Latest news with #BusanInternationalFilmFestival
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
BIFF opens volunteer applications for 30th edition
Festival seeks support team for landmark competitive debut The Busan International Film Festival began recruiting volunteers Thursday for its milestone 30th edition. Applications are open through June 29 for positions ranging from guest services and event coordination to technical support across seven operational categories. The festival runs Sept. 17-26 at multiple venues throughout Busan. Korean citizens and foreign nationals aged 18 and older with valid resident registration cards are eligible to apply. Work schedules vary by department and assignment. Volunteers get uniforms, ID badges and transport bags, plus allowances covering meals and transportation. Service hours will be logged through Korea's 1365 Volunteer Portal, with completion certificates provided afterward. The application process is conducted fully online through the festival's official website. The results of document screening will be posted July 10, followed by online interviews from July 14–25. Final volunteer rosters will be announced July 31. This year's recruitment comes as the festival launches its first official competition after decades as a non-competitive festival. Fourteen Asian titles will vie for five awards, with total programming expanding to approximately 240 films, up from last year's 224 as organizers aim to restore the event's pre-pandemic scale. Applications close June 29 at 11:59 p.m. Further details are available on the festival's official website.
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Song Joong Ki remembers Rocco Nacino from their previous interaction in South Korea!
Rocco Nacino and his wife Melissa Gohing were among the stars spotted at Song Joong Ki's fan meet in Manila last weekend. Melissa, a true K-Drama fan, was able to play charades with the Hallyu star. Meanwhile, when a surprise video played for Song Joong Ki showing fan messages featuring Rocco, he remembered the Kapuso actor and then turned to look and point at him. They previously met at the Busan International Film Festival. After the show, GMA News Online asked Rocco about the short but sweet moment. 'We're friends,' Rocco joked and laughed. 'Na-touch naman ako nung nakita niya 'ko, naalala niya 'ko,' he added. 'Na-shy naman ako, pinakita picture namin pero nakakatuwa naman na kilala ako ng isang Song Joong Ki.' Rocco said the gesture shows how humble the Korean superstar is. 'He's very humble and for him to remember people na nakapag-picture sa kanya, that's a very big thing,' he said. 'Bilang isang aktor, I want to be as humble as him. Marami siyang naalala sa mga fans niya, ganun talaga siya yumakap. It's a good reminder para sa akin na dapat minamahal mo talaga mga fans mo.' 'Na-transform ako. Isa [na] 'kong Song Joong Ki fan,' he added. Rocco also shared that when he first met Song Joong Ki, he showed him photos from the Philippine adaptation of 'Descendants of the Sun.' 'Natuwa siya, happy siya na [at sinabi] 'Wow, I love this. I hope I can come to the Philippines.' Ayun na nga, natuloy na nga.' Song Joong Ki got close with Filipino fans during his first fan meeting on May 24 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Aside from wanting to return to the Philippines for family vacations, the actor says he hopes to visit local markets. Song Joong Ki is best known for his roles in 'Vincenzo,' 'Reborn Rich,' 'Werewolf Boy,' and 'Space Sweepers,' among many others. —JCB, GMA Integrated News
Korea Herald
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'I Invite you to my funeral': 83-year-old actor stages her final farewell
On Sunday, on the windswept shores of Sunpo Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, 83-year-old Park Jeong-ja broke into a shoulder-shimmying dance in a pair of red shoes, her green floral dress fluttering in the sea breeze. This was no ordinary festival, but a scene in her upcoming film, "Between Cheongmyeong and Gogu" (working title), directed by actor-director Yoo Jun-sang. The scene being filmed was a funeral -- specifically, that of the character 'She,' played by Park. But in a rare and deeply personal twist, the mourners weren't just anybody. Park had invited 150 friends and colleagues to be the bereaved. It was like a rehearsal, a trial run, for her funeral. Yoo's fifth directorial work follows the final days of an aging actress grappling with memory loss. He wrote the screenplay, based on the story of Park's life and career. Rather than a somber, solemn mood, the set reflected a request Park had sent to her guests a month earlier. The message, titled 'Obituary: Park Jeong-ja's Last Curtain Call,' outlined the date and location of her 'funeral' and included a poetic invitation: "I invite you to my funeral. Who decided funerals must be solemn? It will be different today." Instead of tears, bring laughter. Flowers are not needed, bring memories instead. Bring old stories and light jokes, and the moments we laughed together." Those who answered the call included some of Korea's foremost cultural figures: former Busan International Film Festival director Kim Dong-ho; actors Kang Bu-ja, Nam Myung-ryul, Yang Hee-kyung, Park Ji-il, Gil Hae-yeon and Jung Kyung-soon; musical actor Kim Ho-young; singer Jang Sa-ik; Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture President Song Hyeong-jong; Sejong Center CEO Ahn Ho-sang and others. The attendees carried small banners that read the titles of Park's many plays. Her message concluded with a final note that hinted at her philosophy on life, death and performance. "This is not a farewell, but a pause. Not an end, but an intermission. My stage is not yet over, even if I am no longer seen."
