Yang Hee-kyung is a celebrated South Korean actress who began her career in theatre before expanding into television and film. She earned early acclaim with a Best Actress win at the 19th Seoul Theater Festival in 1995. Known for her natural charisma, Yang consistently delivers powerful performances, and her role in The Land of Morning…
Category: Asian Cinema
In Conversation with Yoon Joo-sang of “The Land of Morning Calm”
With a career that spans almost four decades and includes roles in theatre, television, and film, Yoon Joo-sang is undeniably one of South Korea’s most experienced and respected actors. Born in 1949, he has delivered powerful performances across a variety of genres and platforms, earning awards such as the Best Supporting Actor award at the…
In Conversation with Khazsak Kramer of “The Land of Morning Calm”
Khazsak Kramer’s debut in The Land of Morning Calm is a remarkably moving entry into the world of cinema. Taking on the role of Young Ran, a Vietnamese woman living in a rural Korean fishing village, Kramer brought to life a character who is strong yet emotional. From the moment she read the script, she…
27th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Cynthia Yee, Luka Yang and Shari Matsuura of “Chinatown Cha-Cha”
Nonagenarian Coby Yee is the shining light of the vibrant and soft-hearted documentary Chinatown Cha-Cha, as director Luka Yuanyuan Yang turns her attention to the life of the legendary dancer. But the spotlight is shared with Yee’s longtime dancing partners – the Grant Avenue Follies – and the film becomes more than just a portrait…
27th Udine Far East Film Festival: “The Square” Makes Its World Premiere
For over two decades, the Udine Far East Film Festival has been presenting a wide range of films from East and Southeast Asia. Often these features are making their European premieres or international festival premieres at Udine – but ever so often, the elegant Teatro Nuovo is graced with a world premiere, and audiences in…
27th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Sylvia Chang
“I feel we’re very blessed we still have films.” When looking outside feels scary, you tend to panic and freeze. And if art refuses to forgive anything, it’s stillness. It takes courage to choose to create, and great patience to learn from it. The film industry and its relationship with filmmakers have long been considered…
27th Udine Far East Film Festival: “Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants” Review
Two legends of Chinese cinema gracing the stage are enough to get anyone buzzing for the show to come, and Tsui’s adaptation film, Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants, was no less anticipated than his other fantastical masterpieces. Before the film’s international festival premiere at the 27th Udine Far East Film Festival, legendary wuxia…
27th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Jo Seon-ho and Kim Jae-joong, Director and Producer Respectively of “Hear Me: Our Summer”
The industry has needed a proper feel-good flick for a long time. Not just the bittersweet, but the genuine, wholeheartedness of a story designed to relight some hope in humanity. The Taiwanese hit romance Hear Me did this over a decade ago, and recently got its much-anticipated Korean redo. After its Italian premiere at the…
27th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Chieh Shuen Bin, Director of “Organ Child” and Actress Moon Lee
Organ trafficking is a global crisis that hides in plain sight. Generating more than $1.7 billion annually, it’s estimated that one in ten organ transplants occurs through illegal means. In Asia, the growing gap between the wealthy and the poor only intensifies the trade’s horrors. These are not just numbers; they are lives torn apart,…
27th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Arak Amornsupasiri and Vuthipong Sukhanindr, Directors of “The Stone”
What drives a person to lie in the name of faith – or to believe in something that can’t be proven? In The Stone, a directorial debut from Thai artists Arak Amornsupasiri and Vuthipong Sukhanindr, such questions take center stage. Known for their work in acting, music, and design, the duo steps confidently behind the…
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