor Showbox Mediaplex has bought Andrei Konchalovsky's Nutcracker: The True Story from Odyssey Entertainment.

  • Home Song Stories wins top prize at Hawaii fest

    26-Oct-2007

    The 27th Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) presented its awards today with the Golden Orchid for best narrative feature going to Tony Ayres' The Home Song Stories.

  • Crossing joins Cineclick Asia's multinational slate

    26-Oct-2007

    Seoul-based sales agent Cineclick Asia has picked up Crossing, a film from Volcano High director Kim Tae-kyun, for its multinational AFM slate.

  • Hawaii film fest opens with Flight Of The Red Balloon

    22-Oct-2007

    The 27th Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) kicked off its 11-day programme with Hou Hsiao Hsien's The Flight Of The Red Balloon on Oct 18.

  • PUSAN: New Currents Awards presented to three films

    12-Oct-2007

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF)gave awards tothree films in its New Currents section of up-and-coming Asian directors, which is the only competitive section of the festival.

  • PUSAN: Cineclick sells package to Middle East

    11-Oct-2007

    Seoul-based sales agent Cineclick Asia has announced a flurry of sales to three territories - the Middle East, Japan and Hungary - at the Asian Film Market, headlined by Kim Ki-duk's Breath, which looks set to be the first Korean film theatrically released in the Arab regions.

  • PUSAN: CJ strikes four-film deal with Splendid

    9-Oct-2007

    In the midst of a subdued Asian Film Market, Seoul-based distributor CJ Entertainment has clinched a four-film deal with Splendid Film for German-speaking territories and the Benelux.

  • PUSAN: b.o.m. to handle sales on Hong's Night And Day

    9-Oct-2007

    Renowned Korean arthouse director Hong Sang-soo (Woman Is the Future Of Man) wrapped production on his eighth film Night And Day last week (Oct 2), with major Korean production company b.o.m. Film Productions repping the film internationally.

  • PUSAN: Casting directors discuss cultural differences

    9-Oct-2007

    International casting directors, including Tokyo-based Yoko Narahashi and Susan Shopmaker from the US, talked about the differences in casting practices between their respective territories in a seminar at Pusan on Monday.

  • PUSAN: iHQ unveils Korea-Taiwan co-production Island

    8-Oct-2007

    Seoul-based sales agent iHQ has announced an English-language Korea-Taiwan co-production, Island, to be directed by Taiwan's Leste Chen (The Heirloom).

  • PUSAN: Motion 101 makes first strike with The Fist

    8-Oct-2007

    Showbox Mediaplex affiliate Motion 101 has announced its first production will be The Fist (working title) by Park Kwang-hyun, the director of 2005 hit Welcome To Dongmakgol.

  • PUSAN: Irving, Baek to star in Fire Circle's Hanji Box

    7-Oct-2007

    US actress Amy Irving is to star in the first US-Korea co-production to shoot in Seoul with funding and support from the Seoul Film Commission (SFC).

  • PUSAN: Asia Pacific Actors Network launches at PIFF

    5-Oct-2007

    The Asia Pacific Actors Network (APAN) saw its launch today (Oct 5) at the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF).

  • PUSAN: Busan City breaks ground on $35m post facility

    5-Oct-2007

    Marking the second day of the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), Busan Metropolitan City has broken ground for the Busan Post-Production Facility - to be built in the Centum City complex in Haeundae.

  • PUSAN: PIFF hasrain-soaked but star-studded opening

    5-Oct-2007

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) kicked off its 12th edition last night with a rain-soaked but star-studded audience and Feng Xiaogang's Assembly as opening film.

  • Cannes winner Jeon to star in low-budget Muttjin Haru

    1-Oct-2007

    Amid a flurry of offers after her Cannes Best Actress Award win for her performance in Secret Sunshine, top Korean actress Jeon Do-yeon has opted to star in Lee Yoon-ki's upcoming low-budget drama Muttjin Haru (which roughly translates to A Fine Day.)

  • Showbox, CM Entertainment team for Blueberry Nights

    30-Sep-2007

    Major Korean distributor Showbox Mediaplex has acquired Wong Kar-wai's My Blueberry Nights for South Korea, in tandem with CM Entertainment, formerly known as Inmoa Entertainment.

  • Jun returns to Korean film with Chung's Superman

    28-Sep-2007

    Pan-Asian Korean star Gianna Jun (My Sassy Girl), formerly known as Jun Ji-hyun, is making her local comeback in the upcoming film from Chung Yoon-chul, director of the hit Marathon.

  • CJ, China Film to co-produce Cheung's Tangka

    28-Sep-2007

    Leading Korean investor/distributor CJ Entertainment has announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China 's largest film company, China Film Group, to co-produce Tibet-set drama Tangka.

  • PUSAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

    28-Sep-2007

    The Pusan International Film Festival (Piff), Asia's most dynamic cinema showcase, is growing up fast. Celebrating its 12th edition this year, it is expanding broadly with new events and initiatives, while also increasing the premieres in its main sections. A record 92 films (out of 275 films from 64 countries) in this year's line-up are world or international premieres.

  • PUSAN PROGRAMMER PICKS

    28-Sep-2007

    LEE SANG-YONG, KOREAN CINEMA PROGRAMMER

  • Q&A WITH FESTIVAL CO-DIRECTOR LEE YONG KWAN

    28-Sep-2007

    JEAN NOH, SCREEN INTERNATIONAL: You are one of PIFF's founding members. How did it all start'

  • THE FACE OF PUSAN

    28-Sep-2007

    One of the most beloved and colourful figures in the South Korean industry, Kim Dong-ho can take some of the credit for putting Korean cinema on the international map.

  • Bong Joon-ho leads campaign against online piracy

    20-Sep-2007

    Led by The Host director Bong Joon-ho and the Korean Directors' Network, 13 film-related organisations yesterday in Seoul declared the launch of a campaign against illegal film downloads.

  • Asian Film Market unveils Star Summit Asia line-up

    19-Sep-2007

    As part of the Pusan International Film Festival's Asian Film Market, Star Summit Asia has selected 14 actors to participate in the second year of the talent showcase (Oct 8 -11).

  • Korea selectsSecret Sunshine as foreign-language Oscar entry

    11-Sep-2007

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has chosen Lee Chang-dong's Secret Sunshine as South Korea 's submission to the Academy Awards' best foreign-language film category.

  • Asian Film Market launches mainstream financing event

    5-Sep-2007

    The Asian Film Market has announced participants and events for its upcoming sophomore edition - including the launch of Co-production PRO, a new international financing event.

  • Sony acquires US ancillary rights to D-War

    5-Sep-2007

    Shim Hyung-rae, director and producer of Korean fantasy actioner D-War, has announced a deal with Sony Pictures for US video, DVD and TV rights to the film.

  • Pusan boasts premiere-packed programme

    4-Sep-2007

    The 12th Pusan International Film Festival (Oct 4-12) has announced a 275 film line-up from 64 countries - with 193 world, international or Asian premieres.

  • Pusan to open with Assembly, close with Evangelion

    29-Aug-2007

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced that the world premiere of mainland Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's Assembly will open this year's edition. The closing film will be Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone, directed by Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki and Masayuki.

  • Mehruji to head Pusan's New Currents jury

    28-Aug-2007

    The 12th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced the jury for its New Currents award, which will be headed by Iranian cineaste Darjush Mehruji (The Cow).

  • Cineclick Asia picks up Pang Ho-cheung's Exodus

    27-Aug-2007

    Korea-based sales agent Cineclick Asia is repping Hong Kong director Pang Ho-cheung's new thriller Exodus - recently announced in the Toronto and San Sebastian film festival line-ups.

  • China - Felling tales in the digital age

    24-Aug-2007

    In the winter of 2004, Yu Guangyi entered the snowy forests of Black Bear Valley to record the lives of some of China's last lumberjacks. He spent four months, shooting with a single Sony PD150, a documentary that captures the dangerous and arduous nature of their work as well as their traditions and camaraderie.

  • Bong Joon-ho begins shoot on his part of Tokyo omnibus

    23-Aug-2007

    The Host director Bong Joon-ho this week started shooting Shaking Tokyo, starring Japanese actress Aoi Yu as his segment of the multinational Tokyo omnibus.

  • Korea's nTorino scores $2m pre-sale to Japan

    22-Aug-2007

    Korean investor nTorino Corp has announced the $2m pre-sale of the film Sookmyung (original title) to Japan's Formula Entertainment.

  • Yang named as PIFF Asian Filmmaker of the Year

    22-Aug-2007

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has named the recently deceased Taiwanese director Edward Yang as Asian Filmmaker of the Year.

  • Pusan unveils slate of 27 projects to receive ACF backing

    22-Aug-2007

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced the 27 projects that will receive backing from its recently-established Asian Cinema Fund (ACF).

