The Cannes Film Festival has unveiled the eight jurors who will be joining jury president Greta Gerwig for the event’s 2024 edition (May 14-25).
They are American actress Lily Gladstone, French actress Eva Green, French actor and producer Omar Sy, Lebanese director and screenwriter Nadine Labaki, Spanish director and screenwriter Juan Antonio Bayona, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, Turkish screenwriter and photographer Ebru Ceylan, and Italian actor Pierfrancisco Favino.
The jury will award the Palme d’Or to one of the 22 films in competition at the closing ceremony on May 25. Anatomy Of A Fall picked up the top prize last year.
They are American actress Lily Gladstone, French actress Eva Green, French actor and producer Omar Sy, Lebanese director and screenwriter Nadine Labaki, Spanish director and screenwriter Juan Antonio Bayona, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, Turkish screenwriter and photographer Ebru Ceylan, and Italian actor Pierfrancisco Favino.
The jury will award the Palme d’Or to one of the 22 films in competition at the closing ceremony on May 25. Anatomy Of A Fall picked up the top prize last year.
- 4/29/2024
- ScreenDaily
Filipino director Sheron Dayoc’s The Gospel Of The Beast won the top Golden Star Award for best Southeast Asian film at the first Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival (Hiff) in Vietnam, which also saw several titles dropped from the final programme due to censorship by local authorities.
The Gospel Of The Beast marks the first feature in seven years from Dayoc and tells the story of a teenage boy who accidentally kills his classmate and runs away with an older man he barely knows, forming a unique father-son relationship. It premiered at Tokyo in October.
Scroll down...
The Gospel Of The Beast marks the first feature in seven years from Dayoc and tells the story of a teenage boy who accidentally kills his classmate and runs away with an older man he barely knows, forming a unique father-son relationship. It premiered at Tokyo in October.
Scroll down...
- 4/15/2024
- ScreenDaily
Rights to “I, The Executioner,” which will premiere as a Midnight Screening at the Cannes Film Festival this year, have been picked up by South Korea’s Cj Enm.
The crime-action film directed by Ryu Seung-wan (also written Ryoo Seung-wan) is a sequel to Ryu’s 2015 hit “Veteran” and in Korea goes by the title “Veteran 2.”
Few details of the story have yet been disclosed, but Cj describes the film as “combining Ryu’s trademark action with observations and messages about social change.” Ryu last year enjoyed major box office success with crime comedy “Smugglers.”
Hwang Jung-min, who recently enjoyed box office success in “12.12: The Day,” reprises his role from “Veteran.” He is joined in the sequel by Jung Hae-in (“Tune in for Love”) as a new member of the film’s Violent Crime Investigation Squad.
“I, The Executioner” was produced by Filmmaker R & K, the production shingle owned...
The crime-action film directed by Ryu Seung-wan (also written Ryoo Seung-wan) is a sequel to Ryu’s 2015 hit “Veteran” and in Korea goes by the title “Veteran 2.”
Few details of the story have yet been disclosed, but Cj describes the film as “combining Ryu’s trademark action with observations and messages about social change.” Ryu last year enjoyed major box office success with crime comedy “Smugglers.”
Hwang Jung-min, who recently enjoyed box office success in “12.12: The Day,” reprises his role from “Veteran.” He is joined in the sequel by Jung Hae-in (“Tune in for Love”) as a new member of the film’s Violent Crime Investigation Squad.
“I, The Executioner” was produced by Filmmaker R & K, the production shingle owned...
- 4/12/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (Mar 15-17) Total gross to date Week 1. Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros) £4m £26.2m 3 2. Wicked Little Letters (Studiocanal) £588,034 £7.3m 4 3. Migration (Universal) £573,719 £19m 7 4. Bob Marley: One Love (Paramount) £509,000 £16m 5 5. Imaginary (Lionsgate) £406,382 £1.4m 2
Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.27.
Warner Bros’ Dune: Part Two remains on top of the UK and Ireland box office while Ethan Coen’s Drive-Away Dolls opens just outside of the top five for Universal.
The Dune sequel raked in £4m on its third weekend - dropping just 31% and bringing its total to £26.2m.
In second place is Wicked Little Letters which dipped just...
Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.27.
Warner Bros’ Dune: Part Two remains on top of the UK and Ireland box office while Ethan Coen’s Drive-Away Dolls opens just outside of the top five for Universal.
The Dune sequel raked in £4m on its third weekend - dropping just 31% and bringing its total to £26.2m.
In second place is Wicked Little Letters which dipped just...
- 3/18/2024
- ScreenDaily
Blue Finch Film Releasing presents A Bittersweet Life, The Foul King and The Chaser on digital platforms from 8 April. These must-see modern Korean cult cinema classics from acclaimed filmmakers Kim Jee-woon and Na Hong-jin, are exploding back onto screens, with The Foul King available in the UK and Ireland for the very first time.
A Bittersweet Life
Gangster Sun-woo (Lee Byung-hun) has worked his way up the ranks in his organisation, earning the trust of his callous crime boss Mr. Kang, who assigns him to spy on his mistress fearing she may be having an affair. When Mr Kang's suspicions are found to be true, Sun-woo finds his life on the line when his choice to spare the mistress and her secret lover's lives starts an irreversible gang war.
This ultra-stylish neo noir is written and directed by renowned filmmaker Kim Jee-woon, and features a career-defining performance from international star Lee Byung-hun,...
A Bittersweet Life
Gangster Sun-woo (Lee Byung-hun) has worked his way up the ranks in his organisation, earning the trust of his callous crime boss Mr. Kang, who assigns him to spy on his mistress fearing she may be having an affair. When Mr Kang's suspicions are found to be true, Sun-woo finds his life on the line when his choice to spare the mistress and her secret lover's lives starts an irreversible gang war.
This ultra-stylish neo noir is written and directed by renowned filmmaker Kim Jee-woon, and features a career-defining performance from international star Lee Byung-hun,...
- 3/15/2024
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist was named best film at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Sunday evening (March 10).
The Japanese drama, which premiered in competition at Venice where it won five awards including the grand jury prize, also picked up best original music for composer Eiko Ishibashi.
Scroll down for full list of winners
While Hamaguchi was not at the ceremony, held in the Grand Theatre of the Xiqu Centre in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District, the top prize was accepted in-person by Ishibashi, cinematographer Yoshio Kitagawa and co-editor Azusa Yamzaki – presented by...
The Japanese drama, which premiered in competition at Venice where it won five awards including the grand jury prize, also picked up best original music for composer Eiko Ishibashi.
Scroll down for full list of winners
While Hamaguchi was not at the ceremony, held in the Grand Theatre of the Xiqu Centre in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District, the top prize was accepted in-person by Ishibashi, cinematographer Yoshio Kitagawa and co-editor Azusa Yamzaki – presented by...
- 3/10/2024
- ScreenDaily
Disney+/Hulu has been confirmed as the global home of Uncle Samsik, the South Korean drama series starring Parasite‘s Song Kang-ho.
News of the 1960s-set series first emerged last year, at which point the network or streamer behind it hadn’t been confirmed. Disney+ has confirmed that it will launch globally this year, with Hulu doing the same in the U.S.
Uncle Samsik mark the first time in Song’s decades-long career that he has starred in a drama series, and it has now been confirmed that Byun Yo-han has joined the cast. Song will play the titular character and Byun as Kim San.
The series follows San, an ambitious idealist who is driven to turn his country’s fortunes around. He attracts the attentions of Pak Doochill (Uncle Samsik) a shady fixer who takes whatever steps necessary to help him accomplish his boss’s goals. Together, the pair form an uneasy alliance,...
News of the 1960s-set series first emerged last year, at which point the network or streamer behind it hadn’t been confirmed. Disney+ has confirmed that it will launch globally this year, with Hulu doing the same in the U.S.
