Youn Yuh-jung draws laughter for playful BAFTA acceptance speech Youn Yuh-jung won Best Supporting Actress at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards, held at Royal Albert Hall in London, Sunday (local time). Courtesy of BAFTA 'Minari' star takes huge leap towards Oscars with BAFTA winBy Kwak Yeon-sooIf there were an award given to the most humorous actor, Youn Yuh-jung would be one of the strongest contenders. She didn't lose her sense of humor even during her improvised acceptance speech at Sunday night's British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards. Playfully calling British people “snobbish,” the Korean actor said that this trait of theirs has made her even more proud of winning the Best Supporting Actress Award. “First, I express my deep condolences regarding your Duke of Edinburgh. And thank you so much for this award. Every award is meaningful, but this one, especially the fact that I am being recognized by British people, who are known to be snobbish… the fact that they approve of me as a good actor makes me very happy. Thank you so much,” Youn said. Her remarks drew the lApr 12, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Int'l mountain film event in Ulju lauded as model 'contactless festival' The audiences of the 6th Ulju Mountain Film Festival watch a film at a headset screening area in Yeongnam Alps, April 4. Courtesy of Ulju Mountain Film Festival's executive committeeBy Ko Dong-hwanThis year's Ulju Mountain Film Festival (UMFF) ended April 11, after being lauded as a “model contactless festival” for successfully catering to visitors despite the challenging COVID-19 environment that required social distancing and rigorous hygiene protocols.Held from April 2 across venues inside the Yeongnam Alps theater complex in Ulju County in western Ulsan, the event was held both indoors and outdoors. Indoor cinemas provided spaces for audiences, filmmakers and stars to converse in working sessions as well as watch movies. But the real efforts by the event organizers were put into preparing outdoor theater environments to maintain the venues' convenience, entertainment level and safety. At a headset screening zone, audiences snuggled inside cushy beanbag chairs that were evenly spaced from each other on lawns and put on headphones before watching films. People also enjoApr 12, 2021By Ko Dong-hwan
Korean Youn Yuh-jung wins best supporting actress for 'Minari' at BAFTA Youn Yuh-jung receives Supporting Actress BAFTA award for "Minari" during the 74th British Academy Film Awards in London, April 11. Handout via ReutersSouth Korean screen veteran Youn Yuh-jung has won best supporting actress for her role in the immigration film "Minari" at this year's British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards.At the ceremony of the BAFTA Film Awards held at London's Royal Albert Hall on Sunday (British time), Youn took home the award for best supporting actress.She beat Maria Bakalova for "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm," Niamh Algar for "Calm with Horses," Kosar Ali for "Rocks" and Ashley Madekwe for "County Lines."Youn took a role of the livewire grandmother Soonja in "Minari," written and directed by Korean-American director Lee Isaac Chung, which tells the story of a Korean immigrant family settling in rural Arkansas."Thank you so much for this award. Every award is meaningful, but this one, especially being recognized by British people, known as snobbish people, and they approve me as a good actor," she said in an online acceptance speech. "I'm veryApr 12, 2021
'Way Back Home' follows rape survivor's path to healing from trauma A scene from “Way Back Home” / Courtesy of Monsoon Pictures By Kwak Yeon-sooThe movie “Way Back Home” focuses on a rape survivor's internal journey to put her life back together after the traumatic assault. In the film, actress Han Woo-yeon plays Jung-won, a rape survivor who is married to a loving husband, Sang-woo (Jeon Suk-ho), and is living a normal day-to-day life. One day, she receives a call from the police who says that the perpetrator who raped her 10 years ago has been arrestedHowever, Jung-won feels hesitant to tell her husband about the case, fearing his reaction. The couple's relationship becomes awkward and distant at first, but as Jung-won's traumatic past is revealed, Sang-woo comforts her, helping her to overcome the trauma.Director Park Sun-joo said she wanted to focus on the protagonist's path to healing from trauma. “I decided to make a film about rape survivor after watching news that a perpetrator was caught 10 years after committing the crime Apr 11, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Award-dominating 'Nomadland' wins top Hollywood director prize In this file photo taken on September 5, 2015, US-China director Chloe Zhao poses during a photocall to present the movie "Songs My Brothers Taught Me" in the French northwestern sea resort of Deauville, during the 41th Deauville US Film Festival. AFP-YonhapChloe Zhao's "Nomadland" won this year's top Hollywood directing award Saturday ― the final major guild ceremony before the Oscars, and an important late bellwether in Tinseltown's pandemic-delayed and mainly virtual award season.Zhao spent her entire victory speech praising her fellow nominees, who must now be wondering what they can do to catch up with her critically adored and awards-dominating US road movie before the Academy Awards on April 25."I want to thank you guys for teaching me so much, and for showing your support ― you have made this journey so much more special," the 39-year-old director, previously best known for indie movie "The Rider," told rival directors via video call.Those filmmakers included David Fincher ("Mank"), Emerald Fennell ("Promising Young Woman") and Lee Isaac Chung ("Minari") ― who will also vie fApr 11, 2021