  • Pusan Promotion Plan selects 35 projects for 10th edition

    14-Aug-2007

    The Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) has announced the line-up for its tenth anniversary edition. 35 projects from 18 countries have made the final cut, out of more than 200 submissions.

  • Showbox boards Lee Jun-ik's Vietnam War drama

    1-Aug-2007

    Major Korean investor and distributor Showbox Mediaplex has signed with hit director Lee Jun-ik to back and distribute his upcoming Nimeun Mon Gotsae (original title), a $7.5m film set during the Vietnam War.

  • Korean ad agency Hancomm launches content fund

    31-Jul-2007

    Korean advertising agency Hancomm, a subsidiary of Korea 's 16th-ranked conglomerate Hanhwa Corp, has announced a $13m fund for cultural content - 70% of which will be used for films.

  • Korean film exports down by 57% in first six months

    31-Jul-2007

    Korean film exports in the first half of the year dropped by 57% compared to the same period in 2006, according to figures from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).

  • CinDi fest gives top prizes to Lumberjacks, Elephant

    30-Jul-2007

    The inaugural Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival (CinDi), which has a focus on discovering new Asian talent, closed July 27 with both the Directors' and Critics' juries giving the best film award jointly to the same two films - Yu Guangyi's The Last Lumberjacks and Woo Ming Jin's The Elephant And The Sea.

  • Korean film orgs pledge to co-operate as investment falls

    27-Jul-2007

    Ten Korean film industry organisations, headed by the Korean Film Producers' Association (KFPA), issued the 'Korean Film Industry's Great Compromise Declaration' in Seoul this week.

  • Japan's Avex signs on for Korean comedy Highway Star

    24-Jul-2007

    Korea 's Studio2.0 has sold musical comedy Highway Star to Avex Entertainment for Japan.

  • Korea's Sidus FNH to move into distribution

    23-Jul-2007

    Major Korean production house Sidus FNH has announced it will start distributing its own films late this year.

  • Lynch's Empire kicks off Korea's inaugural CinDi film festival

    23-Jul-2007

    The first Cinema Digital Film Festival (CinDi) opened on Friday (July 20) with a screening of David Lynch's Inland Empire.

  • Thai thriller 13 takes top prize at PiFan

    20-Jul-2007

    South Korea 's Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) held its closing ceremony yesterday (July 19), with the top award going to Thai film 13 by Chookiet Sakveerakul.

  • Macquarie consortium acquires Korea's Megabox circuit

    18-Jul-2007

    Major Korean studio Mediaplex has announced the $159m sale of the country's third most successful multiplex chain Megabox to a consortium, Korea Multiplex Investment Corporation (KMIC), led by Australian banking group Macquarie.

  • International box office - Local Figures on the slide

    13-Jul-2007

    Leading South Korean exhibitor CJ CGV has released statistics for the first half of the year, which place the market share of local films at 47.3%, the lowest since 2001 and down from 59.5% for the same period last year.

  • Korean cable company takes control of MK Pictures

    10-Jul-2007

    South Korean producer-investor-distributor MK Pictures has sold a controlling stake to regional cabler Kangwon Networks.

  • Korean films lose market share in first half of 2007

    6-Jul-2007

    Leading South Korean exhibitor CJ CGV has released statistics for the first half of the year, which place the market share of local films at 47.3%, the lowest since 2001 and down from 59.5% for the same period last year.

  • Korea's Megabox opens its first cinema in Beijing

    5-Jul-2007

    Major South Korean exhibitor Megabox Mediaplex opened its first multiplex in Beijing yesterday (July 4).

  • KOFIC unveils participants for Development Lab

    3-Jul-2007

    The Korean Film Council has announced the list of fellows and mentors for the second KOFIC Filmmakers Development Lab, along with a new $40,000 award.

  • Pony Canyon acquires Korean romance Hwang Jin Yi

    21-Jun-2007

    Seoul-based CJ Entertainment (CJE) has sold period romance Hwang Jin Yi to Pony Canyon for Japan.

  • PiFan to open with For Eternal Hearts and close with Kala

    19-Jun-2007

    Korea 's Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) announced the line-up for its 11th edition today. The festival will open with the world premiere of Korean director Hwang Qu-dok's For Eternal Hearts - a love story that travels through time, and close with the international premiere of Indonesian director Joko Anwar's Kala, a mystery thriller.

  • Korea's SK Telecom to enter film investment, distribution

    15-Jun-2007

    SK Telecom (SKT), one of Korea's leading telcos, has announced that it plans to enter film investment and distribution next year at the earliest.

  • Busan Film Commission expands support programme

    13-Jun-2007

    The Busan Film Commission (BFC) has announced changes in its Busan film development support fund programme. The organisation will award a total of $32,300 to two films in development to shoot in Busan, without any conditions attached.

  • Korea's SM Entertainment launches production outfit

    13-Jun-2007

    Seoul-based SM Entertainment, talent management agency for pan-Asian pop stars such as BoA, TVXQ, and Kangta, has set up its own production unit SM Pictures.

  • Makhmalbaf to head Pusan's Asian Film Academy

    12-Jun-2007

    The Asian Film Academy (AFA) has named Mohsen Makhmalbaf as its dean for the year. Run jointly by the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) and Dongseo University, the intensive Talent Campus-style workshop is in its third year.

  • Family Ties, The Host triumph at Korea's Grand Bell awards

    9-Jun-2007

    Kim Tae-yong's Family Ties won Best Film at South Korea 's Grand Bell Awards on Friday night (June 8).

  • Cineclick Asia announces slew of Cannes deals

    7-Jun-2007

    Seoul-based seller Cineclick Asia has announced a raft of Cannes sales including a UK deal on Kim Jee-woon's The Good, The Bad And The Weird which went to Tartan Films. The film was previously sold to France's ARP during the market.

  • Pusan film festival to launch financing, distribution arms

    5-Jun-2007

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) is set to start its own production venture capital firm and a distribution arm.

  • Showbox and Freestyle unveil plans for D-War's US release

    4-Jun-2007

    South Korea 's Showbox Mediaplex has announced plans to release the effects-laden creature feature D-War on 1,500 screens in the US, through Freestyle Releasing.

  • Studio 2.0 takes two from Summit

    24-May-2007

    Korean distributor Studio 2.0 has picked up City of Amber and Step Up 2 from Summit Entertainment. 'We previously picked up the original at last Cannes and saw good box office with it, so we decided to pick up the sequel as well,' says Choi Eun-Young, head of international. The company has also sold the animation Aachi & Ssipak for German-speaking EU territories to Film Verleih Gruppe, ...

  • Korea's Sponge makes most expensive Cannes deal

    24-May-2007

    Korean arthouse specialist Sponge Entertainment has made its most expensive pick-up to date, with the $20m Death Note spin-off L from NTV. The film, which saw heated bidding, is due for release this coming February across Asia. Sponge has picked up three more Competition titles - Sokourov's Alexandra from Rezo, Kursturica's Promise ...

  • Seoul Commission works with Landed on Anti Hero

    23-May-2007

    Seoul Film Commission has announced Canadian-based production company Landed Entertainments will be shooting a $7m feature in Seoul early next year. Casting is in progress for the Canadian-Korean co-production Anti Hero, to feature stars from Hollywood and Korea. Korean-Canadian director Junga Song is to make her feature debut with the project, written and produced by Ali Mashayekhi. Although the production company ...

  • Inmoa kicks up Bright Star and Get Some

    22-May-2007

    Korean importer/distributor Inmoa Entertainment has picked up Bright Star from Pathe Pictures International and Get Some from Summit Entertainment.Thomas Kim, president of international business at Inmoa, said he picked up Bright Star because 'it's directed by Jane Campion, who does love stories well, and it stars Ben Whishaw from

  • Asia Pacific awards recruite Cheah and Hong-Joon

    21-May-2007

    The Asia Pacific Screen Awards, a collaboration with CNN International, UNESCO and the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), announced nine members of its nominations council yesterday (May 20).They included Philip Cheah, head of the Singapore International Film Festival, Azize Tan, director of the International Istanbul Film Festival, Anne Demy-Geroe, artistic director of the Brisbane International Film Festival, and Kim Hong-Joon, associate professor ...

  • Pusan announces Asian Cinema Fund

    21-May-2007

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced the Asian Cinema Fund, a new production support programme for emerging Asian filmmakers. In addition to $860,000 in funds for projects in all stages, the Asian Cinema Fund also offers support in the way of post-production services in Korea. 'PIFF has always focused on promoting Asian cinema and discovering new talent,' says programmer Hong Hyo-sook. 'The Asian Cinema Fund aims to further build a network ...

  • Cineclick's Eastern western conquers France

    21-May-2007

    Cineclick Asia has closed a flurry of deals headed by the sale of Kim Jee-woon's Oriental Western The Good, The Bad, and The Weird to ARP for French-speaking territories. After screening footage of the $11 million film, ARP pacted with Cineclick for a high-six-figure deal - relatively high for an Asian film in France.Three top Korean stars - Song Kang-ho (The Host), Lee Byung-hun (A Bittersweet Life), Jung Woo-sung (A Moment ...

