Kim Seong-hun’s filmmaking journey began as an assistant director on romantic comedies before directing his first feature, which unfortunately didn’t bring fruitful results. Determined to redeem himself, he took inspiration from Pedro Almodóvar’s work and spent years making his next project, A Hard Day. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, it received widespread acclaim and…
26th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Kim Sung-soo, Jung Woo-sung, and Kim Won-kuk of “12.12. The Day”
Kim Sung-soo, a South Korean filmmaker, is well-known for films such as Musa, Asura: The City of Madness, and City of the Rising Sun. His recent film, 12.12 The Day, is a gripping political thriller set in the aftermath of President Park’s assassination in 1979, portraying the power struggles and uncertainty that ensued. Led by…
26th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Park Young-ju, Director of “Citizen of a Kind”
Park Young-ju initially pursued creative writing but shifted her focus to screenwriting when her screenplays failed to attract attention from filmmakers. Faced with this challenge, she directed her own screenplay and debuted with A Delivery Girl in 2014. In 2016, she found inspiration in a story by Pyun Hye-young, leading her to direct the short…
26th Far East Film Festival: “Ransomed” Review
Where film demands dramaticism, realism is forfeited, Ransomed is the latest piece of Korean cinema to take a bit of history and whip up a fun action flick around it. The true story it’s based on of a Korean diplomat’s abduction in Lebanon is like a small meringue, sitting atop a thick lemon tart of…
26th Far East Film Festival: “12.12: The Day” Review
12.12: The Day is the new cinematic offering from Kim Sung-su, a South Korean filmmaker well-known for Musa, Asura: The City of Madness, and Flu. And, just like his previous works, 12.12: The Day is a gripping and powerful narrative filled with sublime performances. In the wake of President Park’s assassination in 1979, the political…
26th Far East Film Festival: “Citizen of a Kind” Review
Perhaps the most remarkable tale is one of a seemingly unremarkable person who defies their dreary destiny and takes control of their life. Nothing is more impressive than when these occur in real life – not just some fantasy stirred up for a good bit of fiction. Citizen of a Kind, directed by Park Young-ju,…
Blish Opens Up About His Life and His Debut Album, “Wanderland” – Exclusive Interview
Born and raised in Osan, around 21 miles away from Seoul, Blish found his early childhood filled with pure moments of joy while hanging out with friends, playing soccer, and taking part in festivals and school stage performances, whether it was singing or dancing. However, it wasn’t until adolescence that Blish’s musical goals began to…
OnlyOneOf – 2024 North American Tour
K-Pop boy group OnlyOneOf, currently on their 2024 World Tour, Things I Can’t Say LOve, is about to hit Los Angeles. With ten stops throughout North America the group will be performing on May 5th at the Novo located in the bustling Downtown of Los Angeles. OnlyOneOf was formed with 8D Entertainment and debuted in…
“Parasyte: The Grey” Review
If you were curious about whether any contemporary alien life form could appear more terrifying than the demogorgons from the renowned science fiction TV series Stranger Things, then Parasyte: The Grey presents a challenge for you. While they may not resemble the conventional image of parasites, the reality is even worse—they are fully formed, shape-shifting…
YES! 82MAJOR To Return with Their First Mini-album, “BEAT by 82″, on April 29th
82MAJOR, a K-pop rookie boy group, is a squad of six young guns with a strong sense of who they are and where they’re headed. Consisting of Nam Seong Mo, Park Seok Joon, Yoon Ye Chan, Cho Seong Il, Hwang Seong Bin, and Kim Do Gyun, they’re on a mission to shake up the K-pop…