Korea Herald
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'Way Back Love' to explore human life with kind-hearted grim reaper
'Extreme Job' star Gong Myoung and 'Light Shop' star Kim Min-ha join hands for a fantasy romance drama Tving's upcoming original series, "Way Back Love," delves into love and the human experience through the story of a compassionate grim reaper guiding souls to their final moments, the cast shared Tuesday. The six-episode fantasy romance follows Hee-wan (Kim Min-ha) and her first love, Ram-woo (Gong Myoung), who mysteriously reappears — not as the boy she once knew, but as a supernatural being tasked with leading the deceased to the afterlife. Last year, "Way Back Love" was invited to the Busan International Film Festival's On Screen section, which spotlights highly anticipated series set for streaming release. Gong Myoung, known for his endearing performances in "Be Melodramatic" and his comedic turn as a detective in box-office hit "Extreme Job," said he drew inspiration from iconic grim reaper portrayals in Korean media. "I had many discussions with the director about how I could be portrayed as a grim reaper. While referencing the characters of my seniors, I thought about how I could bring a different feel to the role. Since the grim reaper in 'Way Back Love' is different from existing characters, I studied the script extensively," Gong said during a press conference in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. He cited the performances of Ha Jung-woo ("Along with the Gods") and Lee Dong-wook ("Guardian: The Lonely and Great God") as key references. Director Kim Hye-yeong described Ram-woo as a reaper unlike any seen before. "Kim Ram-woo is a grim reaper who gives people a chance. Our story features a kind-hearted grim reaper who provides an opportunity to fulfill unfinished memories and love while being with them for a week," he explained. Kim Min-ha spoke about capturing the emotional complexity of Hee-wan, a once-outgoing woman whose personality shifts drastically after Ram-woo's departure. "The character has both bright aspects and deep, dark extremes coexisting. I wondered how to portray this naturally, but since I also have those extremes within me, I was able to relate to Hee-wan more," she shared. Kim, whose latest projects included blockbuster Disney+ series "Light Shop," also reflected on her tendency to choose work centered around love. "The projects I want to work on always seem to have 'love' as their foundation. 'Light Shop' explores crossroads and the courage of making choices in the afterlife. It was a story I had been contemplating and wanted to express, so I was grateful when it came to me in script form."
Korea Herald
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
BIFF favorites coming to Seoul's Cinecube
Nine previously unreleased Korean indie gems to screen at Cinecube in April Nine acclaimed Korean independent films that made waves at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival will get a special showcase at Cinecube in Gwanghwamun. The series, titled "Film Train to Gwanghwamun," running April 2-15, offers film lovers a chance to check out these works before their commercial debuts. Seven of the nine selections represent either debut or sophomore directorial efforts from emerging talents. The lineup includes "K-Number," winner of BIFF's inaugural Documentary Audience Award, and "The Final Semester," which swept four awards including the KBS Independent Film Award and Best Actor. Other highlights include the offbeat comedy "Method Acting" starring actor Lee Dong-hwi, and "Spring Night," which screened at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival's Forum section. The program also features "Tango at Dawn," "Melody of Suyeon," "Inserts," "Kike Will Hit a Home Run" and "The Face of Hwanhee" — all standouts from last year's festival recognized for their unique artistic visions. Each film will be screened three times during the two-week period, with select screenings followed by discussions with directors and the cast. The complete schedule is available on Cinecube's website. Tickets go on sale Wednesday at 11 a.m.
