Latest news with #WhatDoesThatNatureSaytoYou
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hong Sangsoo's ‘What Does That Nature Say to You' Lands Distribution Deals Across Multiple Territories
Korean auteur Hong Sangsoo's latest Berlinale competition entry 'What Does That Nature Say to You' has secured distribution deals across multiple territories, Seoul-based sales agent Finecut has revealed. The film has been picked up by Arizona Films (France), Ama Films (Greece & Cyprus), Minerva Pictures (Italy), L'atalante Cinema (Spain), Cola Films (Taiwan) and The Cinema Guild (U.S.). Hong's minimalist drama, which follows a young poet who spends a day with his girlfriend's family, marks the director's 12th film to screen at the Berlinale. The pic stars Ha Seongguk ('A Traveler's Needs,' 'Mimang') and Kwon Haehyo ('A Traveler's Needs,' 'By the Stream'). More from Variety 'Walking With Dinosaurs' on the Slate as BBC Studios, ABC Australia Renew Partnership - Global Bulletin 'What Does That Nature Say to You' Review: Hong Sangsoo Takes a Blurry Lens to Early Adulthood Venkatesh's 'Sankranthiki Vasthunam' Powers Indian Box Office to $116 Million in January - Global Bulletin According to Finecut, the film's world premiere in Berlin was met with laughter and enthusiasm, with Hong's signature subtle humor resonating strongly with audiences and international buyers alike. The prolific filmmaker has become a Berlinale darling in recent years, collecting an array of Silver Bear awards. Hong won the Silver Bear grand jury prize for 'A Traveler's Needs' in 2024 and 'The Novelist's Film' in 2022, the Silver Bear for best screenplay for 'Introduction' in 2021, and the Silver Bear for best director for 'The Woman Who Ran' in 2020. United Media and Met Film are developing 'Queen Panther,' a documentary series chronicling the extraordinary life of Olivera Ćirković, the former leader of the infamous Pink Panther criminal organization. The series will explore Ćirković's remarkable journey from celebrated Yugoslav national basketball star to criminal mastermind who became Interpol's most wanted fugitive, and her eventual path to redemption. Ćirković was once a national sports hero in both Greece and former Yugoslavia, playing professionally for Greek club Pangrati and helping them reach champion level. Her life took a dramatic turn after falling in love with a criminal who introduced her to the Pink Panthers network. She quickly ascended the ranks, becoming a key figure known for her skills as a thief and leadership abilities. After a heist went wrong, Ćirković was sentenced to eight years in a high-security prison. During her second incarceration, she executed a daring escape from Athens' notorious Korydallos prison, becoming the only inmate ever to successfully break out of the facility. The series will be filmed across Serbia, Greece, and other international locations. Executive producers include Al Morrow, Stewart le Maréchal, Rebecca Banovic, and Jerry Rothwell, with Met Film Sales handling worldwide distribution. United Media is also developing a scripted series based on Ćirković's autobiographical book 'Me, The Pink Panther.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Grammy Predictions, From Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar: Who Will Win? Who Should Win? What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
China Likely To Remove Ban On Korean Dramas, Movies & K-Pop As Early As May
We've heard this before, and nothing came to pass, but the signs are looking positive that mainland China is finally removing its unofficial ban on Korean culture and content, possibly as early as this May. The loosening of restrictions appears to signal China's shift away from a 'wolf warrior' diplomatic policy towards a 'smile policy' aimed at easing anti-China sentiments around the world. The move could also be interpreted as a response to the volatility of the current Donald Trump administration, which is threatening tariffs on many nations, although the U.S. President's approach towards China has not yet been made clear. More from Deadline Veteran Korean Actor Kwon Hae-hyo Talks 30-Year Career & Hong Sang-soo's 'What Does That Nature Say to You' - Berlin Film Festival Vivian Qu Talks Feminist Thriller 'Girls On Wire' & Frenzied Berlin Red Carpet As Fans Go Wild For Wen Qi & Liu Haocun: "The Screaming Was Louder Than For Timothée" 'Ne Zha 2' Becomes Highest-Grossing Animated Movie Ever, Tops $1.7B China started to restrict the distribution of Korean music, movies, dramas, games and all other forms of pop culture in 2016 in retaliation to South Korea's deployment of U.S. THAAD missile defense systems. Although Beijing has never officially acknowledged the ban, very few Korean movies or dramas have been released in Chinese cinemas or on streaming platforms and K-pop artists have not been allowed to perform in the country. According to the Korea Economic Daily (KED), a senior official handling China's preparations for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, set to take place in China in 2026, said the Chinese government sees the need to strengthen cooperation with Korea: 'Starting next month, we will send a private-level cultural delegation to South Korea as the first step toward expanding cultural exchanges, aiming to fully resume cultural cooperation as early as May,' the