Pope Francis’ death renews fascination with films depicting papal elections, livesThe passing of Pope Francis has reignited public interest in cinematic portrayals of papal elections and the lives of popes, most notably in “Conclave,” currently showing in theaters, and Netflix’s 2019 movie, “The Two Popes.” Pope Francis, who led the world's 1.4 billion Catholics for nearly 12 years, died Monday at 88 after a battle with respiratory issues, despite brief signs of recovery and public Easter appearances. Following the news, “Francis” and “Conclave” became top trending keywords on X. In particular, “Conclave,” which means a private meeting where cardinals gather to elect the next pope, has garnered attention due to the proximity of its release to Pope Frances' passing. Directed by Edward Berger, “Conclave” portrays conflicts, conspiracies and betrayals that arise during a papal election. The movie premiered outside Korea last year and was released domestically on March 5. The film follows 140 cardinals who gather to elect a new pope, engaging in repeated rounds of voting while confined within the Vatican. It offers a detailed look at the secretivApr 23, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
'Reset' echoes unanswered questions of Sewol tragedy, offers few in returnEleven years have passed since a ferry slipped beneath the waves off Korea's southwestern coast, claiming 304 lives — mostly high school students bound for Jeju Island on a field trip that was never meant to end in sorrow. On an otherwise unremarkable Wednesday morning, the slow descent of the great ferry was broadcast live across the nation — a tragedy unfolding in real time. At one point, the screen momentarily offered false hope that all had been saved. Salvation, however, never came and the nation was left to bear, with aching helplessness, the weight of a loss too vast to comprehend. Four hours after the first SOS call rang out at 8:55 a.m. the ship had vanished under the dark waters. What followed was a collective mourning — government probes, a flood of films and documentaries, and aching reflection. Director-producer Min Bae's documentary film "Reset" primarily traces the emotional journey, over nine years since the tragedy's outset, of Moon Jong-taek, father of Moon Ji-sung, one of the 250 student victims. During the painstaking years, Moon emerged as both a fierce advocateApr 23, 2025By Yonhap
CJ’s Miky Lee to address USC film school graduatesMiky Lee, vice chairwoman of CJ Group, will deliver the 2025 commencement address for the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts, the U.S. university and the Korean conglomerate said Wednesday. They said Lee, a key figure in driving CJ’s entertainment and media ventures through its entertainment arm CJ ENM, is scheduled to attend the graduation ceremony on May 16. USC School of Cinematic Arts Dean Elizabeth M. Daley lauded Lee as "a champion of artists and storytellers and a trailblazer in the evolution of multinational film collaborations." "She loves international cinema and brings that appreciation to every project she produces. Her career stands as a global model of success in the creative industries, and her dedication to creating cultural connection is an inspiration for us all. We are so pleased to welcome her to USC," Daley added. Lee has made a significant history in the industry, including CJ’s early investment in DreamWorks SKG. As an executive producer, she has been involved in critically acclaimed films such as Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” (2Apr 23, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Yoo Ah-in nominated for best actor at Directors Cut Awards despite drug scandalThe Director's Guild of Korea (DGK) has announced the nominees for the 23rd Director's Cut Awards, with actor Yoo Ah-in, who has been embroiled in a drug scandal, named as a nominee for best actor in the film category. The awards ceremony is set for May 20 and will recognize films and drama series released between Jan. 1, 2023, and Mar. 31, 2024, by directors who are regular or associate members of the DGK. First launched in 2000, the Directors Cut Awards launched a drama series category in 2022. Unlike other awards, nominees and winners are selected through vote by film directors. The event honors creators with awards for best director, best screenplay, best new director, and the Vision Award, which recognizes achievements in independent cinema. In the acting categories, it makes no distinction between lead and supporting roles, and it also celebrates rising talents with special “breakthrough actor” awards. In the film category, nominees for best director include Kim Hyung-joo for "The Match;" Nam Dong-hyeop for "Handsome Guys;" Bong Joon-ho for "Mickey 17;" Woo Min-ho for "Harbin;"Apr 22, 2025By KTimes
Ma Dong-seok trades punches in demon-slaying movie ‘Holy Night: Demon Hunters’Actor and producer Ma Dong-seok, who has delivered catharsis to audiences by taking down heinous criminals with his fists in "The Roundup" series, has returned as a member of a demon-exorcising team in the upcoming occult-action flick "Holy Night: Demon Hunters." The 54-year-old actor said he was able to deliver even more powerful punch action for audiences in “Holy Night: Demon Hunters” compared to his previous work in "The Roundup” because the movie contains fantasy elements. "I put a lot of effort into the action sequences, and seeing the final result, I anticipate that the fantasy genre will allow for explosive and refreshing action," Ma told reporters after a press preview of the movie in Seoul, Monday. "Fortunately, it was well-portrayed, and I think the action turned out to be even more explosive. The crime action movies I've done before were based on reality, so there were limitations to the action to maintain that realism. But here, I could expand on it more, which felt more satisfying." He added that he hopes audiences will feel a sense of excitement through this film, asApr 21, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Korean animation 'The King of Kings' still strong in North American box office in 2nd week"The King of Kings," a Korean animation about the life of Jesus, is going strong at the North American box office in its second week since debut, records showed Sunday. According to Box Office Mojo, a U.S.