Uncle Samsik mark the first time in Song’s decades-long career that he has starred in a drama series, and it has now been confirmed that Byun Yo-han has joined the cast. Song will play the titular character and Byun as Kim San.
The series follows San, an ambitious idealist who is driven to turn his country’s fortunes around. He attracts the attentions of Pak Doochill (Uncle Samsik) a shady fixer who takes whatever steps necessary to help him accomplish his boss’s goals. Together, the pair form an uneasy alliance,...
- 1/3/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
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"Monster", directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, is one of the most acclaimed movies of 2023 that you probably haven't heard of yet.
Set in Japan, the film follows three people: the single mother Saori Mugino (Sakura Andō), her young son Minato (Sōya Kurokawa), and Minato's teacher Michitoshi Hori (Eita Nagayama). Saori begins to suspect that Hori is abusing her son, while Hori suspects that there's something sinister in the boy's head. The truth, which I'll leave unspoiled, is a lot sadder. The film is told from their three perspectives. Seeing the same sequence of events three times highlights how hard it is to truly understand someone by looking at them from the outside.
"Monster" enjoyed a film festival run, taking home the Queer Palm (bestowed to Kore-eda) and Best Screenplay (to Yuji Sakamoto) awards at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May...
"Monster", directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, is one of the most acclaimed movies of 2023 that you probably haven't heard of yet.
Set in Japan, the film follows three people: the single mother Saori Mugino (Sakura Andō), her young son Minato (Sōya Kurokawa), and Minato's teacher Michitoshi Hori (Eita Nagayama). Saori begins to suspect that Hori is abusing her son, while Hori suspects that there's something sinister in the boy's head. The truth, which I'll leave unspoiled, is a lot sadder. The film is told from their three perspectives. Seeing the same sequence of events three times highlights how hard it is to truly understand someone by looking at them from the outside.
"Monster" enjoyed a film festival run, taking home the Queer Palm (bestowed to Kore-eda) and Best Screenplay (to Yuji Sakamoto) awards at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May...
- 1/1/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Bookmark this page for the latest updates in the territory.
Screen is listing the 2023 release dates for films in the UK and Ireland in the calendar below.
For distributors who wish to add/amend a date on the calendar, please get in touch with Screen here. Screen is also running a calendar for festival and market dates throughout 2023 here.
December
December 31
Berliner Philharmoniker Live: New Year’s Eve Concert 2023 (Trafalgar - event cinema)
Previous releases January
January 6
Piggy (Vertigo), The Enforcer (Vertigo), Alcarràs (Mubi), A Man Called Otto (Sony), Rashomon (BFI), Till (Universal)
January 7
Andre Rieu In Dublin 2023 (Piece of...
Screen is listing the 2023 release dates for films in the UK and Ireland in the calendar below.
For distributors who wish to add/amend a date on the calendar, please get in touch with Screen here. Screen is also running a calendar for festival and market dates throughout 2023 here.
December
December 31
Berliner Philharmoniker Live: New Year’s Eve Concert 2023 (Trafalgar - event cinema)
Previous releases January
January 6
Piggy (Vertigo), The Enforcer (Vertigo), Alcarràs (Mubi), A Man Called Otto (Sony), Rashomon (BFI), Till (Universal)
January 7
Andre Rieu In Dublin 2023 (Piece of...
- 12/30/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
I found this year’s list to be quite tricky. I’m quite happy with my order from ten through six but the top five have changed a fair amount over the last month or so. Like with any list I guess, it’s just a temperature test of how you’re feeling at that time. I also wrestled with the inclusion of my choice for number ten but sometimes you just have to be honest with yourself and admit when you’ve really enjoyed a movie. On an observational level, there’s slightly less animation on this year’s list than there has been in previous couple of years. The latest Spider-Verse instalment, which I have got in my honourable mentions, could’ve made the cut but it feels like the first part of a wider story. If they stick the landing with Beyond though it’ll likely retroactively...
- 12/27/2023
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
Exclusive: UTA has signed Hirokazu Kore-eda, the internationally celebrated Japanese filmmaker known for titles like Monster and Shoplifters, for representation in all areas.
The deal is particularly significant, Deadline hears, as the agency continues to expand its presence in Japan, and throughout Asia more broadly. Kore-eda will work closely going forward with UTA’s Asia Business Development division, which looks to amplify Asian and Asian-American voices by creating and curating a diverse array of opportunities, between Hollywood and Asia, for clients, partner companies, and brands.
Kore-eda’s most recent feature, Monster, had its North American premiere at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival after world premiering in Cannes, where it was awarded the Queer Palm and the prize for Best Screenplay. The film penned by Yuji Sakamoto watches as a mother confronts her young son’s teacher after she notices him acting strangely. Sakura Andō, Eita Nagayama, and Sōya Kurokawa star.
Kore-eda...
The deal is particularly significant, Deadline hears, as the agency continues to expand its presence in Japan, and throughout Asia more broadly. Kore-eda will work closely going forward with UTA’s Asia Business Development division, which looks to amplify Asian and Asian-American voices by creating and curating a diverse array of opportunities, between Hollywood and Asia, for clients, partner companies, and brands.
Kore-eda’s most recent feature, Monster, had its North American premiere at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival after world premiering in Cannes, where it was awarded the Queer Palm and the prize for Best Screenplay. The film penned by Yuji Sakamoto watches as a mother confronts her young son’s teacher after she notices him acting strangely. Sakura Andō, Eita Nagayama, and Sōya Kurokawa star.
Kore-eda...
- 10/24/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Award-winning feature documentary “Mom & Dad’s Nipple Factory” has inked a deal with Sonder Entertainment for a national theatrical tour beginning in October to coincide with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “Mom & Dad’s Nipple Factory,” a Jubilee Production, will screen in theaters nationwide and into next year ahead of its digital release in February.
Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Justin Johnson, the feature documentary tells the story of Johnson’s parents’ resilience in the face of a breast cancer diagnosis and unilateral mastectomy — which unexpectedly leads them to launch a novel homespun prosthetic nipple business. They hide this endeavor from their five children, church and small community.
“Mom and Dad’s journey, filled with love, humor, and ingenuity amidst adversity, has blossomed into a project that has already touched thousands of hearts in our festival run. I’m excited to partner with Sonder Entertainment to share this poignant yet humorous film with audiences nationwide,...
Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Justin Johnson, the feature documentary tells the story of Johnson’s parents’ resilience in the face of a breast cancer diagnosis and unilateral mastectomy — which unexpectedly leads them to launch a novel homespun prosthetic nipple business. They hide this endeavor from their five children, church and small community.
“Mom and Dad’s journey, filled with love, humor, and ingenuity amidst adversity, has blossomed into a project that has already touched thousands of hearts in our festival run. I’m excited to partner with Sonder Entertainment to share this poignant yet humorous film with audiences nationwide,...
- 10/5/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay, Jaden Thompson and Caroline Brew
- Variety Film + TV
"What really happened doesn't matter. You will defend our school." Well Go USA has revealed the official US trailer for an acclaimed Japanese film titled Monster, the latest film from prolific Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda. Set to open in art house theaters this Nov/Dec. Koreeda already won Palme d'Or a few years ago for Shoplifters, and debuted his Korean film Broker in Cannes last year, returning to Cannes this year for this premiere. A mother demands answers from teacher when her son begins acting strangely. The film has a score by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto. The cast includes the talented Sakura Ando, Eita Nagayama, and Yuko Tanaka, who overwhelm the audience with their transformative performances, and rising stars Souya Kurokawa and Yota Hiiragi, who play the two boys with freshness and emotion, as well as Mitsuki Takahata, Akihiro Tsunoda, Shidou Nakamura. The Rashomon-esque story follows a boy at school,...
- 10/5/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Who is the real monster when the truth comes out?
Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Monster” marks the director’s return to films set in Japan for the first time since winning the Palme d’Or for 2018 film “Shoplifters.” Kore-eda went on to helm “The Truth” and “Broker,” set in France and South Korea, respectively. “Monster” is also the first film Kore-eda has directed from another script since 1995’s “Maboroshi.” The “Monster” screenplay, written by Yuji Sakamoto, went on to win the Best Screenplay prize at Cannes 2023.
The official synopsis reads: When her young son Minato (Soya Kurokawa) starts to behave strangely, his mother (Sakura Ando) feels that there is something wrong. Discovering that a teacher (Eita Nagayama) is responsible, she storms into the school demanding to know what’s going on. But as the story unfolds though the eyes of the mother, teacher, and child, the truth gradually emerges.
“Monster” also...
Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Monster” marks the director’s return to films set in Japan for the first time since winning the Palme d’Or for 2018 film “Shoplifters.” Kore-eda went on to helm “The Truth” and “Broker,” set in France and South Korea, respectively. “Monster” is also the first film Kore-eda has directed from another script since 1995’s “Maboroshi.” The “Monster” screenplay, written by Yuji Sakamoto, went on to win the Best Screenplay prize at Cannes 2023.
The official synopsis reads: When her young son Minato (Soya Kurokawa) starts to behave strangely, his mother (Sakura Ando) feels that there is something wrong. Discovering that a teacher (Eita Nagayama) is responsible, she storms into the school demanding to know what’s going on. But as the story unfolds though the eyes of the mother, teacher, and child, the truth gradually emerges.
“Monster” also...
- 10/4/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
“I hope we can communicate and reconcile again,” said Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon on the opening night of the South Korean city’s film festival.
With so much of the dialogue in opening drama “Because I Hate Korea” discussing Korean societal rigidities, group loyalties, long working hours and poor pay (which cause the protagonist to emigrate to laid-back New Zealand), it is easy to forget that many of these characteristics are what may have saved this year’s Busan International FIlm Festival from going off the rails.
Mid-year, the festival’s aging senior management had a self-inflicted meltdown (a senior moment?) when chairman and co-founder Lee Yong-kwan set off a chain of events that caused multiple resignations, highlighting the old city-versus-festival political divide and alienating local sponsors and industry guilds.
This was dirty laundry that Busan should have washed out of its system in the years-long aftermath of the 2014 “The...
With so much of the dialogue in opening drama “Because I Hate Korea” discussing Korean societal rigidities, group loyalties, long working hours and poor pay (which cause the protagonist to emigrate to laid-back New Zealand), it is easy to forget that many of these characteristics are what may have saved this year’s Busan International FIlm Festival from going off the rails.
Mid-year, the festival’s aging senior management had a self-inflicted meltdown (a senior moment?) when chairman and co-founder Lee Yong-kwan set off a chain of events that caused multiple resignations, highlighting the old city-versus-festival political divide and alienating local sponsors and industry guilds.
This was dirty laundry that Busan should have washed out of its system in the years-long aftermath of the 2014 “The...
- 10/4/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Disney, Picturehouse, Mubi lead with most nominations.
The shortlist for The Big Screen Awards 2023 has been announced, with Disney leading the way with 19 nominations, followed by Picturehouse with 16.
The Awards have seen a 47% increase in the number of entries from last year’s first edition of the relaunched Big Screen Awards, with 243 entries across all categories this year compared to 165 in 2022.
Disney is nominated in multiple categories including Theatrical Campaign of the Year for Studio/Saturation releases in 500+ cinemas, Big Screen Event of the Year (Premiere) and Brand Partnership of the Year. Its 19 nominations include those for Searchlight Pictures titles,...
The shortlist for The Big Screen Awards 2023 has been announced, with Disney leading the way with 19 nominations, followed by Picturehouse with 16.
The Awards have seen a 47% increase in the number of entries from last year’s first edition of the relaunched Big Screen Awards, with 243 entries across all categories this year compared to 165 in 2022.
Disney is nominated in multiple categories including Theatrical Campaign of the Year for Studio/Saturation releases in 500+ cinemas, Big Screen Event of the Year (Premiere) and Brand Partnership of the Year. Its 19 nominations include those for Searchlight Pictures titles,...
- 10/4/2023
- by Ben Dalton¬Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
Cannes best actor winner and ‘Parasite’ star Song Kang-ho stars in the black comedy.
Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired US distribution rights to Kim Jee-woon’s black comedy Cobweb from South Korea’s Barunson E&a.
The film, which premiered out of competition at Cannes in May, will receive a US theatrical release in in early 2024.
Set in 1970s South Korea, when censors could dictate the plot of a film, Cobweb stars Song Kang-ho as an obsessive filmmaker who becomes hellbent on reshooting the ending of his latest film in two days in a bid to create a masterpiece.
Cobweb has...
Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired US distribution rights to Kim Jee-woon’s black comedy Cobweb from South Korea’s Barunson E&a.
The film, which premiered out of competition at Cannes in May, will receive a US theatrical release in in early 2024.
Set in 1970s South Korea, when censors could dictate the plot of a film, Cobweb stars Song Kang-ho as an obsessive filmmaker who becomes hellbent on reshooting the ending of his latest film in two days in a bid to create a masterpiece.
Cobweb has...
- 9/7/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Kim Jee-woon’s black comedy “Cobweb,” which debuted this year at Cannes, is set for a U.S. theatrical release in early 2024. Rights to the picture were licensed by distributor Samuel Goldwyn Films from Korea-based sales agent Barunson E&a.
The 1970s-set film within a film stars Song Kong-ho, star of Oscar-winning “Parasite” and 2022 winner of the best actor award at Cannes for his role in Kore-eda Hirokazu’s “Broker.”
Song appears as obsessive film director Kim, who is seized by the desire to re-shoot the ending of his completed film “Cobweb” in two days to create a masterpiece. Chaos lurks around every corner, from his confused and uncooperative cast and crew to interference from the then all-powerful censorship authorities.
Following its premiere at Cannes in May, the Anthology Studios-produced “Cobweb” will play at fall festivals including the 19th Fantastic Fest, the BFI London Film Festival and the 56th Sitges Film Festival.
The 1970s-set film within a film stars Song Kong-ho, star of Oscar-winning “Parasite” and 2022 winner of the best actor award at Cannes for his role in Kore-eda Hirokazu’s “Broker.”
Song appears as obsessive film director Kim, who is seized by the desire to re-shoot the ending of his completed film “Cobweb” in two days to create a masterpiece. Chaos lurks around every corner, from his confused and uncooperative cast and crew to interference from the then all-powerful censorship authorities.
Following its premiere at Cannes in May, the Anthology Studios-produced “Cobweb” will play at fall festivals including the 19th Fantastic Fest, the BFI London Film Festival and the 56th Sitges Film Festival.
- 9/7/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired U.S. rights to Korean filmmaker Kim Jee-woon’s Cobweb, starring Song Kang-ho, which had its world premiere Out Of Competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Barunson E&a is handling international sales on the film, which has also been sold to most of the rest of the world, including Japan (Happinet Phantom Studio), France, Germany & Italy (Plaion Pictures), Spain (La Aventura) and Australia & New Zealand (Umbrella Entertainment).
Set in 1970s Korea, when censors could dictate the plot of a film, Cobweb stars Song as an obsessive director who wants to re-shoot the ending of his completed film ‘Cobweb’ in two days to create a masterpiece. In the process he must contend with an uncooperative cast and crew, as well as interference from the censorship authorities.
Song starred in Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite and won...
Barunson E&a is handling international sales on the film, which has also been sold to most of the rest of the world, including Japan (Happinet Phantom Studio), France, Germany & Italy (Plaion Pictures), Spain (La Aventura) and Australia & New Zealand (Umbrella Entertainment).
Set in 1970s Korea, when censors could dictate the plot of a film, Cobweb stars Song as an obsessive director who wants to re-shoot the ending of his completed film ‘Cobweb’ in two days to create a masterpiece. In the process he must contend with an uncooperative cast and crew, as well as interference from the censorship authorities.