official told KED. It may also signal China's need to shore up its box office market. Despite the current success of record-breaking animation Nezha 2, the country's box office was down by a punishing 23% last year, with a lack of product cited as one of the major reasons. Although China is not currently placing restrictions on Hollywood movies, the 2023 strikes resulted in a reduced pipeline of tentpole releases, which has had an adverse impact on China's box office, despite the popularity of local films. Korea's entertainment market has also suffered as a result of the ban – the KDB Future Strategy Research Institute recently estimated that it caused damages of up to $15.3BN (KRW22TR) to related Korean industries in 2017, according to the KED report. Shares of K-pop companies Hybe, JYP Entertainment and SM Entertainment have surged to new yearly highs in response to the news. Hybe's share price is currently trading at an annual high of KRW254,000. Korean drama producers A Story (Extraordinary Attorney Woo) and CJ ENM's Studio Dragon also saw a bump in their share price on the news. Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho's Mickey 17, which recently had its world premiere at the Berlin film festival, is scheduled for China release on March 7, but then the film is a Warner Bros production and China has not previously restricted U.S. content due to the involvement of Korean nationals. Best of Deadline 'Severance' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Land On Apple TV+? All The Songs In 'Severance' Season 2: From The Who To Ella Fitzgerald 'Severance' Cast Through Seasons 1 & 2: Innies, Outies, Severed And Unsevered
South China Morning Post
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
What Does that Nature Say to You: Hong Sang-soo finds humour in domesticity
4/5 stars Veteran Korean director Hong Sang-soo specialises in delicate character studies, but rarely has he found such a warm ray of humour as he does in his latest film, What Does That Nature Say to You. Premiering in competition at the Berlin International Film festival – a feat Hong seems to manage almost every year without fail – this new work is an incisive domestic comedy-drama that feels like it has the potential to break out of the festival circuit. The story begins as a couple arrive by car from Seoul. Dong-hwa (Ha Seong-guk), a poet in his thirties, has driven his girlfriend, Jun-hee (Kang So-yi), to her parents' home in Yeoju. Introduced to her father, Or-yeong (Hong regular Kwon Hae-hyo), he is convinced to spend the day at the family homestead. Soon enough, he is drinking makgeolli with Jun-hee's father, and promising that he wants to love her. Dong-hwa, who earns money shooting wedding videos, is also principled, and refuses financial help from his parents.
Korea Herald
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Hong Sang-soo competes, Bong Joon-ho returns with 'Mickey 17' at Berlin Film Festival
The latest works by South Korean directors Bong Joon-ho and Hong Sang-soo will be screened at the Berlin Film Festival, which kicks off Thursday for an 11-day run. Hong's latest film, "What Does That Nature Say to You," has been chosen for competition at the prestigious event, scheduled to take place from Feb. 13-23. The 33rd feature by Hong, starring Ha Seong-guk, Kwon Hae-hyo and Cho Yun-hee, explores the events that unfold when a young woman brings her boyfriend to meet her family. The 64-year-old director has won five awards at the festival, starting with "On the Beach at Night Alone" in 2017, which earned its lead actress, Kim Min-hee, the Silver Bear for Best Actress. Last year, Hong received the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize for "A Traveler's Needs." "Parasite" director Bong's "Mickey 17" will be screened in the Special Gala section, which typically showcases glamorous and popular genre films. Last year's festival featured the Korean crime-action "The Roundup: No Way Out," starring Ma Dong-seok, in this section. Starring Robert Pattinson and Steven Yeun, "Mickey 17" is adapted from Edward Ashton's novel "Mickey7," which revolves around a cloned space explorer sent to an ice-covered planet. It marks Bong's first directorial work in six years since "Parasite," which won the Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. The Berlin festival described "Mickey 17" as "a dazzling cinematic experience." Director Min Kyu-dong's vengeance-thriller "The Old Woman With The Knife" will have its world premiere as a late-night Berlinale Special. The film depicts the confrontation between an elderly female killer and a young male killer, based on the novel of the same name by author Koo Byung-mo. It stars Lee Hye-young, Kim Sung-cheol, Shin Sia and Kim Mu-yeol. Director Kang Mi-ja's "Spring Night" and director Kim Moo-young's documentary "The Sense of Violence," which premiered at last year's Busan International Film Festival and Seoul Independent Film Festival, respectively, have been invited to the Forum section. "Night Fishing," a fantasy film co-directed by Park Chan-wook and his brother, media artist Park Chan-kyong, in 2011, will also be rescreened as part of a special short film program. Shot with an iPhone camera, it won the Golden Bear in the short film competition section at the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival. (Yonhap)
