Africa Film Festival brings continent’s vibrant cinema to KoreaThe Africa Film Festival, organized by the Korea-Africa Foundation, is showcasing the diversity, creativity and cultural depth of African cinema, bringing the vibrancy and rich narratives of the continent to Korean audiences. The seventh edition, which opened Tuesday, runs through June 15 and unfolds across three cities — in Seoul through May 26, in Busan from May 27 to June 1 and for the first time in Jeonju from June 12 to 15 — marking a significant expansion in its reach. Launched in 2019, the festival intends to break down negative stereotypes and introduce the many diverse facets of Africa through the power of film. Now in its seventh year, the festival continues to grow, offering a more comprehensive look at the continent’s cinematic landscape. Highlighting the festival’s mission to foster cultural exchange and mutual understanding, Kim Young-chae, president of the Korea-Africa Foundation, said in his opening remarks that “this festival is not just about watching films but about building strong bridges between Korea and Africa, and shaping a future based on mutual respecMay 21, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
'Mission: Impossible 8' hits 1 mil. viewers in 5 days"Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning" has drawn over 1 million moviegoers within five days of its release, its local distributor Lotte Entertainment said Wednesday. The eighth installment of Tom Cruise's popular action franchise opened in local theaters Saturday, dominating the local box office and setting this year's record for opening day attendance with 423,945 admissions. The film surpassed the 1 million admissions mark three days earlier than "Yadang: The Snitch," the most popular Korean movie of the year so far. In a video message shared by the distributor, stars Simon Pegg and Greg Tarzan Davis thanked Korean fans for their love and support.May 21, 2025By Yonhap
Tom Cruise appears on BTS member Jin’s YouTube showHollywood star Tom Cruise has appeared on BTS member Jin’s online entertainment show, marking a high-profile meeting between two global celebrities. Cruise, who visited Korea to promote his new film "Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning," joined Jin on his YouTube show Run Jin, creating a buzz among fans worldwide. In the interview, Jin kicked things off playfully with the question, “Do you know BTS?” to which Cruise replied with an enthusiastic “Yeah,” setting the tone for their friendly exchange. Jin shared that the first film he watched after turning 15 was from the Mission: Impossible series, expressing admiration for Cruise. Cruise returned the warm sentiment, praising Korean culture: “Korean culture is amazing, the people are incredibly warm, the history is fascinating and the food is delicious,” he said. "I feel energized being in this culture." The two also discussed Cruise’s now-famous aerial stunt, which involved hanging off a plane 2,438 meters in the air. “It was the hardest weight workout you have done," in five minutes, Cruise said, describing it asMay 21, 2025By Hankookilbo
Why Jeonju is now Korea's hottest filming location?Korean filmmakers and streaming giants are turning their cameras to Jeonju, a city where tradition and cinematic innovation meet, making the city in North Jeolla Province one of the hottest filming locations for movies and dramas. From the bustling Hanok Village — a cluster of traditional Korean houses — to the city’s film studio complex, Jeonju’s blend of history, culture and modern infrastructure is drawing the attention of both domestic and international production teams. The city’s recent partnership with New Zealand’s Kumeu Film Studios — famed for producing global blockbusters like “Avatar” and “Mulan” — signals Jeonju’s growing ambitions as an international film industry hub. The agreement, made last year, includes plans for Asia’s second Kumeu Film Studios and a virtual production facility. “Jeonju has made film and video production one of its core development priorities for over 20 years,” an official from Jeonju City Government's culture, sports and tourism bureau said. “The city’s Hanok Village and tranquil atmosphere make it an ideal locatiMay 20, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
'Mission: Impossible 8' crushes weekend box office"Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning" dominated the weekend box office, drawing over 750,000 moviegoers, data showed Monday. According to the Korean Film Council, Tom Cruise's eighth installment of the popular action franchise, which opened in local theaters Saturday, attracted 759,213 viewers during the weekend. Its opening-day attendance of 423,945 set a new record for the year, surpassing the previous high of 248,047, set by Bong Joon-ho's "Mickey 17." It outperformed the opening score of "Exhuma," last year's biggest hit, which began with 330,118 admissions and went on to top 11.9 million in total. The film also exceeded the opening-day turnout of 264,719 for "Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol," which ultimately drew 7.5 million viewers in the country in 2011. Following the movie on the chart were the Korean crime thriller "Yadang: The Snitch," which attracted 116,828 over the Friday-Sunday period; Warner Bros.' "A Minecraft Movie" with 63,455 viewers; and the Korean action drama "The Old Woman With the Knife" with 46,748.May 19, 2025By Yonhap