  • Pretty Pictures turns a page for North Korean Diary

    19-May-2007

    North Korean film A Schoolgirl's Diary had its debut screening in Cannes Market yesterday.

  • Heavyweight sales for KM's 200 Pounds Beauty

    18-May-2007

    Korean sales company KM Culture has sold cosmetic surgery romantic-comedy 200 Pounds Beauty to Amuse, Inc. for Japan, M Pictures for Thailand, Vietnam Media for Vietnam, and AOE for Malaysia.

  • Pop star Rain drops into Speed Racer cast

    18-May-2007

    Pan-Asian pop star Rain has joined the cast of the Wachowski brothers' upcoming Speed Racer, Warner Bros announced here.

  • Barunson producer team to support foreign shoots in Korea

    17-May-2007

    South Korean production house Barunson has announced it is launching a consortium of Korea's hottest producers and line producers to work on productions from overseas.Lewis Kim, head of international at Barunson, has drawn together a stellar group which includes Lee Sung-hoon (Taegukgi, Shiri), Han Jae-duk (Old Boy), Park Bong-soo (The Host, R-Point), Jang ...

  • Korea's Showbox picks up Planet One and Stopping Power

    17-May-2007

    Major Korean distributor Showbox Mediaplex has picked up animation Planet One from Handmade Pictures and the high-octane Jan de Bont action film Stopping Power from IM Global.Made by former Pixar talent, the animation project featuring green aliens is written by Joe Stillman (Shrek 1, 2, 3). Chris H. Lee, vice president of acquisitions at Showbox ...

  • Prime Entertainment adds two to Cannes slate

    17-May-2007

    Korean seller Prime Entertainment has announced two additional titles for its Cannes line-up - Face/Off-like thriller The Devil's Game, and kickboxing drama Punch Lady. The Devil's Game stars Shin Ha-kyun (No Mercy for the Rude) opposite veteran actor Byun Hee-bong (

  • MK adds two womens films to their Cannes slate

    17-May-2007

  • Mirovision sells Japan and US remake rights to Kim

    17-May-2007

    Seoul-based Mirovision has announced the sale of Japanese and US remake rights to Kim Tae-sik's Driving With My Wife's Lover to Kuzui Enterprises in Japan. Producer Kaz Kuzui picked up the rights after seeing the film at Sundance. 'Kim is a talent to watch and we hope to work with him in the future. As for the remake to his film, we feel Driving With My Wife's Lover has a particularly ...

  • CJ signs French deal with Diaphana for competitor Secret Sunshine

    16-May-2007

    After heated pre-market bidding on Official Competition title Secret Sunshine, Korean sales agent CJ Entertainment has sealed a local distribution deal to Diaphana for France. Ama Film has also come on for Greece.

  • Yoon Jong-bin to shoot Beastie Boys for iHQ

    16-May-2007

    Korean sales agent iHQ has announced Beastie Boys as the upcoming sophomore title from Yoon Jong-bin - whose The Unforgiven was in Un Certain Regard last year. Yoon is re-teaming with lead Ha Jung-woo, who is also in the Cannes Competition title Breath by Kim Ki-duk

  • Sponge cleans up

    11-May-2007

    One of Korea's leading independent distributors tells Jean Noh how he is transforming the local market and why he considers himself a partner, not simply a buyer.

  • Korea to host Cinema Digital Seoul film festival in July

    7-May-2007

    A new film festival was unveiled in Seoul today - the Cinema Digital Seoul 2007 Film Festival (CinDi 2007) - which has secured sponsorship from the CJ Culture Foundation and Korean Culture & Arts Foundation.

  • Jeonju's top award goes to Ying Liang's The Other Half

    4-May-2007

    The eighth Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) wrapped its nine-day run today with the top Woosuk Award going to The Other Half, directed by Ying Liang. Local distributor Sponge also picked up Koji Hagiuda's Genius from Bitters End at the fest's industry screenings.

  • Cineclick Asia picks up Lucky Miles, Misencounter

    25-Apr-2007

    Korean sales agent Cineclick Asia, newly incorporated into Fantom Co Ltd, has today announced additional foreign pick-ups from Argentina and Australia for its Cannes market line-up, as well as the crank-up of Afghan title Opium War and other title updates.

  • SPTI, Daum seal free VoD licensing deal for Korea

    24-Apr-2007

    Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) and Daum Communications (Daum) announced today the first free video-on-demand (VOD) licensing deal between a Hollywood studio and a Korean company.

  • AFCNet takes on Bowling, Lake as advisors

    18-Apr-2007

    Warner Brothers' Bill Bowling and Warner Roadshow Studios' Michael Lake have joined the Asian Film Commissions Network (AFCNet) as advisors.

  • Koreasigns first film industry labour agreement

    17-Apr-2007

    The Korean Motion Picture Producers' Association and the Federation of Korean Movie Workers' Union have announced they will sign Korea's first film industry labour agreement tomorrow (April 18) in a ceremony at the Korean Film Council's headquarters.

  • Fox signs letter of intent to invest in Showbox films

    17-Apr-2007

    Leading Korean investor and distributor Showbox Mediaplex announced on the KOSDAQ today (April 17) that major US studio 20th Century Fox has signed a letter of intent (LOI) regarding co-financing and international distribution of Korean films.

  • Korea's Showboxshuffles international teams

    16-Apr-2007

    Leading Korean investor and distributor Showbox Mediaplex has re-organised its international teams by creating a new 'International Business and Development Division' to focus on co-productions and co-financing.

  • Set report: Kim Ki-duk's Breath

    13-Apr-2007

    Kim Ki-duk's eyes gleam with concentration as he surveys his actors taking their places for the final scene of Breath, the director's 14th film. It is a freezing cold day in Seoul and Kim is shooting in a former Japanese colonial prison where Korean independence movement fighters were once tortured in their cells.

  • Korean film companies join forces to fight piracy

    4-Apr-2007

    The Korean film industry has formed a coalition of 78 film companies which have banded together to fight piracy.

  • Korean film industry angered by free trade agreement

    3-Apr-2007

    Amidst heated protests, South Korea and the US yesterday completed talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) which will have significant effects on local film and media if ratified. The local Ministry of Culture and Tourism also quickly announced contingency plans.

  • Jeonju fest to open with Offroad, close with Exiled

    2-Apr-2007

    The Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) today announced the line-up for its eighth edition, which will kick off with the world premiere of Offroad by Han Seung-ryong and close with Johnnie To's Exiled.

  • Seoul unveils first foreign production incentives

    30-Mar-2007

    Seoul Metropolitan City Government has announced its first incentives for foreign film and television shoots to take place in the South Korean capital.

  • Mongolia - Making the long walk to freedom

    30-Mar-2007

    Shot entirely on location in the Mongolian steppes, Desert Dreams is written and directed by Zhang Lu, a Chinese film-maker of Korean descent. He takes on the story of a mother and son who escape from North Korea and journey to Mongolia. There they encounter a man battling desertification by planting trees.

  • Lost star Yunjin Kim joins cast of Prime's Seven Days

    29-Mar-2007

    Korean crossover actress Yunjin Kim is attached to star in Prime Entertainment's crime thriller Seven Days (working title).

  • Cineclick Asia seals raft of deals at Hong Kong Filmart

    29-Mar-2007

    Korean sales agent Cineclick Asia has announced a slew of sales concluded at Hong Kong Filmart last week, led by deals on Kim Ki-duk's upcoming title Breath and recent Berlinale Golden Bear winner Tuya's Marriage.

  • Robot romance is a walk in the Park

    23-Mar-2007

    From Park Chan-wook, the director of the brutal 'Vengeance' trilogy - Sympathy For Mr Vengeance, Old Boy and Sympathy For Lady Vengeance - comes a surprising twist: a light-hearted comedy romance.

  • Virgin Snow leads sales charge for Korea 's CJ

    22-Mar-2007

    Leading Korean company CJ Entertainment has announced a raft of sales concluded at Hong Kong Filmart, led by CJ-Kadokawa co-production Virgin Snow.

  • Lotte Entertainment sells three to Thailand, Malaysia

    22-Mar-2007

    Korean sales agent Lotte Entertainment has sold three films to Thailand and Malaysia at Hong Kong Filmart.

  • Lotte sells three films to Thailand and Malaysia

    22-Mar-2007

    Korean sales agent Lotte Entertainment has sold three films to Thailand and Malaysia at the HK Filmart.

  • iHQ scores Singapore, Malaysia deals on Sword with India's Viswas

    21-Mar-2007

    Korean sales agent iHQ has sold martial arts fantasy Shadowless Sword to Indian distributor Viswas Film, Ltd. for the territories of Singapore and Malaysia.The period costume film is directed by Kim Young-jun and shot in China as was his first feature Bichunmoo, starring Shin Hyun-jun and Kim Hee-sun.Shin Hyun-jun, who is also well-known for his roles in gangster comedy franchise films ...