Song starred in Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite and won...
- 9/7/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Fan Bingbing’s recent gritty thriller Green Night is headed to North American cinemas. Film Movement has acquired all North American rights to the film and plans to roll it out in theaters this winter, followed by a release on home entertainment and digital platforms.
The film, set in South Korea, follows a Chinese woman who escapes her oppressive husband and sets out on a thrilling and dangerous adventure with a mysterious green-haired girl. Directed by Chinese woman director Han Shuai and shot in Korean and Mandarin, Green Night had its world premiere at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival in February, where it was well received by critics. The film co-stars Lee Joo Young, seen recently in Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Cannes favorite Broker.
“Fan Bingbing has an exceptional range which is truly on display in this feminist noir,” says Film Movement president Michael Rosenberg. “We’re also excited to show...
The film, set in South Korea, follows a Chinese woman who escapes her oppressive husband and sets out on a thrilling and dangerous adventure with a mysterious green-haired girl. Directed by Chinese woman director Han Shuai and shot in Korean and Mandarin, Green Night had its world premiere at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival in February, where it was well received by critics. The film co-stars Lee Joo Young, seen recently in Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Cannes favorite Broker.
“Fan Bingbing has an exceptional range which is truly on display in this feminist noir,” says Film Movement president Michael Rosenberg. “We’re also excited to show...
- 8/11/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Korean movie starring Park Seo-Jun and idol Iu is exactly what you expect from it, but somehow Dream still manages to hit you in the feels. We’ve seen this story a hundred times, especially when it comes to sports, but somehow it’s the complete opposite of boring and keeps you hooked from beginning to end. Not to say it doesn’t have its flaws, but it manages to entertain thanks to the performances by the supporting actors who make the team for the “Homeless Football World Cup.”
Director Lee Byeong-Heon planned on making Dream about a decade ago and finally had the chance to tell the story of the homeless. This doesn’t necessarily come across in the film; although he makes it a point for us to know exactly what the back story of each of the members of the team is, at the end of the day,...
Director Lee Byeong-Heon planned on making Dream about a decade ago and finally had the chance to tell the story of the homeless. This doesn’t necessarily come across in the film; although he makes it a point for us to know exactly what the back story of each of the members of the team is, at the end of the day,...
- 7/25/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
by Paweł Mizgalewicz
At this point in Hirokazu Koreeda's career, it's only expected to hear that his newest work, “Monster”, is easy to recommend – but it's quite tricky to describe. The reason for that is the amount of surprises awaiting us during the film's two hour course, not at all limited to usual within-genre plot twists. Truth be told, basically everything in “Monster” is not what it initially seems – the characters, the conflicts, the events, and even the overall focus of the tale and what the movie's broad subject is. Yes, if you are a bone fide spoilerophobe, I would even advise not to check out which awards was the movie called up for at the 2023 Cannes Festival, as it might be really exciting to discover some of the themes at the time when the movie had still been swaying in so many other directions. Thankfully, the main award...
At this point in Hirokazu Koreeda's career, it's only expected to hear that his newest work, “Monster”, is easy to recommend – but it's quite tricky to describe. The reason for that is the amount of surprises awaiting us during the film's two hour course, not at all limited to usual within-genre plot twists. Truth be told, basically everything in “Monster” is not what it initially seems – the characters, the conflicts, the events, and even the overall focus of the tale and what the movie's broad subject is. Yes, if you are a bone fide spoilerophobe, I would even advise not to check out which awards was the movie called up for at the 2023 Cannes Festival, as it might be really exciting to discover some of the themes at the time when the movie had still been swaying in so many other directions. Thankfully, the main award...
- 7/24/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
This year's edition of Cannes film festival offered a number of high quality titles from Asia, both in competiton(s) and side bar programmes. One of the most awaited films was Takeshi Kitano's “Kubi” screened in Premiere section, in director's presence. Back to the samurai genre, 20 years after the critically acclaimed “Zatoichi” and with a period piece based on his own historic novel published in 2019, Kitano struggled to bring his characters close to the audience, but stayed faithful to the title by making many heads roll. “Kubi” (which was also the title of his novel) means “neck”, a beloved target of the samurai sword. This is allegedly the last film by “Beat”, if we take his statement before the festival kicked off seriously.
A year after his drama “Broker” brought Palme D'Or for Best Actor to Song Kang-ho, and five after he was awarded Palme D'Or for “Shoplifters”, Hirokazu Koreeda...
A year after his drama “Broker” brought Palme D'Or for Best Actor to Song Kang-ho, and five after he was awarded Palme D'Or for “Shoplifters”, Hirokazu Koreeda...
- 6/18/2023
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Picturehouse Entertainment are excited to announce the release of Broker on Digital on 22nd May and on Blu-ray Special Edition & DVD 5th June and to celebrate we have 3 Special Edition Blu-rays to give away!
On a rainy night in Busan, So-young (Lee ‘Iu’ Ji-eun) leaves her baby Woo-sung outside a ‘baby box’, a safe place set up in Korean churches for new mothers to leave unwanted infants. Instead, he’s picked up by Sang-hyun (Parasite’s Song Kang-ho) who runs an unofficial adoption brokerage and plans to find him a new home. So-young tracks down both Sang-hyun and his business partner Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won) and decides to join their pursuit (alongside a seven-year-old
stowaway from a nearby orphanage), but as they search for Woo-sung’s new family, the unlikely group evolves into something of a family themselves – unaware they’re being tailed by two detectives who are determined to stop them.
On a rainy night in Busan, So-young (Lee ‘Iu’ Ji-eun) leaves her baby Woo-sung outside a ‘baby box’, a safe place set up in Korean churches for new mothers to leave unwanted infants. Instead, he’s picked up by Sang-hyun (Parasite’s Song Kang-ho) who runs an unofficial adoption brokerage and plans to find him a new home. So-young tracks down both Sang-hyun and his business partner Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won) and decides to join their pursuit (alongside a seven-year-old
stowaway from a nearby orphanage), but as they search for Woo-sung’s new family, the unlikely group evolves into something of a family themselves – unaware they’re being tailed by two detectives who are determined to stop them.
- 6/14/2023
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The festival runs June 23 - July 1.
Films by Jessica Hausner, Elegance Bratton and Sebastian Silva are among 36 titles selected for the Filmfest München’s three international competition strands, CineMasters, CineVision and CineRebels. The festival runs June 23-July 1.
CineMasters
Hausner’s Club Zero will be joined by another four Cannes competition titles - Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves, Marco Bellocchio’s Kidnapped, Kaouther Ben Hania’s Four Daughters, and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Monster - to screen in Munich’s CineMasters competition for the €50,000 Arri Award which is presented to the producers of the best international film.
The 12-title line-up also includes...
Films by Jessica Hausner, Elegance Bratton and Sebastian Silva are among 36 titles selected for the Filmfest München’s three international competition strands, CineMasters, CineVision and CineRebels. The festival runs June 23-July 1.
CineMasters
Hausner’s Club Zero will be joined by another four Cannes competition titles - Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves, Marco Bellocchio’s Kidnapped, Kaouther Ben Hania’s Four Daughters, and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Monster - to screen in Munich’s CineMasters competition for the €50,000 Arri Award which is presented to the producers of the best international film.
The 12-title line-up also includes...
- 6/13/2023
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
The director of ‘Oldboy’ and ‘Decision To Leave’ will also co-write the period feature.
South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook is to produce and co-write period thriller War And Revolt, marking his first collaboration with streaming giant Netflix.
The director of Oldboy and last year’s Cannes award-winner Decision To Leave has co-written the script with Shin Chul.
Set more than 400 years ago during Korea’s Joseon dynasty, the film will be directed by Kim Sang-man, known for 2010 action-thriller Midnight FM.
