Spirit-senders, multiple-timers create buzz Cause-driven audiences show support for low-budget films By Jung Hae-myoungSome film lovers watch the same movie in theaters twice or more. Some buy tickets for their favorite films online but don't show up at the theater, leaving their seats vacant. They either have seen it before or don't have time to make it but they buy the tickets because they want to show their support for the films, so the directors or producers are encouraged to produce similar works. In this Korean trend, cause-driven fans are called “spirit-senders” as they send their mental support for their favorite films by purchasing tickets. Together with "multiple-timers," spirit-senders are emerging as new film consumers. Multiple-timers made the news last year when the British rock band Queen's biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” went blockbuster in Korea. Over 9 million tickets were sold for the movie, sparking Queen fever in Korea. Some watched the same film twice or more. Spirit-senders are a relatively new phenomenon which was captured in two films ― “Miss & Mrs. Cops” and “MMay 23, 2019
'The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil' gets standing ovation at Cannes The South Korean film "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil" received a standing ovation at a non-competition screening at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday.The action-adventure film was shown at Grand Theatre Lumiere in Cannes, southern France, as part of the festival's out-of-competition "Midnight Screenings."With director Lee Won-tae and stars Ma Dong-seok, Kim Mu-yeol and Kim Sung-kyu also on hand, the film brought the audience to their feet for about four minutes.The cast and director waved their hands to the cheering crowd, with Kim Mu-yeol, who portrayed the cop, giving a thumbs-up."I appreciate the Cannes Festival's invitation, and thank all of you here for watching the movie until midnight," the director said after the screening.The one-hour-and-50-minute film is about a gangster and a police officer who team up to catch a serial killer for their own reasons.The movie, which was released in South Korea last week, is at the top of the local box office, with a cumulative total of more than 1.9 million viewers as of Wednesday. (Yonhap)May 23, 2019
Cannes Film Festival blunder: Wrong photo used in name mix-up Actress Jang Hye-jin, left, and Olympic medalist Chang Hye-jin. Capture from twitter, photo from Hankook IlboBy Lee Gyu-leeThe Cannes Film Festival has confused actress Jang Hye-jin with an Olympic medalist in South Korea's national archery team who has the same name. As a result, the athlete's photo was printed on the festival's Photocall brochure on Tuesday, instead of the dazzling actress. Actress Jang is visiting Cannes to promote the tragicomedy “Parasite,” which was invited to the festival for the main competition. She plays the wife in an unemployed and poor family.The movie's distributor CJ ENM discovered the error in Photocall and asked the organizer to change the photo. How the wrong image was used is unknown. “Parasite,” directed by Bong Joon-ho, premiered at the Grand Theatre Lumiere in Cannes on Tuesday night. The director and cast ― Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Jang Hye-jin, Park So-dam, Choi Woo-sik and Lee Jung-eun ― received an eight-minute ovation from the audience after the film was shown. The movie will hit domestic theaters oMay 22, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
Korean film 'Alien' competes at Cannes for short film award Director Yeon Je-gwang, right / Korea Times fileBy Lee Han-naDirector Yeon Je-gwang, 29, is competing in the Cannes International Film Festival's short film contest Cinefoundation with his film “Alien.”“Alien” is one of the 17 films to make the shortlist out of some 2,000 international films that were submitted and Yeon was invited to the festival as a result.Yeon said he was super-excited because he has been pursuing a filmmaking career his whole life. “I was eating when I got the phone call from festival staff saying that my film was nominated for the Cinefoundation Award. I was really excited to hear the news,” he said. “Alien” revolves around the tragic death of undocumented Chinese-Korean manufacturing worker Reong-hee who dies after falling from the rooftop of a building while running away from an immigration officer. Feeling pressure, together the owner and manager of the company try to cover her death up. Her friend Hong-mae, also an undocumented Chinese worker, organizes a funeral for her friend. In an interview with Yonhap NewMay 20, 2019
"Avengers: Endgame" yields box office No.1 to Korean action film "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil"Cannes-invited local action-adventure movie "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil" outpaced "Avengers: Endgame" and rose to the top place at the South Korean box office in its first weekend, data showed Monday.Released on Wednesday, "The Gangster" sold 1.11 million tickets from Friday to Sunday for a cumulative total of 1.48 million, according to the data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).The movie, starring Ma Dong-seok and Kim Mu-yeol, is about a gangster and a police officer who team up to catch a serial killer for their own reasons. It will be shown out of competition in the Midnight Screenings section at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.Marvel's latest blockbuster "Avengers: Endgame" dropped to the second spot for the first time since it hit the local screens on April 24. It garnered 388,851 viewers over the three-day period to reach 13.45 million in total, the most tickets sold by a foreign movie in South Korea.The Korean action-comedy film "Miss & Mrs. Cops" came to third with an additional 371,850 tickets to its total of 1.22 million."PokemonMay 20, 2019