  • Korea Telecom starts DVD room distribution initiative

    21-Mar-2007

    Korea Telecom (KT) has started distributing films in DVD Rooms across South Korea. A peculiarly Korean phenomenon, DVD Rooms are establishments easily compared to those with karaoke booths, where customers can choose a film to watch on a large screen in a private room with comfortable chairs or sofas.KT's new service is called Moviespot, supplying new releases to 85 DVD Rooms so far since the beginning of the month.KT is acquiring rights to films that ...

  • Korea's Inmoa announces high-profile EFM deals

    21-Mar-2007

    New Korean importer/distributor Inmoa Entertainment has announced a slate of deals following their debut at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin last month. Isaac Kwon, chief executive officer, and Thomas Kim, president of international business, hit the ground running and sealed four deals on the Academy Award-nominated mystery thriller The Black Dahlia, starring Josh Hartnett and Scarlett Johansson, from Nu Image;

  • Thai Rose buys Kadokawa's animated Keroro 2

    21-Mar-2007

    Japanese sales agent Kadokawa has sold the animated sequel Sergeant Keroro The Movie 2 to Thai distributor Rose Media & Entertainment.The theatrical frog animation movie is the latest in the franchise based on the hugely popular Sergeant Keroro manga series by Mine Yoshizaki with a television series directed by Junichi Sato.In Sergeant Keroro the Movie 2, the alien frog and his corps ...

  • Activers makes Friends with NCN

    20-Mar-2007

    New Korean sales agent Activers Entertainment is presenting a slate of New Cinema Network (NCN) HD films, led by the recently completed film The Friends.Directed by Lee Young-jae, whose hit Harmonium In My Memory starred Jeon Do-youn and Lee Byoung-hun, The Friends is based on a best-selling children's story of the same title.Written by Yumoto ...

  • Korean Film Council expands criteria for filmmakers lab applicants

    20-Mar-2007

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has announced that it is opening up its candidacy for the Filmmakers Development Lab (FDL) from Korean-Americans and Korean nationals to all ethnic Koreans who can work in the English language.Last year, the inaugural FDL, modeled on the Sundance labs, paired five emerging writer-directors like Mora Mi-ok Stephens with mentors from the US and Korea like hit producer Jonathan Kim (Silmido). They ...

  • Korea's Cineclick Asia merges with Fantom Entertainment Group

    20-Mar-2007

    Major Korean sales agent Cineclick Asia has merged with the KOSDAQ-listed Fantom Entertainment Group.Originally a purveyor of golf equipment and clothing, Fantom in the past two years has expanded its businesses to include film, TV and music production and distribution. Its talent management stable includes actors like Lee Jung-jae (Typhoon) and Shin Ha-kyun (No Mercy for the Rude), ...

  • Korean Film Council reorganises in wake of new ticket tax

    19-Mar-2007

    With a 3% ticket tax going into effect July 1, the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) is reorganizing its in-house structure to manage the new funds.Initially, concerns were voiced over who would shoulder the burden of the tax - filmgoers, exhibitors or producers - but 'the industry realizes that taking on the tax themselves will be better than passing it on to the film-goer,' says Kim. 'The industry will in return receive more benefits from broader government support.'As ...

  • Studio 2.0 pacts for eight titles with VOD outfit RealNetworks

    19-Mar-2007

    Korean investment and distribution company Studio2.0 has pacted with RealNetworks on multiple internet video-on-demand (VOD) deals for eight of its titles including recent horror film Cello.The deals see RealNetworks acquiring internet VOD rights to Studio2.0's films for Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand.'By partnering with Real Networks, Studio2.0 rides on the fast ...

  • Shochiku picks up worldwide rights to Vexille

    19-Mar-2007

    Leading Japanese entertainment company Shochiku announced today that it has acquired worldwide rights to the CG animated feature Vexille.

  • Korea's T-Entertainment buys stake in Sio Film

    16-Mar-2007

    KOSDAQ-listed T-Entertainment has announced it is buying into production company Sio Film. The entertainment conglomerate has acquired a 29.3% stake in the company that produced Park Chan-wook's Old Boy among other hits.

  • Sony signs TV distribution deal with Korea's CJE

    14-Mar-2007

    Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has signed a long-term distribution agreement with leading Korean film distributor CJ Entertainment (CJE).

  • Prime racks up pre-sales on Kwak's Mighty Princess

    5-Mar-2007

    My Sassy Girl director Kwak Jae Yong's My Mighty Princess has been notching up pan-Asian sales and is due for a simultaneous pan-Asian release outside Korea.

  • Korea 's b.o.m. Film Production promotes Cho to CEO

    2-Mar-2007

    Leading Korean producer b.o.m. Film Production has promoted entertainment lawyer Cho Kwang-hee, who is currently chief financial officer in charge of productions, to the position of chief executive officer.

  • Golden Bear winner finds new buyers

    23-Feb-2007

    Korean sales agent Cineclick Asia has closed EFM wrap-up deals for Golden Bear winner Tuya's Marriage to Maywin Media for the ex-CIS territories and Arsenal for Germany.Wang Quan'an's third feature, the film portrays a Mongolian woman in search of a new groom who will take care of her family - including her ailing ex-husband.Pretty Pictures made an early deal for France, Indonesia, and Benelux at the Beijing Screenings last ...

  • Reshuffle at Pusan brings in Lee as co-festival director

    23-Feb-2007

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced a major reshuffle of its organisation. Twelve-year festival head Kim Dong Ho is taking on a co-festival director - former co-deputy director Lee Yong Kwan. Kim (70), whose globe-trotting, hard-working personality has come to personify PIFF, will continue steering the festival's international work, while Lee (51) will take charge of domestic affairs. Currently also director of Seoul Youth International ...

  • Fortissimo enjoys documentary sales

    15-Feb-2007

    Fortissimo Films has seen a healthy first market for its documentary Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens. The film sold to Haut et Court for France and Lucky Red for Italy, with deals to Germany, Japan, Australia and Benelux pending. 'Berlin is always a good market for us. We've done well with new films and have cleaned up others from Venice, Toronto, and AFM,' says Wouter Barendrecht, co-chief of Fortissimo. Panorama title ...

  • Cyborg sold to Tokyo Theaters in Japan by CJ Entertainment

    15-Feb-2007

    CJ Entertainment has sold Berlinale competition title I'm a Cyborg but That's Okay to Tokyo Theaters for Japan, and Generation title Like a Virgin to Amuse for Japan. 'Japan's become difficult - not like 2004 or 2005 - but we're still doing steady business,' says Tom Oh, senior vice president, head of international sales at CJ. The company also pre-sold Soo, ...

  • Han named new festival director at PiFan in Korea

    15-Feb-2007

    The Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan), Korea's second-largest, has announced former head programmer Han Sang-joon as the new festival director.Han was also previously a programmer at the Pusan International Film Festival, professor of film at Chung-Ang University, and a journalist at the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper.His predecessor PiFan director Lee Jang-Ho has been elected to Vice Chairman of the festival, while award-winning actress Kang Soo-yeon ...

  • M&FC takes Woo/Chang production Brothers for Korea

    15-Feb-2007

    Korean producer/distributor M&FC has bought the John Woo and Terence Chang produced Blood Brothers for Korea.B.K. Cha, head of M&FC's film division, signed with CMC Entertainment production marketing manager Joseph Liao.Fortissimo Films hold worldwide rights for Blood Brothers outside of Asia.M&FC, originally a music rights company - whose president Sungwoo Cho is also ...

  • I'm A Cyborg to open 31st Hong Kong Film Festival

    14-Feb-2007

    Jacob Wong, curator of the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) has announced Park Chan-wook's Berlinale competition title I'm a Cyborg, but That's Okay is to open the 31st HKIFF March 19. The festival runs March 20 - April 11.The film is nominated for two Asian Film Awards (AFA) - pan-Asian pop star Rain for Best Actor and Lim Soo-jung for Best Actress. The AFAs, honoring the best of Asian cinema from the past year, will be ...

  • Cineclick Asia finds sales for Tuya's Marriage

    14-Feb-2007

    Cineclick Asia has sold Berlinale competition title Tuya's Marriage toGolem for Spain, Frenetic Film for Switzerland, and Discovery Film forthe former Yugoslav territories. Golem has also bought Kim Ki-duk's yet-to-be-released Breath, starring Chang Chen (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon).Cineclick has made additional sales of less recent titles, ...

  • iHQ sells Daisy to Germany

    14-Feb-2007

    iHQ has sold Jeon Ji-hyun-starrer Daisy to Splendid Film for Germany. Featuring Jeon with other pan-Asian stars Jung Woo-sung and Lee Sung-jae in a love triangle, the film is a police thriller directed by Andrew Lau in a solo flight - apart from Infernal Affairs co-director Alan Mak.Jenny Kim, iHQ sales team manager, did the deal with Splendid's head of distribution Andrea Klein.Daisy is also to see a US remake by Gold Circle, which is also involved ...