It will be produced by Park’s own Moho Film – the Seoul-based production company behind Decision to Leave, The Handmaiden...
South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook is to produce and co-write period thriller War And Revolt, marking his first collaboration with streaming giant Netflix.
The director of Oldboy and last year’s Cannes award-winner Decision To Leave has co-written the script with Shin Chul.
Set more than 400 years ago during Korea’s Joseon dynasty, the film will be directed by Kim Sang-man, known for 2010 action-thriller Midnight FM.
It will be produced by Park’s own Moho Film – the Seoul-based production company behind Decision to Leave, The Handmaiden...
- 6/7/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired U.S. rights to Kore-eda Hirokazu’s film “Monster” which world premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival and and won best screenplay (for Yuji Sakamoto).
A critically acclaimed Japanese master, Kore-eda previously won Cannes’ Palme d’Or with “Shoplifters” in 2018 and returned to the competition last year with “Broker” which won best actor for Song Kang-ho.
Well Go USA Entertainment plans to release “Monster” in U.S. theaters in late 2023 or early 2024.
Scored by late Oscar-winning composer Sakamoto Ryuichi (“The Last Emperor”) and lensed by Kondo Ryoto (“Shoplifters”), “Monster” tells the story of a widowed mother who notices that her young son (Kurokawa Soya) has begun exhibiting strange behavior. When she brings her concerns to the staff at his school, she discovers that a teacher is responsible and demands an explanation. Told through the multilayered perspectives of mother, teacher and child, the...
A critically acclaimed Japanese master, Kore-eda previously won Cannes’ Palme d’Or with “Shoplifters” in 2018 and returned to the competition last year with “Broker” which won best actor for Song Kang-ho.
Well Go USA Entertainment plans to release “Monster” in U.S. theaters in late 2023 or early 2024.
Scored by late Oscar-winning composer Sakamoto Ryuichi (“The Last Emperor”) and lensed by Kondo Ryoto (“Shoplifters”), “Monster” tells the story of a widowed mother who notices that her young son (Kurokawa Soya) has begun exhibiting strange behavior. When she brings her concerns to the staff at his school, she discovers that a teacher is responsible and demands an explanation. Told through the multilayered perspectives of mother, teacher and child, the...
- 5/31/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
This year’s Cannes Film Festival was hardly a letdown from a U.S. distribution standpoint. From Netflix’s surprise acquisition of Todd Haynes’ “May December” to Neon nabbing the Palme d’Or winner “Anatomy of a Fall” and Mubi picking up Aki Kaurismaki’s “Fallen Leaves,” there was no shortage of indications that several Cannes highlights will make their way to American audiences in the months ahead.
Nevertheless, this remains a tricky time for anyone in the acquisitions business, and some of the gems from this year’s lineup still need homes. Here are a few key ones for buyers to consider.
Ryan Lattanzio contributed to this story.
“The Breaking Ice” “The Breaking Ice”
A sweet and shimmeringly beautiful sad hot people film about how life can flow and then freeze and then thaw into something entirely new if you let it, Anthony Chen’s “The Breaking Ice” finds...
Nevertheless, this remains a tricky time for anyone in the acquisitions business, and some of the gems from this year’s lineup still need homes. Here are a few key ones for buyers to consider.
Ryan Lattanzio contributed to this story.
“The Breaking Ice” “The Breaking Ice”
A sweet and shimmeringly beautiful sad hot people film about how life can flow and then freeze and then thaw into something entirely new if you let it, Anthony Chen’s “The Breaking Ice” finds...
- 5/31/2023
- by Eric Kohn and David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
From the Palme d’Or for “Parasite” to a stint on the following jury to a Best Actor prize all of his own with last year’s “Broker,” Song Kang-ho has become a recent fixture at Cannes. This year he made a late-break for Croisette with “Cobweb,” a slight-but-entertaining film about the movies from director Kim Jee-woon. Premiering late and out of competition, “Cobweb” doesn’t equal the films that made Song the new king of Cannes, but it certainly has style to burn and plenty to admire.
Of course, the South Korean star and his “Cobweb” director go way back, as Kim first launched Song’s career with 1998’s “The Quiet Family” and then nourished it with blockbusters like “The Good, the Bad, the Weird” and “Age of Shadows.” Those intertwining paths certainly tangle in this latest collab, which finds Song playing a filmmaker also named Kim.
Don’t...
Of course, the South Korean star and his “Cobweb” director go way back, as Kim first launched Song’s career with 1998’s “The Quiet Family” and then nourished it with blockbusters like “The Good, the Bad, the Weird” and “Age of Shadows.” Those intertwining paths certainly tangle in this latest collab, which finds Song playing a filmmaker also named Kim.
Don’t...
- 5/27/2023
- by Ben Croll
- The Wrap
Justine Triet’s French courtroom thriller Anatomy of a Fall has won the 2023 Palme d’Or for best film of the 76th Cannes International Film Festival.
Triet is just the third woman director to win Cannes’ top honor, but the second in three years, following Julia Ducournau, who took the Palme for Titane in 2021. Jane Campion was the first-ever female Palme d’Or winner in 1993 with The Piano.
German actress Sandra Hüller stars in the film as a German novelist who is put on trial for murder after her husband dies in suspicious circumstances.
In his review, The Hollywood Reporter‘s Jon Frosch called Anatomy of a Fall “a gripping and gratifyingly rich drama” and called lead actress Hüller “sensational.”
Jane Fonda presenting this year’s top honor, noted that when she first attended the Cannes festival, back in the 1970s, “There were no women directors competing at that time,...
Triet is just the third woman director to win Cannes’ top honor, but the second in three years, following Julia Ducournau, who took the Palme for Titane in 2021. Jane Campion was the first-ever female Palme d’Or winner in 1993 with The Piano.
German actress Sandra Hüller stars in the film as a German novelist who is put on trial for murder after her husband dies in suspicious circumstances.
In his review, The Hollywood Reporter‘s Jon Frosch called Anatomy of a Fall “a gripping and gratifyingly rich drama” and called lead actress Hüller “sensational.”
Jane Fonda presenting this year’s top honor, noted that when she first attended the Cannes festival, back in the 1970s, “There were no women directors competing at that time,...
- 5/27/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fogs, dogs and toxic smogs are just the headliner adversities hurled at the motley band of misfits determined to survive Kim Tae Gon’s “Project Silence,” by no means a classic in the Korean action-thriller pantheon, but a good enough stopgap for a rainy Sunday until the next one comes along. Set on a cataclysm-prone Seoul highway bridge with suspension cables, like those of our disbelief, destined at some point to snap, Kim’s screenplay — co-written with Park Joo Suk and Kim Hong Hwa — cleaves so close to disaster-movie formula it’s hard to believe it needed three human screenwriters to gin it up. Given that its most lunatic flourish is the addition of dozens of slavering government-engineered superdogs, maybe it was partially generated by algrrrithm.
At some point there evolved in the genre a pretty hard-and-fast rule stating that chaos in the falling-masonry department can only be justified if...
At some point there evolved in the genre a pretty hard-and-fast rule stating that chaos in the falling-masonry department can only be justified if...
- 5/23/2023
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
Two Japanese films by internationally renowned auteurs — “Monster” by Koreeda Hirokazu and “Kubi” by Kitano Takeshi — are in the Cannes lineup this year, and both carry with them big box office expectations in Japan.
“Monster,” which is screening in competition, will be released on June 2 by Gaga and Toho, the latter Japan’s largest distributor and theater chain operator. Koreeda’s two previous films — “The Truth” (2019), shot in France, and “Broker” (2022), filmed South Korea — were both box office disappointments in his home market. “Monster,” however, promises a return to the earnings form of his 2018 Palme d’Or winner “Shoplifters,” whose $34 million cumulative total was the fourth-highest among Japanese releases that year.
