As Korean cinema marked its centennial last year, director Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” won the country’s first Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, opening a new chapter in Korean cinema.
Bong continues to write history, clinching the first Golden Globe for a Korean film. ”Parasite“ also became the first film to win at the BAFTA Film Awards, winning the best film not in English and best original screenplay. “Parasite” now awaits the results of this year’s Academy Awards where it has nabbed six nominations, including best picture, best director, best international feature film, best original screenplay, best editing and best production design.
With the hopes high for a first nod from Oscar for Korean film, here’s a look back at some of the notable achievements by Korean movies in the global cinema scene.
“The Coachman” by Kang Dae-jin 1961 Berlin International Film Festival Silver Bear Extraordinary Jury Prize
“To the Last Day” by Shin Sang-ok 1962 Berlin International Film Festival Silver Bear Extraordinary Jury Prize
“The Surrogate Woman” by Im Kwon-taek 1987 Venice International Film Festival Best actress - Kang Soo-yeon
“Adada” by Im Kwon-taek 1988 Montreal World Film Festival Best actress - Shin Hye-soo
“Come Come Come Upward” by Im Kwon-taek 1989 Moscow International Film Festival Best actress - Kang Soo-yeon
“Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?” by Bae Yong-kyun 1989 Locarno International Film Festival Golden Leopard
“Silver Stallion” by Jang Kil-su 1991 Montreal World Film Festival Best actress - Lee Hye-sook, Best Screenplay
“I Will Survive” by Yoon Sam-yook 1993 Moscow International Film Festival Best actor - Lee Deok-hwa
“Hwa-Om-Kyung” by Jang Sun-woo 1994 Berlin International Film Festival Alfred Bauer Prize
“The Day a Pig Fell into the Well” by Hong Sang-soo 1997 International Film Festival Rotterdam Tiger Award
“Painted Fire” by Im Kwon-taek 2002 Cannes Film Festival Best director
“Oasis” by Lee Chang-dong 2002 Venice International Film Festival Silver Lion for best direction, Marcello Mastroianni Award - Moon So-ri
“Save the Green Planet!” by Jang Joon-hwan 2003 Moscow International Film Festival Silver St. George for best director
“Samaritan Girl” by Kim Ki-duk 2004 Berlin International Film Festival Silver Bear for best director
“Oldboy” by Park Chan-wook 2004 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix
“3-Iron” by Kim Ki-duk 2004 VeniceFilm Festival Silver Lion for best direction
“Secret Sunshine” by Lee Chang-dong 2007 Cannes Film Festival Best actress - Jeon Do-yeon
“Thirst” by Park Chan-wook 2009 Cannes Film Festival Jury prize
“Poetry” by Lee Chang-dong 2010 Cannes Film Festival Best screenplay
“Pieta” by Kim Ki-duk 2012 Venice International Film Festival Golden Lion
“On the Beach at Night Alone” by Hong Sang-soo 2017 Berlin International Film Festival Silver Bear for best actress - Kim Min-hee
“Parasite” by Bong Joon-ho 2019 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or 2020 Golden Globe best foreign language film 2020 EE British Film Academy Awards best film not in the English language, best original screenplay
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