  • Kino takes US rights to North Korea documentary Crossing The Line

    14-Feb-2007

    Panorama documentary title Crossing the Line, about the last US defector to North Korea, has sold to Kino in the US and Madman in Australia.Narrated by Christian Slater, the film was directed and produced by Dan Gordon, and co-produced by Nick Bonner - the latter two documentarians have focused on the isolationist North with other projects such as The Game of Their Lives and State of Mind.

  • Shochiku sells over 50 territories on Genghis Khan at EFM

    14-Feb-2007

    Shochiku has sold epic drama Genghis Khan - To The Ends of the Earth and Sea to over 50 countries at EFM including a multi-territory sale for Germany, Austria and Benelux to Splendid Film.The $30m Japan-Mongolian co-production, directed by Shinichiro Sawai (W's Tragedy), commemorates the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Mongol Empire. The film shot for four months on location in Mongolia ...

  • Aachi & Ssipak sold to Studio Canal for France

    14-Feb-2007

    Studio2.0 has sold comic animation Aachi & Ssipak to StudioCanal for France.Studio2.0's head of sales Choi Eun-young signed the deal with StudioCanal's Laurent Campagne. The animation is set in a futuristic world which is powered by human faeces and the government regulates its citizens by keeping them addicted to popsicles.The film was previously pre-sold to Italy's AB Film, Russia's Alpha Motion, and Israel's ...

  • Martial arts duck flies for Golden Network Asia

    13-Feb-2007

    Hong Kong-based Golden Network Asia has sold the comic Thai martial arts animation Duck Fight to three territories - Global Motion Picture's Luxor brand for Eastern Europe including Russia, Golden Films for Brazil, and Gulf Film for the Middle East.Billed 'the ultimate under-duck movie,' the animated film is set during a time when the world is in the grips of bird flu and cock-fighting is suffering. The Crazy Hero duck disguises ...

  • Fortissimo sells Lost Children to Zeitgeist, Red Envelope for US

    12-Feb-2007

    Fortissimo Films has sold US rights for award-winning documentary Buddha's Lost Children to Zeitgeist Films for theatrical and Red Envelope Entertainment for DVD. Catherine Le Clef, newly appointed senior vice president, TV and ancillary, brokered the deal with both companies. Directed by Mark Verkerk, Buddha's Lost Children has won multiple awards including the Grand Jury Award for International ...

  • Megabox targets women with new acquisitions label

    12-Feb-2007

    Major Korean exhibitor Megabox Mediaplex debuts a new acquisitions label in EFM. The Megabox label will acquire foreign films for theatrical release in its multiplexes, then to go to cable on sister company On*Media's new film channel Movie OnStyle.Megabox owns 10 theaters with a total of 91 screens nationwide, and operates with 9 partner 'Megaline' theaters which comprise a total of 62 additional screens in the provinces.On*Media currently has 10 channels which ...

  • Three Dots closes key Asian territories on Spider Lillies

    12-Feb-2007

    Taiwan's Three Dots Entertainment has sold Panorama title Spider Lilies to CNS Entertainment for Korea, Sahamongkol for Thailand, and Passion Entertainment for Singapore. The sole Taiwanese feature in this year's Berlinale official selection, the film is Zero Chou's second feature drama. Her debut Splendid Float won Best Taiwan Film at the Golden Horse Awards in 2004.

  • Jeonju selects film-makers for digital shorts showcase

    11-Feb-2007

    The Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) has announced Pedro Costa, Harun Farocki, and Eugène Green have been selected for Jeonju Digital Project 2007, formerly known as Digital Short Films by Three Filmmakers. JIFF, which has a focus on independent and digital films, has been sponsoring short film projects annually since 2000 to promote digital cinema. Three film-makers receive about $50,000 to produce a short with a running time of 30 minutes. The films ...

  • Karlovy Vary pick for Min Boung-hun's Grapevine

    10-Feb-2007

    Korean director Min Boung-hun's Pruning The Grapevine has made it into the 42nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) as an early selection.Min previously directed Let's Not Cry in 2001, winning multiple awards at the 37th KVIFF and the 43rd Thessaloniki International Film Festival, and The Flight of the Bee (1998) which also won awards, including ...

  • Dongsoong sets up production and distribution subsidiary

    10-Feb-2007

    Korean arthouse distributor and exhibitor Dongsoong Art Center has set up a subsidiary, JinJin Pictures, to handle production and distribution, with a new additional focus on commercial films.JinJin Pictures chief executive officer Nan-sook Kim is at the EFM shopping for films with Tae-Won Jung from her Business Strategy Plan & Distribution department. 'We buy about eight films a year, so we'll probably pick up a couple at this market as well. It's Berlin, so more ...

  • Cineclick sells rights to two features in Berlin

    9-Feb-2007

    Cineclick Asia has closed deals on Berlinale competition film Tuya's Marriage to Italy and Forum title Ad Lib Night to Japan.

  • New Korean buyer Inmoa launches at Berlin

    9-Feb-2007

    New Korean importer/distributor Inmoa Entertainment has made its market debut at EFM this week.

  • Stars announced for Kim Ji-woon, Yim Pil-sung features

    8-Feb-2007

    Cineclick Asia has announced top-tier casting locked for two of its pre-sales films, Kim Ji-woon's The Good, the Bad, and the Weird and Yim Pil-sung's Hansel and Gretel, both from new production house Barunson.

  • Korea's Core Studio picks up Singaporean Untold Beauty

    8-Feb-2007

    Korean sales agent Core Studio has picked up worldwide sales rights for Singaporean writer-director Roy Lim's horror film Untold Beauty from Rebel Production Pte Ltd.

  • Easternlight opens in Singapore, schedules Dance Of The Dragon

    8-Feb-2007

    Easternlight Films has opened a production and distribution arm in Singapore. Easternlight Film Productions' pictures will be sold internationally through partner company Easternlight/Arclight Films.

  • Fortissimo to sell LIVE! worldwide

    8-Feb-2007

    Fortissimo Films is handling worldwide sales rights excluding North America for Academy Award-winning director Bill Guttentag's LIVE! which is produced by Mosaic Media Group.

  • Cineclick Asia picks up Berlin competitor Tuya's Marriage

    2-Feb-2007

    Korean sales agent Cineclick Asia has announced Berlinale competition film Tuya's Marriage as the latest addition to its EFM slate.

  • Fortissimo takes on non-Asian sales for Blood Brothers

    1-Feb-2007

    Fortissimo Films has picked up worldwide sales rights excluding Asia for Blood Brothers from CMC Entertainment and John Woo and Terrence Chang's Lions Rock Productions. Fortissimo will commence sales at the upcoming European Film Market.

  • Korean Film Commission plans US office led by Sun-young Moon

    1-Feb-2007

    The Korean Film Commission (KOFIC) has announced plans to open an LA office within the first half of the year, as part of an initiative to step up support for Korean films and filmmakers in the US.

  • New chairman for Korea Film Producers' Association

    26-Jan-2007

    The Korea Film Producers' Association (KFPA) has voted in a new chairman - Tcha Seung-jai, head of leading production company Sidus FNH. He replaces Guardtec president Jonathan Kim, whose four years in the position have expired.

  • Korea's Showbox signs up for Confession

    24-Jan-2007

    Hong Kong 's Media Asia Distribution has sold Korean rights to thriller Confession Of Pain to Showbox Mediaplex.

  • CJE to invest $85m in local productions in 2007

    23-Jan-2007

    Leading Korean distributor CJ Entertainment (CJE) has announced its 2007 business plan which includes investing $85m in more than 20 local productions this year, while at the same time expanding its global ties.

  • Hwang Jin Yi gains permission to shoot in North Korea

    19-Jan-2007

    South Korean production Hwang Jin Yi, based on a North Korean novel dramatising the life of Korea 's most famous courtesan, has been granted permission to shoot in North Korea 's Diamond Mountains for a week starting Jan 28.

  • MK Poly Cinemas to open first multiplex in Zhengzhou

    19-Jan-2007

    Korean producer-distributor MK Pictures has announced that the first multiplex to emerge from its joint venture with Beijing-based Poly Group will open in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou on Jan 26.

  • Kim Ki-duk returns to the Korean fold with Breath release

    19-Jan-2007

    Reversing his declaration that he would leave the Korean film world, controversial director Kim Ki-duk has announced a deal with Korean arthouse distributor Sponge to release his 14th film Breath in local cinemas.

  • Korean exports dip after five years of growth

    18-Jan-2007

    After five years of growth, Korean film exports dropped 68% year-on-year in 2006. Exports totaled $24.5m - down from $75.9m the year before, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC)'s year-end statistics.For the first time, Korean sales saw a slump in its main Asian markets, where its $17m takings represented a 74.3% drop on 2005.Exports to Japan, Korea's biggest customer, are down by 82.8% to $10.3m - accounting for most of the decrease. The fall ...