-based online tracker of box-office revenue, the film came in third place at the North American box office, adding $6.68 million in sales from 3,535 theaters on Friday. The animation, which debuted in North American theaters on April 11, grossed $34.694 million in North America in the past eight days, and another $35 million in Britain and Australia, among other countries. The film slipped to third place with the debut of "Sinners" by Warner Bros Pictures, but its ticket sales stayed relatively strong compared to other top 10 films, which saw a 20 to 80 percent loss of sales this week. U.S. magazine Variety estimated the film would add $17 million in ticket sales this weekend, down some 12 percent from the previous weekend. "The King of Kings" was written and directed by Jang Seong-ho, head of Mofac Studios renowned for its top-notch visual effects, and features the birth and resurrectioApr 20, 2025By Yonhap
Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung reveals son’s same-sex marriage, jokes she loves her son-in-law more than her sonVeteran actress Youn Yuh-jung recently revealed that her eldest son married his same-sex partner in New York. Youn made the comments during a recent interview with a foreign media outlet ahead of the release of “The Wedding Banquet,” which is a Hollywood remake of Ang Lee's 1993 classic of the same title. In the interview, Youn shared that her son came out in 2000 and later married in New York when same-sex marriage was legalized there. Youn said the whole family came to New York for the wedding because it was still secret in Korea. The actress said she still doesn’t know what the reaction would be back home. She also joked that she now loves her son-in-law more than her son, while acknowledging the challenges parents of gay children can face in Korea. Youn has two sons with her former husband, singer and TV personality Jo Young-nam. This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.Apr 20, 2025By KTimes
Korean filmmakers demand halt to Korean Film Archive appointment amid political turmoilKorean filmmakers demanded Culture Minister Yu In-chon to halt the ministry's recruitment process for a new head of the Korean Film Archive (KOFA), labeling the minister as a part of the “insurrection forces” linked to last December’s martial law declaration by now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. With less than 50 days until the presidential election following the Constitutional Court's removal of former President Yoon, the Coalition for Overcoming Crisis in the Film Industry, comprising 18 local filmmakers' guilds, issued a statement Friday. "At this moment, with the Constitutional Court having unanimously voted to remove the impeached Yoon Suk Yeol and a new presidential election only 48 days away, a person who served as a spokesperson for the emergency martial law situation that destroyed Korean democracy and plunged the people into suffering has absolutely no authority to initiate the appointment process for the director of the Korean Film Archive, a crucial cornerstone of Korean film art and industry," the statement read. The coalition is calling for an immediate suspensioApr 18, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Ma Dong-seok’s Hollywood project ‘Pig Village’ begins filmingActor and producer Ma Dong-seok is set to charm global audiences with his Hollywood project “Pig Village.” Distributors Plus M Entertainment and ABO Entertainment announced Friday that “Pig Village” has begun filming with a star-studded cast, including Michael Rooker and Colin Woodell. The movie is based on an original idea by Ma, also known as Don Lee. Lee Sang-yong, who directed the hit cop movies "The Roundup" (2022) and "The Roundup: No Way Out" (2023), both of which Ma produced and starred in, will helm this project as well. Ma is the creator, producer and lead actor for the film, which follows the story of professional bare-knuckle boxer Hammer and a cast of criminals with different backgrounds as they gather in San Diego. Having achieved the remarkable feat of three films with more than 10 million views in Korea's "The Roundup” and making a strong impression on global movie fans as Gilgamesh in Marvel Studios' 2021 movie "Eternals," Ma will showcase his signature action style in this new project, according to the distributors. "I have long dreamed of making a genuine HollApr 18, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Korean feature films snubbed at Cannes for first time in 26 yearsFor the first time in 12 years, Korean cinema will be absent from the Cannes Film Festival, with no Korean features selected for the official lineup in May. The last time Korea's film industry failed to secure any invitations to screen at the official selection of the prestigious festival was in 1999, and it’s the first time since 2013 that no Korean film will be screened in the official selection. While no Korean feature films be screened at the festival, slated for May 13 to 24, the Critics' Week section, a parallel event held alongisde the main festival, invited director Joung Yu-mi's short animated film "Glasses." However, this still stands in stark contrast to Korea's celebrated history at Cannes, which began in earnest with Lee Doo-yong's "Mulleya Mulleya," invited to the festival in 1984. Since then, Korean cinema has consistently received attention from organizers and attendees. Experts highlight that this year's unprecedented exclusion is not merely a coincidence but a reflection of deeper issues within the film industry here, with the shift towards streaming platforms seen asApr 18, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