One reason: The screenplay is by Sakamoto Yuji, a veteran writer of hit TV dramas and films, including the 2021 smash romantic drama “We Made a Beautiful Bouquet.” The story of “Monster,” about a quarrel between elementary school children...
“Monster,” which is screening in competition, will be released on June 2 by Gaga and Toho, the latter Japan’s largest distributor and theater chain operator. Koreeda’s two previous films — “The Truth” (2019), shot in France, and “Broker” (2022), filmed South Korea — were both box office disappointments in his home market. “Monster,” however, promises a return to the earnings form of his 2018 Palme d’Or winner “Shoplifters,” whose $34 million cumulative total was the fourth-highest among Japanese releases that year.
One reason: The screenplay is by Sakamoto Yuji, a veteran writer of hit TV dramas and films, including the 2021 smash romantic drama “We Made a Beautiful Bouquet.” The story of “Monster,” about a quarrel between elementary school children...
- 5/19/2023
- by Mark Schilling
- Variety Film + TV
Dr. Stacy Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, in collaboration with the Adobe Foundation, have launched The Inclusion List, a first-of-its-kind data website that ranks the most inclusive theatrically-released films, distributors and producers from 2019 to 2022.
The Inclusion List is a data-driven ranking system that analyzes theatrically-released films based on their levels of representation, with Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “The Woman King” and Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” leading the list of the top 100 films.
Dr. Smith, founder and director of USC Annenberg’s Inclusion Initiative, and Amy White, director of corporate social responsibility at Adobe and the executive director of the Adobe Foundation, spearheaded the project, with the initiative’s Samuel Wheeler, Brooke Kong, Dr. Katherine Pieper and Smith authoring the report.
In the process of compiling the list, the research team sorted through 376 theatrically-released films across a span of 20 inclusion indicators, assessing gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQ, disability and age...
The Inclusion List is a data-driven ranking system that analyzes theatrically-released films based on their levels of representation, with Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “The Woman King” and Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” leading the list of the top 100 films.
Dr. Smith, founder and director of USC Annenberg’s Inclusion Initiative, and Amy White, director of corporate social responsibility at Adobe and the executive director of the Adobe Foundation, spearheaded the project, with the initiative’s Samuel Wheeler, Brooke Kong, Dr. Katherine Pieper and Smith authoring the report.
In the process of compiling the list, the research team sorted through 376 theatrically-released films across a span of 20 inclusion indicators, assessing gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQ, disability and age...
- 5/18/2023
- by McKinley Franklin and Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
In the throes of Hirokazu Kore-Eda’s latest narrative Cannes competition film Monster are two boys learning about their feelings for one another.
“There haven’t been many Japanese films that address these topics,” acknowledged the 2018 Shoplifters Palme d’Or winner, speaking at a Thursday press conference for the film, about the LGBTQ themes among the young boys in Monster.
“When I discovered the screenplay, I thought to myself, this story should not be viewed from that angle. It’s an inner struggle,” he added.
Monster follows Saori (Ando Sakura), a take-no-prisoners widowed mother bringing up her son Minato (Kurokawa Soya), who is weathering tough times in his elementary school. Mom learns that son’s odd behavior may have to do with his teacher, who Minato says hit him. The pic is told from several different points of view, including that of the teacher, Hori (Nagayama Eita), Minato, and the friend he adores,...
“There haven’t been many Japanese films that address these topics,” acknowledged the 2018 Shoplifters Palme d’Or winner, speaking at a Thursday press conference for the film, about the LGBTQ themes among the young boys in Monster.
“When I discovered the screenplay, I thought to myself, this story should not be viewed from that angle. It’s an inner struggle,” he added.
Monster follows Saori (Ando Sakura), a take-no-prisoners widowed mother bringing up her son Minato (Kurokawa Soya), who is weathering tough times in his elementary school. Mom learns that son’s odd behavior may have to do with his teacher, who Minato says hit him. The pic is told from several different points of view, including that of the teacher, Hori (Nagayama Eita), Minato, and the friend he adores,...
- 5/18/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Cannes Film Festival head honcho Thierry Frémaux often likes to speak of the “Cannes family,” meaning the extended stable of international auteurs whom the festival helped discover, nurtured and has made regulars on the famed red-carpet steps of the Palais des Festivals. Today’s standard-bearer for Japan’s great tradition of humanist filmmaking in Cannes is undoubtedly Hirokazu Kore-eda, whose features have been included in the festival’s official selection seven times, a record for his home country. Incidentally, the leitmotif of Kore-eda’s work is also family — families broken, families in turmoil and families found. His most celebrated films at Cannes have all centered on the theme, albeit in various and inventive ways.
Like Father, Like Son, winner of the 2013 Cannes jury prize, told the story of two boys mistakenly switched at birth, the discovery of which — years later — confronts the parents with the agonizing decision of whether to...
Like Father, Like Son, winner of the 2013 Cannes jury prize, told the story of two boys mistakenly switched at birth, the discovery of which — years later — confronts the parents with the agonizing decision of whether to...
- 5/18/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-Eda’s seventh go-round in Cannes competition, Monster, received a six-minute standing ovation Wednesday in the Grand Theatre Lumiere. He won the Palme d’Or back in 2018 for Shoplifters. Can he do it again?
Kore-Eda spoke in Japanese: “Thank you. Some people couldn’t be here. Can’t wait to go back to Japan and show them the film…tell them about this absolutely wonderful premiere. It will stay in my heart.”
It’s the filmmaker’s ninth movie overall at the fest (counting two that appeared in Un Certain Regard). Monster is his first movie since his 1995 debut feature Maborosi that the director has not had a screenplay credit on.
Monster follows Saori (Ando Sakura), a take-no-prisoners widowed mother, who is now bringing up her son Minato (Kurokawa Soya) who is weathering tough times in his elementary school. Mom learns that son’s odd behavior may...
Kore-Eda spoke in Japanese: “Thank you. Some people couldn’t be here. Can’t wait to go back to Japan and show them the film…tell them about this absolutely wonderful premiere. It will stay in my heart.”
It’s the filmmaker’s ninth movie overall at the fest (counting two that appeared in Un Certain Regard). Monster is his first movie since his 1995 debut feature Maborosi that the director has not had a screenplay credit on.
Monster follows Saori (Ando Sakura), a take-no-prisoners widowed mother, who is now bringing up her son Minato (Kurokawa Soya) who is weathering tough times in his elementary school. Mom learns that son’s odd behavior may...
- 5/17/2023
- by Nancy Tartaglione and Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
In film after film, from “Nobody Knows” to “Shoplifters,” Japanese master Kore-eda Hirokazu has proven himself to be among the medium’s most humanistic directors, inclined to see the best in people, especially children. So how to reconcile the way “Monster” makes us feel?
Returning to his native Japan after helming two relatively disappointing features abroad (“Broker” and “The Truth”), the 2018 Palme d’Or winner opens his latest Cannes competition entry with a building on fire — a “hostess bar” where lonely men seek female company — and fifth-grade Minato (Kurokawa Soya) watching the inferno from a nearby balcony. Kore-eda will return to this scene three times over the course of the film, folding the narrative back upon itself from a different angle each time, before finally revealing who set the blaze.
The title misleads for a time, inviting us to speculate about the darkness that surrounds young Minato. Could a child have been the culprit?...
Returning to his native Japan after helming two relatively disappointing features abroad (“Broker” and “The Truth”), the 2018 Palme d’Or winner opens his latest Cannes competition entry with a building on fire — a “hostess bar” where lonely men seek female company — and fifth-grade Minato (Kurokawa Soya) watching the inferno from a nearby balcony. Kore-eda will return to this scene three times over the course of the film, folding the narrative back upon itself from a different angle each time, before finally revealing who set the blaze.
The title misleads for a time, inviting us to speculate about the darkness that surrounds young Minato. Could a child have been the culprit?...
- 5/17/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Editor’s note: This review was originally published at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Well Go USA releases the film in theaters on Wednesday, November 22.