  • Violin to be played as Korean-Chinese co-production

    11-Jan-2007

    Korean entertainment company Vision Link Global is developing a $50m co-production entitled Melanie's Violin, based on Chinese author He Ning's novel of the same name, dubbed the 'Asian Schindler's List'.

  • Korean admissions up by 15% marking tenth year of growth

    9-Jan-2007

    Korean cinema admissions increased by 14.6% to 166 million in 2006, marking the tenth year of growth, according to figures released by leading Korean exhibitor CJ CGV.

  • Korea 's CJ CGV appoints Charles Kim as CEO

    8-Jan-2007

    Leading Korean exhibitor CJ CGV has appointed Charles Kim as CEO, replacing Park Dong-ho who has been moved up in position to sister company CJ Foodville, a family restaurant chain with global ambitions.

  • Kim draws Breath with Ha, Chang Chen

    8-Jan-2007

    Maverick Korean director Kim Ki-duk started shooting his 14th film, Breath, over the weekend (Jan 5).

  • Korean cinemagoers to face new ticket tax in July

    3-Jan-2007

    Korean theaters willface a 3% tax levied on tickets starting July 1. The funds from the tax will beused to finance half of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's '$4.3m-size' FilmIndustry Mid-to-long-term Development Plan, announced in October. South Korea's National Assembly passed the Bill forthe Partial Amendment for the Promotion of Film and Video in late December,stating ...

  • CJ Entertainment appoints Shin as head of international

    3-Jan-2007

    Leading Koreaninvestor/distributor CJ Entertainment (CJE) has appointed David Shin asexecutive vice president and head of international business, replacing MarkShaw, who recently left for a job in the US financial sector. Most recently senior vice presidentin charge of commercial development at ESPN Star Sports in Singapore, ...

  • The Host sweeps Korea's Blue Dragon Awards

    16-Dec-2006

    Bong Joon-ho's monster film The Host swept Korea's 27th Blue Dragon Awards this Friday (Dec 15),scooping six awards including Best Picture.

  • Lotte Cinema to sell movie tickets through ATMs

    13-Dec-2006

    Major Korean exhibitor LotteCinema has announced it will start selling film tickets at automated tellermachines (ATMs) in subway stations and convenience stores starting in March ofnext year.

  • Lewis Kim joins growing Korean upstart Barunson

    22-Nov-2006

    LewisKim, formerly head of international at TheHost production company Chungeorahm Film, has moved to upstartproducer/investor Barunson. Kim will report directly to Chief Executive OfficerJae-won Choi.

  • CJ Entertainment wraps AFM business with flurry of sales

    15-Nov-2006

    Wrapping up post-AFM, Korea's CJ Entertainment has announced a slew of deals for Park Chan-wook's I'm a Cyborg But It's OK, martial arts fantasy The Restless, and gangster film A Dirty Carnival to Asia and Europe.

  • Korean production house creates $31.8m media fund

    15-Nov-2006

    Major Korean production house Sidus FNH has created a $31.8m media fund with technology company Vanex, giving rise to speculation that the powerhouse film-maker has taken the first step towards self-distribution and international sales.

  • Record Asian pre-sales for My Wife Is A Gangster sequel

    14-Nov-2006

    Korea's Showbox has closed a raft of Asian pre-sales deals for My Wife Is A Gangster 3, claiming a record high for any Korean film sold at AFM to Asian territories excluding Japan.

  • Cineclick sells Kim Ki-duk's Time to North America

    10-Nov-2006

    Korea's Cineclick Asia has announced a raft of deals signed during the recentAmerican Film Market, including the sale of North American rights to Kim Ki-duk'sTime to Lifesize Entertainment.

  • Song Kang-ho gets batty with Park Chan-wook

    6-Nov-2006

    The Host star Song Kang-ho will reteam with Park Chan-wook onhis next film Bat (workingtitle).

  • South Korea signs co-production agreement with France

    30-Oct-2006

    South Korea has signed its first international filmco-production agreement with France. The agreement letsco-produced films enjoy domestic film status in distribution and when applyingfor government support in both countries.Korea's Minister ...

  • Hawaii festival awards top honours to Love For Share

    27-Oct-2006

  • TWC has No Mercy for North America

    27-Oct-2006

    Korean investment and salescompany The Core Studio has sold North American rights to No Mercy For The Rude to The Weinstein Company.

  • Korean Ministry of Culture announces support plan

    24-Oct-2006

  • Hawaii fest gets underway with Asia-focused line-up

    23-Oct-2006

    The 26th HawaiiInternational Film Festival (HIFF) opened over the weekend with a screening of AlejandroGonzalez Inarritu's Babeland a programme that has a strong emphasis on Asianfilms.

  • Asian Film Market has promising first edition

    18-Oct-2006

    The first Asian Film Marketwrapped today after a four-day run (Oct 15-18), concurrent to the 11thedition of the Pusan International Film Festival. The event was held mainly inthe Grand Hotel on Haeundae beach, with a total of 3,500 participants.

  • Pretty Pictures buys North Korean hit Schoolgirl's Diary

    18-Oct-2006

    French distributor PrettyPictures has bought North Korean hit TheSchoolgirl's Diary, marking the first commercial deal for a North Koreanfilm to a Western country in recent decades.

  • PUSAN: Cineclick Asia sells horror duo to Wild Side

    17-Oct-2006

    On the third day of theAsian Film Market, Cineclick Asia has announced a raft of sales to France's Wild Side Films and Thailand's J-bics.

  • PUSAN: Indonesia's Queen Films on buying spree

    17-Oct-2006

    Indonesia's Queen Films, the distribution arm of start-upexhibitor Blitz Cinemas, has snapped up four Korean titles from iHQ, as well asGhost Game from Hong Kong's Golden Network Asia.

  • PUSAN: CJ CGV to open Shanghai multiplex this week

    16-Oct-2006

    Leading Korean exhibitor CJCGV has announced that its first mainland China multiplex will open in Shanghai on Oct 22.

  • PUSAN: FDL participants pitch new projects at Pusan

    16-Oct-2006

  • PUSAN: Taewon unveils Resurrection at Asian Film Market

    15-Oct-2006

    Korea's Taewon Entertainment took advantage of the firstday of the Asian Film Market to promote its upcoming project Three Kingdoms - Resurrection Of The Dragon.MaggieQ has joined Andy Lau in the cast of the epic actioner, which Taewon isco-producing with Hong Kong's Visualizer Film Production.

  • PUSAN: Keyeast strikes investment deal with CJ

    14-Oct-2006

    Korean media contents firmKeyeast has announced a production investment deal with major distributor CJEntertainment for three films, including Park Chan-wook's I'm A Cyborg, But It's OK.

  • PUSAN: Pan-asian star power lights up Pusan opening

    13-Oct-2006

    The 11th Pusan InternationalFilm Festival (PIFF) opened last night with a star-studded turnout and the worldpremiere of Kim Dai-seung's Traces OfLove.

  • Pusan 2006 - a Screen guide

    12-Oct-2006

  • Pusan Promotion Plan

    12-Oct-2006

    Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP)has announced 36 projects for its ninth edition, to be held Oct 15-18 duringthe Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF).

  • PUSAN: Korean sellers out in force at first Asian Film Market

    12-Oct-2006

    As the inaugural Asian FilmMarket (Oct 15-18) gets underway on Sunday, sales companies from the hostterritory will be laying out strong slates reflecting the current state of the boomingSouth Korean production industry.

  • Korea's Screen Quota alliance to stage Pusan protest

    11-Oct-2006

    Korea's Screen Quota Action Alliance has announced it will hold a silentprotest in the hour before the opening ceremony of the Pusan International FilmFestival (PIFF) tomorrow (Oct12).

  • War Of Flowers tops Korean holiday box office

    9-Oct-2006

    Local films headed by cardshark drama War Of Flowers took thetop four spots at the Korean box office over the four-day Chuseok holidayweekend.

  • German film takes top prize at Pyongyang festival

    25-Sep-2006

  • German film takes top prize at Pyongyang festival

    25-Sep-2006

  • Prime, CJ CGV to collaborate on multiplexes

    25-Sep-2006

    Start-up Korean studio, PrimeEntertainment, has signed a memorandum of understanding with leading exhibitorCJ CGV for a strategic partnership to collaborate on multiplexes.

  • Feng enlists Korean expertise for war epic

    21-Sep-2006

    Chinese director FengXiaogang, whose latest film The Banquetis currently topping the box office across Asia, is working with crew membersfrom Korea's MK Pictures on his upcoming war epic, tentatively entitled The Assembly.