‘Yadang: The Snitch’ expands global release amid international acclaimKorean crime thriller “Yadang: The Snitch,” is making a strong impression both at home and abroad as it continues its global rollout. After opening in Indonesia on April 23 and in North America on April 25, distributor Plus M Entertainment confirmed Friday that the film will soon hit theaters in Vietnam, Mongolia, Taiwan, Australia, the U.K. and Thailand. The film’s overseas expansion follows its success at the domestic box office. Since its release here on April 16, “Yadang: The Snitch” has drawn more than 3 million moviegoers in less than a month, becoming the top-grossing film of the year so far. The movie’s popularity is driven by its tightly woven plot, unpredictable twists and the powerful performances of its leading cast, including Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hae-jin and Park Hae-joon. Audience ratings have remained consistently high, with CGV’s Golden Egg Index climbing to 97 percent and Lotte Cinema’s viewer score reaching 9.4 out of 10 in the second week. “Yadang” is a Korean slang term for informants who provide information about drug dealers and buyers to the policeMay 16, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
How ‘A Minecraft Movie’ broke the game-to-film curse in KoreaThe Minecraft movie is making a surprisingly strong showing in theaters, standing out in a market where video game adaptations often struggle to find traction. Despite its niche appeal as a game-based film, “A Minecraft Movie” is winning over audiences. Released in Korea on April 26, “A Minecraft Movie” follows the story of four characters —Garrett, Natalie, Dawn and Henry — who are unexpectedly pulled into the blocky realm of the Overworld. There, they meet Steve, a seasoned explorer, and embark on an adventure that spans the square-shaped universe. With popular names like Jason Momoa and Jack Black in the cast, the film has gained instant attention from Korean audiences. Since its debut, the film has topped the foreign box office in Korea and became the third foreign release this year to surpass one million admissions. On Children’s Day, May 5, it even climbed to the No. 1 spot across the entire box office. Overseas, the movie delivered the strongest opening for a Jason Momoa film, posted the best debut score of the year in European markets and grossed $157 million in NMay 16, 2025By Hankookilbo
Movie-inspired products take over as Korean films team up with brandsKorean movies are increasingly teaming up with various brands in a mutually beneficial strategy that allows filmmakers to connect more effectively with audiences amid a sluggish market, while also enabling brands to cultivate a more approachable image through cinematic tie-ins. "As the film industry struggles to recover from the slump we've been in since the COVID-19 pandemic, many filmmakers are seeking more effective marketing strategies, and collaborations with brands are a growing trend in this effort," an official from the local film industry said, Thursday. "Given the aligned needs of both brands and film production companies, we anticipate this trend will continue." “Big Deal,” an upcoming film mainly dealing with the Korean distilled alcoholic beverage "soju," is one of the prime examples of this trend. Set during the 1997 financial crisis, the film tells the story of a struggling soju company battling for its future. To enhance authenticity, the movie’s production partnered with Mokpo-based Bohae Brewery to develop a new soju flavor specifically for the movie. This collaborMay 15, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Despite no feature invited to Cannes, Korea strives to make presence felt at Film MarketThe 78th Cannes Film Festival opened on Tuesday without a single Korean feature film in its official selection for the first time in 12 years, but Korean filmmakers and distributors are still hoping to make their presence felt in the Cannes Film Market, a marketplace for films held alongside the festival, presenting a diverse slate of high-profile projects to woo global buyers. The Cannes Film Market is the world’s largest marketplace for film rights. Each year, it brings together film industry officials from all over the world. Throughout the festival, participants actively engage in buying and selling film rights, co-productions, remakes and a wide range of business deals, making it a central hub for global film industry transactions and collaborations. On its Tuesday edition, Screen Daily, a British news outlet covering the Cannes Film Festival, introduced a wide range of upcoming Korean films. In its Buzz Titles South Korea section, the newspaper said, “South Korean sellers arrive in Cannes with an electric selection of titles, including the latest from 'Train to Busan's' YeonMay 14, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
K-dramas, films grapple with ‘actor risk’The global rise of K-content has brought unprecedented attention and investment to Korea’s entertainment industry, but it has also magnified the disruptive force of so-called "actor risk" — the potential for an individual performer’s misconduct to jeopardize big budget productions. Recent controversies surrounding prominent actors Yoo Ah-in and Kim Soo-hyun highlighted the risk, sparking debates over the fate of completed works starring them and how responsible stars should be for their actions. Yoo’s ongoing legal battle over alleged habitual drug use is a prominent case study. Yoo was released on probation in his second trial in February and films starring him are now being released. His movie "The Match," was delayed for around two years as a result of the investigation but finally had a theatrical release in March. While promotional efforts minimized his presence, the film surpassed its break-even point. Yoo even received a Best Actor nomination at the Director's Cut Awards, hosted by the Directors Guild of Korea, for his performance in the film, highlighting the complex inteMay 13, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