'Avengers: Endgame' becomes most-viewed foreign film in S. Korea "Avengers: Endgame" became the most-watched foreign film in South Korean history, with over 13.33 million admissions Sunday, its distributor said.The latest Marvel superhero flick set the record at around noon, Walt Disney Company Korea said based on a real-time box-office tally from the Korean Film Council.The previous No. 1 was "Avatar" (2009), which sold 13.30 million tickets from 2009 to 2010."Endgame," the epic finale to the superhero studio's decadelong series, has been breaking South Korea's box-office records since its release on April 24.It has since claimed the biggest single day and opening day record with 1.3 million admissions while selling the most tickets in the first week.On the 11th day of its run, the movie passed the 10 million mark, becoming the 24th film and the third Marvel film ever to hit the milestone. The movie surpassed 13 million on the 22nd day.A film seen by an audience of 10 million is considered a huge success in a country with a 51.7 million population. In "Endgame," the Avengers' surviving superheroes, who became Earth's last hope after the end of "AMay 19, 2019
Mati Diop on being the first black female director in Cannes French actress and film director Mati Diop looks on during a press conference for the film "Atlantics” (Atlantique) at the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, May 17. AFPMati Diop was initially disappointed when she read in a news article that she was the first black female filmmaker nominated for the Cannes Film Festival's most prestigious award in its 72-year history. “I hadn't realized myself. I didn't know,” the 36-year-old French-Senegalese filmmaker said in an interview. “My first reaction is that I found it quite sad. I thought, 'Oh, is it?' So there's still a long way to go before it becomes something completely natural and normal and something that's not noticeable, the fact that I'm a black woman.” Diop's milestone has been enthusiastically celebrated in Cannes, where on Thursday she premiered her feature film debut “Atlantics” (Atlantique). The film, which is competing for the Palme d'Or, focuses on the women left behind in Dakar when many of the local young men flee Senegal for Spain by boat, unablMay 18, 2019
Song Kang-ho wins 'Excellence' award in Switzerland Song Kang-ho/ Courtesy of ShowboxBy Park Jin-haiVeteran actor Song Kang-ho became the first Asian actor to win the Excellence Award at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland. Referring to Song as an “eclectic, versatile, graceful actor, who has been able to conquer South Korean cinema and then access the world of international stardom,” the film festival announced Thursday that the 52-year-old Korean actor will receive the award during the annual film festival, which will be held from Aug.7 to 17.“The Locarno Film Festival's Excellence Award goes to actors who have followed significant, courageous paths. Thus far the recipients have all been American or European, but for me it was important to open up this prize to Asian cinema,” said Lili Hinstin, artistic director of the festival in a statement. The Excellence Award is given to personalities who, through their work and talent, have enriched cinema. Past winners include Ethan Hawke, Isabelle Huppert, Edward Norton and Juliette Binoche. “Song might not be a household name for audiences inMay 17, 2019By Park Jin-hai
Song Kang-ho becomes first Asian to receive Locarno film Excellence Award Actor Song Kang-ho while filming “A Taxi Driver” (2017). Korea Times fileBy Lee Gyu-leeKorean actor Song Kang-ho will receive the Excellence Award at Switzerland's 72nd Locarno Film Festival in August, the organizer said Thursday.Song, 52, one of Korea's most prolific actors, is the first Asian to win the international award. It recognizes the unique contribution made by internationally acclaimed actors or actresses to the film industry. Past recipients include John Malkovich, Edward Norton and Ethan Hawke."Thus far the recipients have all been American or European, but for me it was important to open up this prize to Asian cinema," festival artistic director Lili Hinstin said. She described Song as the “peerless interpreter of the variety and intensity of emotions generated by Korean cinema,” emphasizing the diversity of his work. Song will receive the award on August 12 in Locarno. He will also hold a panel discussion the next day. The actor debuted in 1996 with a minor role in the film "The Day a Pig Fell into the Well." He became internationally renowned aMay 17, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
Kim Ki-duk to unveil new film in Cannes By Park Jin-haiKim Ki-duk. Courtesy of Kim Ki Duk FilmFilmmaker Kim Ki-duk, who has been in the hot seat for allegedly sexually harassing and assaulting actresses, will unveil his newest film at Cannes Film Festival. The film, whose title and details have yet to be disclosed, is known to be a 72-minute-long drama created by Kim Ki Duk Film. It will be screened to buyers, film critics and journalists at the Cannes Film Market sometime between May 15 and 16. It has been rumored that Kim's latest film was shot at a resort city in Kazakhstan. The award-winning director, who won a Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival for “Pieta” in 2012 and a Silver Lion for Best Director at the 61st Venice International Film Festival for “3-Iron” in 2004, fell from grace last year, after several actresses accused him of sexually assaulting them while filming. But the court in January dismissed the sexual assault charges over lack of evidence. Kim followed up seeking false accusation and defamation suits against the accusers including MBC's investigative TV show &lMay 15, 2019By Park Jin-hai