  • King And The Clown selected as Korea's Oscar entry

    21-Sep-2006

    The Korean Film Council(KOFIC) has announced Lee Joon-ik's KingAnd The Clown as Korea's official entry for best foreign-language film inthe 79th Academy Awards.

  • Korean train office launches first-run cinema scheme

    20-Sep-2006

    Korea's office of railroads,Korail, has announced it is to screen films that are on release in itshigh-speed KTX trains starting December. The cinema train patent belonging toKorail is the first in the world.

  • Gang to star in Lee Myung-se's M

    20-Sep-2006

    Korea's Core Studio has announced that Gang Dong-won will star in M, the next project from Lee Myung-se,director of Duelist and Nowhere To Hide.

  • Korean telco to install 100 digital cinema systems

    18-Sep-2006

    Korea's leading telco KT Corp has signed a memorandum of understanding withexhibitors Lotte Cinema, Cinus and MMC to install 100 digital cinema systems intheir theatres by the end of the year.

  • Bong and Park to team on comic book adaptation

    17-Sep-2006

    Old Boy directorPark Chan-wook is to produce a film directed by Bong Joon-ho, whose latestmovie The Host recently became Korea's top-grossing local film of all time.

  • Pyongyang festival opens with international line-up

    14-Sep-2006

    North Korea's 10th Pyongyang International Film Festival (Sep13-22) opened yesterday with a programme of more than 70 features films fromaround 30 countries and 50 organisations.

  • Medavoy, Foster invest in Korean production house

    13-Sep-2006

    Korea's Guardtec Inc hasannounced that Phoenix Pictures head Mike Medavoy and Mr & Mrs Smith producer Lucas Foster have bought into the firm,marking the first time that Hollywood players have directly invested in alisted Korean production company.

  • Pusan to present record 64 world premieres

    12-Sep-2006

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) announced itsline-up today with a record 64 world premieres. A total of 245 films from 63countries will show at the festival's 11th edition, running Oct 12 - 20.

  • Pusan to present record 64 world premieres

    12-Sep-2006

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) announced itsline-up today with a record 64 world premieres. A total of 245 films from 63countries will show at the festival's 11th edition, running Oct 12 - 20.

  • Pusan to screen long-lost Shin Sang-ok classic

    6-Sep-2006

    This year's PusanInternational Film Festival (PIFF) will present Bound By Chastity Rule, a long-lost film directed by recentlydeceased Korean master Shin Sang-ok.

  • Maundy Thursday set for April release in Japan

    5-Sep-2006

  • The Host smashes record for Korea's biggest local film

    4-Sep-2006

    Bong Joon-ho's The Host smashed Korea's all-time box office admissions record over theweekend, racing towards the record faster than any previous release.

  • Korean Screen Quota Action Alliance to hold Venice campaign

    31-Aug-2006

  • Korea's Mediaplex sets up production outfit

    29-Aug-2006

    Korean major investor,distributor and exhibitor Mediaplex is stepping into production with a new unitcalled Motion 101, which will produce four to five films a year while also handlinginvestment and distribution.

  • Kim Ki-duk stirs controversy in Korean film world

    23-Aug-2006

  • Korean court clears banned footage from President's Last Bang

    11-Aug-2006

    Seoul CentralDistrict Court dismissed the defamation suit against ImSang-soo's ThePresident's Last Bang to be screened in its full version yesterday (Aug 10).

  • Im Kwon-taek recruited for Asian Film Academy

    7-Aug-2006

  • Korean film exports down 58% on last year

    2-Aug-2006

  • The Host breaks Korean box-office records

    31-Jul-2006

  • City Of Violence star set to make Comeback

    26-Jul-2006

    Korea's LJ Film has announced plans for its first English-language actionfilm Comeback to be the directorialdebut of Jung Doo-hong, who also stars in recent The Weinstein Company pick-up The City OfViolence.

  • King And The Clown rings Korea's Grand Bell

    24-Jul-2006

    Korean box officerecord-holder King And The Clown,directed by Lee Joon-ik, swept Korea's 43rd Grand Bell Awards on Friday (July21).

  • Adam's Apples takes top prize at Puchon

    21-Jul-2006

    The Puchon InternationalFantastic Film Festival (PiFan) held its closing ceremony yesterday with thetop Puchon Choice award going to Adam'sApples from Danish director Anders Thomas Jensen.

  • Hanbando, Sinking Of Japan both score on home turf

    19-Jul-2006

    Korea and Japan came out of rainy three-day weekends with nationalistic blockbusters Hanbando and Sinking Of Japan topping their respective box office charts.

  • Korea's Puchon festival wins back industry support

    14-Jul-2006

    The 10th PuchonInternational Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) opened yesterday amid signs thatit's winning back industry support.

  • The Host generates advance bookings fever

    12-Jul-2006

    Bong Joon-ho's sci-fithriller The Host is already whippingup unprecedented advance bookings in Korea, selling more tickets in a shorterperiod than ever before, according to producer Chungeorahm Film.

  • CJ's Gwangju Massacre pic starts production

    10-Jul-2006

    Production started July 7 onKim Ji-hoon's $10m drama, Hwaryuh-hanHyuga (lit trans: Splendid Holiday),about South Korea'sGwangju Massacre.

  • Korean admissions up by 29% in first half of the year

    5-Jul-2006

    Admissions in South Koreaincreased by 28.7% to 80.8 million from Jan-June 2006, compared to the sameperiod last year, according to local exhibitor CJ CGV, marking the biggestincrease since 2001.

  • Korean filmmakers protest as new quota becomes reality

    3-Jul-2006

    An estimated 10,000protestors rallied in Seoul todemonstrate against the reduction of Korea's Screen Quota and the US-Korea free tradenegotiations on Saturday (July 1), the day that the reduced quota wasintroduced.

  • PIFF steps up support for documentaries

    22-Jun-2006

    The Pusan International FilmFestival (PIFF) is launching five film funds to invigorate Asian documentaryproduction.

  • Revitalised PiFan to open with Ghost Theatre

    15-Jun-2006

    Resurfacing from last year'scontroversy, Korea's Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) willkick off July 13 with opening film GhostTheatre (working title), a Korean musical directed by Jeon Gye-soo.

  • Winter Sonata set for big-screen adaptation

    13-Jun-2006

    Asia-wide hit TV series Winter Sonata, which is widelyaccredited for fuelling the Korean Wave and launching Bae Yong-joon and ChoiJi-woo to stardom, is to be made into a film.

  • KOFIC to support overseas filmmakers

    7-Jun-2006

    The Korean Film Council(KOFIC) is launching an initiative to offer funds to overseas Korean filmmakersthrough three support programmes - Low Budget Production Support, a ScriptContest and an Independent Film Contest.

  • TWC picks up Korean action title City Of Violence

    6-Jun-2006

    The Weinstein Company (TWC) hasacquired all North American rights to Korean action film The City Of Violence, directed by Ryoo Seung-wan.

  • Lau linked to Chinese classic

    22-May-2006

    Korea'sTaewon Entertainment and Hong Kong's Visualizer Film Production areco-producing $15m-$20m epic Three Kingdoms - Resurrection of the Dragon.Hong Kong star Andy Lau Tak Wah is attached to the project with other castingto be confirmed.

  • Korea's YedangOnline acquires ShowEast

    16-May-2006

    KOSDAQ-listed games companyYedangOnline Corp has acquired a 54.6% share in Korean production anddistribution house ShowEast.

  • States and Stories take top prizes at Korea's Jeonju festival

    8-May-2006

  • Bubble set for multi-platform release in Korea

    5-May-2006

    Steven Soderbergh's Bubble is set to be the first film in Korea to receive a day-and-date multi-platform release onmobile phones as well as theatrical, cable TV, DVD and video-on-demand (VoD).The film is to open on May 11.

  • KOFIC to send Korean filmmakers overseas

    19-Apr-2006

    The Korean Film Council(KOFIC) is setting up a series of international training programmes, startingin China, to help Korean filmmakers to work more easily overseas.

  • Korean director Shin Sang-ok dies aged 80

    12-Apr-2006

  • Group tries to stop Korean release of The Da Vinci Code

    7-Apr-2006

    Fundamentalistgroup the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) has applied for aprovisional injunction to stop the local theatrical release of The Da Vinci Code.

  • Kwak to adapt controversial Japanese novel

    3-Apr-2006

    Korean director KT Kwak,whose credits include Typhoon, Korea's most expensive film to date, is set to direct a film based on famousJapanese novelist Murakami Ryu's Hanto ODeyo (Get Out Of The Peninsula).

  • Korea's Nabi Pictures moves into Chinese production

    28-Mar-2006

    Korea's Nabi Pictures is establishing a branch in China, Beijing Nabi Pictures, to produce aChinese-language film.

  • Korea's Jeonju film festival kicks off with Offside

    28-Mar-2006

  • Innotz/Prime Entertainment buys Korea Entertainment

    23-Mar-2006

    Koreanfilm conglomerate Innotz/Prime Entertainment has taken over more established productioncompany Korea Entertainment, producer of commercial hits My Tutor Friend, Mapado, and The Art ofFighting.