'Minari' star Han Yeri signs with US management agency Han Yeri / Courtesy of Pan CinemaSouth Korean actress Han Yeri, who played a skeptical yet caring mother in the award-winning film "Minari," has signed with a Hollywood management agency for representation in the United States, her Korean agency said Friday.Han has signed a management contract with Echo Lake Entertainment, Saram Entertainment said.Echo Lake, located in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, represents famous actors, including Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Mandy Patinkin and Odessa Young. It has also produced a large number of Hollywood films and television dramas.The Hollywood management firm said it was astonished at Han's powerful and stable acting in "Minari" and it is its pleasure to represent her in the film industry in the U.S. and the world beyond, according to Saram Entertainment.Saram also said it is happy that she found a partner that could support her advancement into Hollywood.The 37-year-old actress recently expanded her career to the United States through the drama film "Minari" about a Korean-American immigrant family starting a new life in rural Arkansas inApr 9, 2021
INTERVIEW EXID's Hani on playing foul-mouthed runaway teenager in debut feature Ahn Hee-yeon, also known as Hani of K-pop group EXID / Courtesy of Little Big Pictures By Kwak Yeon-sooAhn Hee-yeon, better known as Hani of K-pop girl group EXID, said playing a foul-mouthed runaway teenager in her debut feature, “Young Adult Matters,” was a brave and difficult decision.Directed by Lee Hwan, the film tells a story about a group of runaways trying to help one of their own terminate her pregnancy. Ahn plays play the role of Ju-young, a teenager who flees with her pregnant friend Se-jin (Lee Yu-mi) and comes to see the harshness of reality through a series of unfortunate events.Ahn explained that it was during her trip to Greece after terminating her contract with Banana Culture Entertainment when director Lee sent her a message asking her to review the script.“After my contract with my ex-agency expired, I went on a one-month trip to Greece and Italy. At that time, I didn't know what I wanted to do. I needed some 'me time' to think about my next stepApr 8, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Jeonju film festival unveils 10 films in international competition From left, programmers Chun Jin-su, Moon Seok, Sung Moon and actress Choi Hee-seo announce the line-up of the 22nd Jeonju International Film Festival during an online press conference in Jeonju, Tuesday. Courtesy of Jeonju IFFBy Kwak Yeon-sooJeonju International Film Festival (Jeonju IFF) organizers announced on Tuesday the 10 feature films that will compete in the International Competition section this year. Selected from 398 submissions, the line-up includes Jimmy Keyrouz's Lebanese drama “Broken Keys,” about a pianist trying to escape a Syrian town controlled by ISIS; Colombian director Mercedes Gaviria's documentary “The Calm After the Storm,” which deals with familial conflicts; Ukrainian director Kateryna Gornostai's “Stop-Zemlia,” which tells the story of a teenage girl navigating emotional turmoil. “The biggest feature is that six out of 10 are works of female directors. I think there has been a breakthrough with female filmmakers around the globe and this phenomenon will likely continue. The themes were varied ― from films that centeApr 6, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Night in Paradise' offers rare glimpses of tranquility amid bloody gang war From left, actors Um Tae-goo, Jeon Yeo-been and Cha Seoung-won pose during a press conference for “Night in Paradise” on Jeju Island, Friday. Courtesy of Netflix By Kwak Yeon-sooWriter-director Park Hoon-jung's new film, “Night in Paradise,” is a noir-themed crime thriller that deviates from conventional gangster movies. It places a superheroine at the forefront and offers rare glimpses of tranquility amid a bloody gang war.Park, whose screenwriting credits include “I Saw the Devil” (2010) and “The Unjust” (2010), previously directed the gangland crime drama “New World” (2013) and the female-centered heroine franchise film “The Witch: Park 1. The Subversion” (2018).The film revolves around a mobster named Tae-goo (Um Tae-goo) who is being chased by organized crime gangs. He flees to Jeju Island and meets Jae-yeon (Jeon Yeo-been), a mysterious woman with impressive sharpshooting skills, but who is suffering from a terminal illness. Cha Seoung-won plays gang chief Ma,Apr 5, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
South Korean Youn Yuh-jung wins SAG Award for supporting role in 'Minari' This image released by A24 shows, from left, Steven Yeun, Alan S. Kim, Youn Yuh-jung, Han Ye-ri, and Noel Cho in a scene from "Minari." APSouth Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung won an award at the U.S. Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards for her supporting role in the drama film "Minari."At the televised ceremony of the 2021 SAG Awards on Sunday (U.S. time), Youn was named the winner of Outstanding Performance By a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, beating Maria Bakalova for "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm," Glenn Close for "Hillbilly Elegy," Olivia Colman for "The Father" and Helena Zengel for "News of the World.""I don't know how to describe my feelings," she said in her emotional acceptance speech. "I'm recognized by Westerners. It is very, very honorable that my actor fellows chose me as a (best) supporting actress. I'm very pleased and happy. Thank you. Thanks SAG."She is the first South Korean actor to win the individual acting category in the award given by U.S. actors. Last year, the cast of the Oscar-winning "Parasite" clinched SAG's top prize, Outstanding Performance by a Cast, or beApr 5, 2021