Scary as it sounds, “monster” can be such a strangely comforting word. Not only does classifying someone as inhuman absolve us from acknowledging the most difficult aspects of our shared humanity, it also reaffirms the smallness and simplicity of an infinitely complex universe that continues to expand no matter how much we might want to wrap our arms around it. “Monster” is a period at the end of a sentence; it’s the permission we give ourselves to demonize whatever we don’t understand.
And, for all of those reasons, it’s also a very unexpected title for a new feature by the great Hirokazu Kore-eda, whose achingly humanistic stories of families lost and found have never had any use for such a stiflingly judgmental term.
Scary as it sounds, “monster” can be such a strangely comforting word. Not only does classifying someone as inhuman absolve us from acknowledging the most difficult aspects of our shared humanity, it also reaffirms the smallness and simplicity of an infinitely complex universe that continues to expand no matter how much we might want to wrap our arms around it. “Monster” is a period at the end of a sentence; it’s the permission we give ourselves to demonize whatever we don’t understand.
And, for all of those reasons, it’s also a very unexpected title for a new feature by the great Hirokazu Kore-eda, whose achingly humanistic stories of families lost and found have never had any use for such a stiflingly judgmental term.
- 5/17/2023
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
After making The Truth in France and Broker in South Korea, Hirokazu Kore-eda returns to a Japanese-language project for the first time since his justly lauded Shoplifters five years ago, working with another writer’s script for the first time since his head-turning 1995 debut, Maborosi. Many of the peerless humanist’s frequent themes figure in Monster (Kaibutsu) — loss, isolation, the elusive nature of happiness and the struggles of imperfect families — viewed through a somewhat imposing multi-perspective Rashomon-esque prism. The director’s customary delicacy, compassion and sensitivity ripple through the drama, though its affecting moments of illumination are more intermittent than cumulative.
With its fragmented exploration of childhood bullying, stigma, peer pressure and homophobia, as well as the age of its young protagonists, Monster vaguely recalls Belgian director Lukas Dhont’s Close from last year, albeit with more restraint and less sentiment, for better or worse. It’s a frustrating film in many ways,...
With its fragmented exploration of childhood bullying, stigma, peer pressure and homophobia, as well as the age of its young protagonists, Monster vaguely recalls Belgian director Lukas Dhont’s Close from last year, albeit with more restraint and less sentiment, for better or worse. It’s a frustrating film in many ways,...
- 5/17/2023
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
South Korean director, writer and producer Kim Jee-woon has signed with CAA for representation.
Kim’s latest film, “Cobweb,” will premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, his third film to do so following “A Bittersweet Life” in 2005 and “The Good, the Bad, the Weird” in 2008, which also debuted out of competition.
“Cobweb” is the first project from Kim’s production company, Anthology Studios, which he co-founded in 2021 with producer Jay Choi (who was previously local production head for Warner Bros. Korea) and actor Song Kang-Ho. When the project was announced in 2021, Kim described the film as “experimental” and said that it will be shot entirely on sound stages in support of a film-within-a-film narrative.
Song stars in the film, playing an obsessive director on a mission to reshoot the end of his latest film, also titled “Cobweb,” in two days to create a masterpiece. His attempts are constantly...
Kim’s latest film, “Cobweb,” will premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, his third film to do so following “A Bittersweet Life” in 2005 and “The Good, the Bad, the Weird” in 2008, which also debuted out of competition.
“Cobweb” is the first project from Kim’s production company, Anthology Studios, which he co-founded in 2021 with producer Jay Choi (who was previously local production head for Warner Bros. Korea) and actor Song Kang-Ho. When the project was announced in 2021, Kim described the film as “experimental” and said that it will be shot entirely on sound stages in support of a film-within-a-film narrative.
Song stars in the film, playing an obsessive director on a mission to reshoot the end of his latest film, also titled “Cobweb,” in two days to create a masterpiece. His attempts are constantly...
- 4/24/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda is a Cannes Film Festival regular at this point, with five of his last nine features premiering on the Croisette. Moreover, Kore-eda’s film do well at the fest, too: 2013’s “Like Father, Like Son” won the Jury Prize that year, while “Shoplifters” won the coveted Palme d’Or in 2018. Last year’s “Broker” did well, too, winning the Ecumenical Jury Award and Song Kang-ho winning Best Actor.
Continue reading ‘Monster’ Trailer: Hirokazu Kore-eda Returns To The Cannes Film Festival With His Latest Drama at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Monster’ Trailer: Hirokazu Kore-eda Returns To The Cannes Film Festival With His Latest Drama at The Playlist.
- 4/19/2023
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
The lineup for the 76th installment of the Cannes Film Festival has finally been announced. Nineteen films will be competing to take home the prestigious Palme d’Or, including a record six films helmed by women. The festival will be taking place in the French Riviera from May 16 to May 27. This year’s jury will be headed by Ruben Östlund, who won his second Palme d’Or last year for “Triangle of Sadness.”
Knowing a filmmaker’s previous track record at Cannes can sometimes help give an idea as to who might be in the best position to claim the Palme. For instance, five of this year’s entries come from directors who have previously won the Palme. Another five are from auteurs who have had previous films win a prize in the main competition other than the Palme. Another five are from directors having their first film screen in the main competition.
Knowing a filmmaker’s previous track record at Cannes can sometimes help give an idea as to who might be in the best position to claim the Palme. For instance, five of this year’s entries come from directors who have previously won the Palme. Another five are from auteurs who have had previous films win a prize in the main competition other than the Palme. Another five are from directors having their first film screen in the main competition.
- 4/17/2023
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Toho in Japan has revealed a full-length official trailer for Monster, the latest film from prolific Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda. He already won Palme d'Or a few years ago for Shoplifters, and premiered his Korean film Broker in Cannes last year, and is back at the festival again. This trailer dropped moments after the film was announced as a major premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, playing again in the competition. The story spun by Hirokazu Kore-eda this time is colored by the world-class music of Ryuichi Sakamoto (who sadly passed away recently). The film's cast features the talented Sakura Ando, Eita Nagayama, and Yuko Tanaka, who overwhelm the audience with their transformative performances, and rising stars Souya Kurokawa and Yota Hiiragi, who play the two boys with freshness and emotion, as well as Mitsuki Takahata, Akihiro Tsunoda, Shidou Nakamura. The Rashomon-esque story follows a boy at school, examining who...
- 4/13/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The ‘Shazam!’ sequel is down 40% on its predecessor.
RankFilm (distributor)Three-day gross (Mar 17-19)Total gross to date Week 1. Shazam! Fury Of The Gods (Warner Bros) £2.4m £2.4m 1 2. Creed III (Warner Bros) £1.2m £11.7m 3 3. Scream VI (Paramount) £990,000 £5.1m 2 4. Allelujah (Pathe) £686,435 £713,149 1 5. 65 (Sony) £567,843 £2.4m 2
Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.21
DC superhero sequel Shazam! Fury Of The Gods topped the UK-Ireland box office in its opening weekend, taking £2.4m for Warner Bros.
The total is down around 40% on first instalment Shazam!, which debuted with £4m back in April 2019.
Zachary Levi is back as the adult superhero alter ego, with Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu...
RankFilm (distributor)Three-day gross (Mar 17-19)Total gross to date Week 1. Shazam! Fury Of The Gods (Warner Bros) £2.4m £2.4m 1 2. Creed III (Warner Bros) £1.2m £11.7m 3 3. Scream VI (Paramount) £990,000 £5.1m 2 4. Allelujah (Pathe) £686,435 £713,149 1 5. 65 (Sony) £567,843 £2.4m 2
Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.21
DC superhero sequel Shazam! Fury Of The Gods topped the UK-Ireland box office in its opening weekend, taking £2.4m for Warner Bros.
The total is down around 40% on first instalment Shazam!, which debuted with £4m back in April 2019.