  • Korea's Tube Entertainment merges with media companies to form Mediacorp

    22-Mar-2006

    Koreaninvestor/distributor Tube Entertainment has merged with stock exchange-listed publisherYoungjin Dotcom and entertainment-related firms Media 2.0 and Oi Music tocreate a "total media" enterprise called Mediacorp, which will be listed on thestock market.

  • Adrift finds safe harbour with Korean distributor

    21-Mar-2006

    Summit Entertainment hasclosed a deal with Korean major distributor Showbox Mediaplex forEnglish-language thriller Adrift. About a groupof holiday-makers who get stranded in the water without a ladder to get back upinto their yacht - with a baby alone on board, the film was all but sold out inBerlin.

  • Chinese TV's biggest film channel grabs MK trio

    21-Mar-2006

    Korean producer/distributor MK Pictures has announced a deal with China's government-run film channel CCTV-6 for broadcast rights to three films.

  • Lotte makes first move into international sales

    21-Mar-2006

    LOTTE EMBARKS ON INTERNATIONAL SALESBy Jean NohLeading Korean exhibitor Lotte Entertainment is getting its feet wet in international sales with A Millionaire's First Love, selling the teen romance to Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand at this Filmart, and is currently looking at deals for Hong Kong/China and Vietnam.

  • Thailand's M Pictures gets Restless

    21-Mar-2006

    Korea's CJ Entertainment has pre-sold swordplay fantasy Restless to Thailand's M Pictures.

  • Korea primed for novel entertainment

    20-Mar-2006

    Korea's Prime Entertainment is poised to sign with Japanese novelist group Osawa Office to adapt an Arimasa Osawa novel for the screen, potentially leading to a partnership between the two companies for adaptation, production, and distribution.

  • Showbox sounds out dub-only release

    20-Mar-2006

    In a bold marketing stratagem,leading Korean investor/distributor Showbox Mediaplex is considering releasing the animation Hoodwinked! inits locally dubbed version only.

  • Biopic spies North Korean location shoot

    19-Mar-2006

    A biopic about a Korean composer who was found guilty of spying for the North while in Germany is about to become the firstSouth Korean film to shoot on location in North Korea's capital city.

  • Chinese studio start-up hires sales veteran

    19-Mar-2006

    Korean sales executive Bill Hwang has moved to Meridian Pictures Group(MPG) as Director of International Distribution.

  • Korea to say hello to MGM, Hallyuwood

    16-Mar-2006

    South Korea is in line for its first two entertainment themeparks - a Korean Wave-themed "Hallyuwood" and a Hollywood-themed MGM Studio City.

  • Busan boosted by spring shoots

    15-Mar-2006

    For years the southern South Korean cityof Busan (also spelt "Pusan")was known as something of a cultural backwater, more so when compared to its biggermetropolitan rival Seoul.Then five years ago director KT Kwak shot his 1980s-set feature Friend back in his hometown, taking advantage of its distinctive characteristicssuch as the old-time fish markets, railroad tracks ...

  • Korean DVD market springs to life for US studios

    15-Mar-2006

    The US studios can expect DVD sales in South Korea to reach a record high this year, according to localIT trade publication The Electronic Times.

  • Im's Thousand Year Crane cranks up with Prime backing

    13-Mar-2006

    Korean maestro ImKwon-taek's 100th film has started production with backing from start-up studioPrime Entertainment which is contributing 40% of the $3.8m budget and willdistribute the film.

  • Korean film King and the Clown rules the box office

    6-Mar-2006

    Sleeperhit King and the Clown became Korea's biggesthit of all time with a tally of 11.8 million admissions yesterday (March 5), toppingprevious record-holder Taegukgiwith 11.7 million.

  • Korean theatres opt to keep screen quota intact

    2-Mar-2006

    In a new twist in the on-goingsaga of Korea's screen quota system, the Seoul Theatre Associationhas announced it will maintain the current quota for local films irregardlessof the recent government decision to cut it by half.

  • Korean star takes lead role in new entertainment venture

    25-Feb-2006

    Koreansuperstar Bae Yong-joon is taking a leading role in an ambitious new Asian entertainment venture.

  • MK Pictures teams with Japanese animation house

    21-Feb-2006

    Korean studio MK Picturesand Japanese animation group GDH KK have signed a memorandum of understandingfor mutual co-operation in the Asian market, including Korea and Japan.

  • Korean filmmakers and farmers stage protest against screen quota

    17-Feb-2006

    Korean filmmakers havejoined with rice farmers to protest the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA)in a mass rally entitled Candlelight Culture-fest "Rice and Cinema" to Maintainthe Screen Quota and Block the FTA. - US trade pressure for FTA negotiationsdemanding the halving of the screen quota and the opening of the rice market.

  • CJ CGV to build multiplexes with Shanghai Film Group

    15-Feb-2006

    Major Korean exhibitor CJCGV is forming a joint venture company with Chinese state-owned studio ShanghaiFilm Group (SFG) to build multiplexes in China.

  • Lee and Shin to oversee Korea's Prime Entertainment

    13-Feb-2006

    Lee Seung-jae, CEO of Korean production company LJFilm, has confirmed that he will oversee film production at rising Koreanstudio Prime Entertainment, formerly known as Innotz.Lee brings with him CJ Entertainment's former head offilm business Shin Sang-han who will head up distribution and exhibition.Prime ...

  • Korean filmmakers stage screen quota protest

    8-Feb-2006

    SouthKorean filmmakers across the nation put a stop to production for the day, andstaged a large-scale protest rally against the government's recent announcement- bending to US tradepressure - that it would half the 146-day screen quota. A turn-out of approximately 3,000protestors including filmmakers, actors, students, and citizens' group members,rallied this afternoon (Feb 8) in Seoul, despite the -9 degree Celsius weather.

  • Korea's CJ CGV to open cinema in Los Angeles

    3-Feb-2006

    Leading Korean multiplexchain CJ CGV plans to open a three-screen, 650-seat cinema in Los Angeles.

  • Korea's CJ sells its DreamWorks stake to Paramount

    3-Feb-2006

    Following the completion of Paramount's acquisition of DreamWorks, Korean conglomerate CJCorporation has sold its 4.95% stake in the studio to Paramount for $35.8m.

  • Sleeper hit becomes Korea's third biggest ever film

    1-Feb-2006

    Korean sleeper hit King And The Clown has clocked up morethan 8.2 million admissions, making it Korea's third biggest box office hit of all time after Taegukgi with 11.7 million admissionsand Silmido with 11 million.

  • Korean government unveils $400m film support fund

    27-Jan-2006

    Korea's Ministry of Culture and Tourism is establishing a $400m Korean FilmDevelopment Fund to run over five years.

  • Korea set to cut screen quota in half

    26-Jan-2006

    South Korea's government is to cut its 146-day screen quota forlocal productions in half starting July 1.

  • Korean law firm to take action against online piracy

    25-Jan-2006

    Korean law firm Ilsong LawOffice and film portal site Cinetizen.com have announced an initiative to tackleillegal internet distribution which is estimated to cost the local film industry$300m a year.

  • Megabox finds new backer following Loews pullout

    23-Jan-2006

    Major Korean multiplex chainMegabox has secured investment from the private equity arm of StandardChartered Bank which has acquired a 45% stake in the company for $73m.

  • Korean conglomerate acquires LJ Film

    22-Jan-2006

    Korean conglomerate Prime Industrialhas acquired Seoul-based production company LJ Film in a move to expand intothe entertainment sector.

  • Korea's CJ Entertainment to be restructured

    19-Jan-2006

    Korea's major film industry power player, CJ Entertainment, is being delistedand split into two in a move by its parent company to increase investment inthree core growth businesses.

  • Korean master's 100th film saved from shutdown

    17-Jan-2006

    Korean master director ImKwon-taek's 100th film has been saved from the verge of shutdown bystart-up production company Kino2 and funding from Centurion TechnologyInvestment Corp and the Korean Film Council.

  • Korean 2005 box office hits 30-year high

    16-Jan-2006

    South Korea's box office hit a 30-year high in 2005, ratchetingup over 145 million admissions nationwide.

  • Korea's MK Pictures plans Chinese multiplex expansion

    4-Jan-2006

    Finalising a recent memorandum of understanding on film businessdevelopment, Korean producer/distributor MK Pictures has signed with China'sEastern Dragon Film and Beijing Bona Culture Media International to partner ina multiplex development enterprise. The deal was signed on December 27 in Beijing.The equity investments from the three partners totals ...

  • Korea's MK Pictures signs second China deal

    23-Dec-2005

    Korea's MK Pictures has signed a deal to provide China's largest internet protocol TV (IPTV) serviceprovider, Zhejiang Huaying Media, with video-on-demand and pay-per-view content.

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