Jang Jae-hyun, a South Korean film director and screenwriter, earned acclaim for his work on blockbuster films such as The Priests (2015), Svaha: The Sixth Finger (2019), and Exhuma (2024). His career took off when he worked as an assistant director on the period drama Masquerade (2012). Jang Jae-hyun was also praised for his short…
Tag: Asian Cinema
26th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Kim Seong-hun, Director of “Ransomed” – Exclusive Interview
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” – Exclusive Interview
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” – Exclusive Interview
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: “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,…
26th Far East Film Festival: FOCUS ASIA 2024 Announces All Selected Projects and Works in Progress
Following the success of the previous edition, FOCUS ASIA 2024, the industry segment of the Far East Film Festival, is delighted to announce the full selection for the All Genres Project Market and Far East in Progress. These platforms serve as vital conduits for projects with potential for Asian and European co-production, as well as…
26th Far East Film Festival: “Customs Frontline” to Close the FEFF in Udine
The Closing Night of FEFF 26 will begin with the prestigious awarding of Lifetime Achievement Golden Mulberries to both Zhang Yimou and Chiu Fu-sheng, followed by the screening of the restored version of To Live. The festival’s conclusion will feature the world premiere of Herman Yau’s thrilling new action film, Customs Frontline. Herman Yau, screenwriter…
Harry Song: Discovering His Path, Identity, and the Power of Acting – Exclusive Interview
For those in the arts, once you get a taste of creativity, it comes naturally. Surprisingly, while many of us know what our calling is, Chinese-Australian actor Harry Song was on a different path, focused on his academics and planning a gap year. Little did he know, that his true passion would be awakened while…
“Home for Rent” Review
2023’s Home for Rent might not immediately strike you as a terrifying choice for your watchlist, but as the old adage goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” In this case, the same applies to a Netflix thumbnail. Thai horror films have a knack for unsettling Western audiences by expertly blending jump scares and…
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – In Conversation with Patiparn Boontarig, Director of “Solids by the Seashore”
Solids by the Seashore, set against a Southern Thai coastal town, tells the story of two young women who cross their paths on a beach that was once sandy but now stands eroded by high tides and replaced by artificial rock seawalls. Shati, a local Muslim woman from a conservative family, encounters Fon, a former…
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – In Conversation with Yuqing Lai, Director of “Two Suns”
In its 38th year, BFI Flare: LGBTQIA+ Film Festival in London shines with its programme yet again. Apart from big names and films on the menu, the festival also included little gems from the Asian continent, and Two Suns is one of them. Written and directed by Yuqing Lai, the short film, characterised by its…
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – “Heavy Snow” Review
Heavy Snow, written and directed by Yun Su-ik, is a subtle, heartwarming, and delicate narrative that depicts a friendship and budding romance between two teenage girls and their tumultuous journey through adolescence. At the centre of the story is Seol (Han So-hee: Nevertheless, My Name), a teenage actress whose world is transformed when she encounters…
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – “Nobody Knows” Review
Despite significant progress in recent years, the LGBTQIA+ community continues to face discrimination and marginalisation in Asia and around the world. While some countries have made strides towards equality, many from the community still live in fear of persecution, violence, and rejection by society due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. In Asia, cultural…