Zachary Levi is back as the adult superhero alter ego, with Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu...
- 3/20/2023
- by Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
’65’ came in third place for Sony in its opening weekend.
Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (Mar 10-512 Total gross to date Week 1. Creed III (Warner Bros) £2.7m £9.4m 2 2. Scream VI (Paramount) £2.4m £3m 1 3. 65 (Sony) £1.3m £1.3m 1 4. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (Universal) £902,045 £23.2m 6 5. Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (Disney) £722,279 £18.3m 4
Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.21
Michael B. Jordan’s Creed III continued strongly in its second weekend at the UK-Ireland box office, taking £2.7m for Warner Bros, and beating Paramount’s three-day takings for new opener Scream VI.
Creed III’s total now boasts £9.4m and it looks...
Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (Mar 10-512 Total gross to date Week 1. Creed III (Warner Bros) £2.7m £9.4m 2 2. Scream VI (Paramount) £2.4m £3m 1 3. 65 (Sony) £1.3m £1.3m 1 4. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (Universal) £902,045 £23.2m 6 5. Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (Disney) £722,279 £18.3m 4
Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.21
Michael B. Jordan’s Creed III continued strongly in its second weekend at the UK-Ireland box office, taking £2.7m for Warner Bros, and beating Paramount’s three-day takings for new opener Scream VI.
Creed III’s total now boasts £9.4m and it looks...
- 3/13/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car was awarded best feature at this year’s Asian Film Awards (March 12), along with prizes for best editing and best original music. The multiple award-winning Japanese film premiered at Cannes film festival in 2021 and also won the Oscar for Best International Feature last year.
Another Japanese filmmaker, Hirokazu Kore-eda, took best director for Broker, the Korean-language film that has also been on an awards streak since premiering at Cannes film festival last year.
Best actress went to Chinese actress Tang Wei for her role in Korean director Park Chan-wook’s Decision To Leave, while Hong Kong’s Tony Leung Chiu-wai took best actor for Philip Yung’s Where The Wind Blows and was also presented with the Asian Film Contribution Award. Decision To Leave was also awarded best screenplay, for a script written by Park and Chung Seo-kyung, as well as best production design.
Another Japanese filmmaker, Hirokazu Kore-eda, took best director for Broker, the Korean-language film that has also been on an awards streak since premiering at Cannes film festival last year.
Best actress went to Chinese actress Tang Wei for her role in Korean director Park Chan-wook’s Decision To Leave, while Hong Kong’s Tony Leung Chiu-wai took best actor for Philip Yung’s Where The Wind Blows and was also presented with the Asian Film Contribution Award. Decision To Leave was also awarded best screenplay, for a script written by Park and Chung Seo-kyung, as well as best production design.
- 3/13/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Korea’s Cj Enm is off to a strong start in the international arena in 2023, with its U.S. co-production Past Lives emerging as one of the biggest hits of Sundance and Berlin, and Vietnamese family comedy House Of No Man becoming the highest-grossing film of all time in its home territory.
In addition to overseeing global distribution of Korean hits such as Parasite, Decision To Leave and Broker, Cj Enm’s Head Of Film Business Jerry Kyoungboum Ko is spearheading an ambitious international strategy that involves English-language production in the U.S., as well as local-language content across several territories.
Celine Song’s Past Lives, which Cj co-produced and co-financed with A24, garnered rave reviews when it premiered at this year’s Sundance film festival and went on to win more acclaim in Berlin. Produced by U.S. labels Killer Films and 2Am, the film stars Greta Lee,...
In addition to overseeing global distribution of Korean hits such as Parasite, Decision To Leave and Broker, Cj Enm’s Head Of Film Business Jerry Kyoungboum Ko is spearheading an ambitious international strategy that involves English-language production in the U.S., as well as local-language content across several territories.
Celine Song’s Past Lives, which Cj co-produced and co-financed with A24, garnered rave reviews when it premiered at this year’s Sundance film festival and went on to win more acclaim in Berlin. Produced by U.S. labels Killer Films and 2Am, the film stars Greta Lee,...
- 3/12/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Decision To Leave’ won three and Hirokazu Kore-eda named best director.
The Asian Film Awards (Afa) celebrated its comeback edition in Hong Kong tonight (March 12) and named Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car best film.
The Japanese film, which premiered at Cannes in 2021 and won best international feature at last year’s Oscars, won a further two awards at the AFAs: best editing for Azusa Yamazaki and best original music by Eiko Ishibashi.
Scroll down for full list of winners
Park Chan-wook’s Decision To Leave went into the night as the favourite, with a leading 10 nominations for the South Korean film,...
The Asian Film Awards (Afa) celebrated its comeback edition in Hong Kong tonight (March 12) and named Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car best film.
The Japanese film, which premiered at Cannes in 2021 and won best international feature at last year’s Oscars, won a further two awards at the AFAs: best editing for Azusa Yamazaki and best original music by Eiko Ishibashi.
Scroll down for full list of winners
Park Chan-wook’s Decision To Leave went into the night as the favourite, with a leading 10 nominations for the South Korean film,...
- 3/12/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The much-decorated Japanese drama “Drive My Car” was named the best film Sunday at the Asian Film Awards, defeating hot favorite “Decision to Leave.”
Other notable awards went to Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda whose “Broker” debuted at Cannes, but which was largely shunned in his home country.
“Decision to Leave,” which started the evening with ten nominations, was nevertheless rewarded with three awards, best screenplay, best production design and best actress for China’s Tang Wei.
While nominations were geographically diverse, the awards on Sunday skewed heavily towards North East Asia –Japan, Korea and Greater China – to the total exclusion of films from India, Indonesia and The Philippines. Snubs included the exclusion of Indonesia’s “Autobiography” and Happy Salma, both of which have been widely lauded on the festival circuit.
The awards ceremony returned to Hong Kong after detours to Macau and Busan and a Covid hiatus in previous years.
Other notable awards went to Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda whose “Broker” debuted at Cannes, but which was largely shunned in his home country.
“Decision to Leave,” which started the evening with ten nominations, was nevertheless rewarded with three awards, best screenplay, best production design and best actress for China’s Tang Wei.
While nominations were geographically diverse, the awards on Sunday skewed heavily towards North East Asia –Japan, Korea and Greater China – to the total exclusion of films from India, Indonesia and The Philippines. Snubs included the exclusion of Indonesia’s “Autobiography” and Happy Salma, both of which have been widely lauded on the festival circuit.
The awards ceremony returned to Hong Kong after detours to Macau and Busan and a Covid hiatus in previous years.
- 3/12/2023
- by Patrick Frater and Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Far surpasses the openings of the first two ‘Creed’ films.
RankFilm (distributor)Three-day gross (Mar 3-5)Total gross to date Week 1. Creed III (Warner Bros) £5m £5m 1 2. Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (Disney) £1.4m £17.2m 3 3. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (Universal) £1.2m £22.1m 5 4. Cocaine Bear (Universal) £1.1m £3.6m 2 5. What’s Love Got To Do With It? (Studiocanal) £845,838 £2.7m 2
Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.20
Warner Bros’ Creed III has made a muscular start at the UK-Ireland box office, taking almost £5m on its opening weekend to top the charts.
Playing in 637 locations, the film took a £7,820 location average. Both of these...
RankFilm (distributor)Three-day gross (Mar 3-5)Total gross to date Week 1. Creed III (Warner Bros) £5m £5m 1 2. Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania (Disney) £1.4m £17.2m 3 3. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (Universal) £1.2m £22.1m 5 4. Cocaine Bear (Universal) £1.1m £3.6m 2 5. What’s Love Got To Do With It? (Studiocanal) £845,838 £2.7m 2
Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.20
Warner Bros’ Creed III has made a muscular start at the UK-Ireland box office, taking almost £5m on its opening weekend to top the charts.
Playing in 637 locations, the film took a £7,820 location average. Both of these...
- 3/6/2023
- by Ben Dalton¬Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
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