Animation made Academy shortlist after New York festival jury prize win "Magic Candies," the Japanese adaptation of South Korean author Baek Hee-na's beloved children's books, was nominated for Best Animated Short Film at this year's Academy Awards Thursday. The 20-minute Toei Animation production, directed by Daisuke Nishio, weaves together two of Baek's works to tell the story of a boy who discovers magical candies that unlock the inner thoughts of people, pets and even objects around him. The

"Dark Nuns" (South Korea) Opened Jan. 24 Horror/Fantasy Directed by Kwon Hyeok-jae In this spin-off of "The Priests" (2015), a rebellious nun (Song Hye-kyo) and her contemplative partner (Jeon Yeo-been) join forces to perform forbidden exorcisms, confronting both demonic forces and church doctrine to save a young boy's life. "Hitman 2" (South Korea) Opened Jan. 22 Action/Comedy Directed by Choi Won-sub A former spy-turned-webtoon artist (Kwon Sang-woo) must scramble into action when a terrorist

Versatile K-pop star takes on piano scores, love notes Doh Kyung-soo speaks barely above a whisper at a cafe in Seoul's Samcheong-dong. Wearing a flannel shirt and a backward baseball cap, he maintains a deadpan expression that occasionally cracks into inadvertent humor, prompting ripples of laughter from the group of reporters. "I'm a very normal person," he says with such sincerity that it elicits another round of laughter. "I just sit around watching YouTube cooking videos in my spare time,"

Small screen goddess ventures into supernatural thriller with measured swagger With a slight smile forming, Song Hye-Kyo says, "I'm actually more of a realist, so not really into the supernatural stuff." "I did try tarot though," she adds. The observation comes with her characteristic nonchalance as she sits in a quiet cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, her silhouette emanating an understated elegance that feels less calculated than innate. This sense of earned confidence, born of decades of experie

South Korean arthouse icon Hong Sang-soo's latest feature "What Does Nature Say to You" will compete at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, which opens Feb. 13 in Berlin. This is Hong's sixth consecutive Berlinale nomination. The auteur has had a notable presence at Berlinale. "On the Beach at Night Alone" earned Kim Min-hee Best Actress in 2017, "The Woman Who Ran" won Best Director in 2020, "Introduction" received Best Screenplay in 2021, "The Novelist's Film" claimed the Grand Jury P

Robert Pattinson visits Seoul as disposable space worker in Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho's latest "How did I survive that?" asks a frost-covered Mickey (Robert Pattinson), lying mangled in an icy pit. His supposed friend, played by Steven Yeun, approaches with an unsettling grin, only to ask with morbid fascination: "What does it feel like to die?" The chilling scene, unveiled Monday at Seoul's Yongsan CGV in a first-look preview of Bong Joon-ho's "Mickey17," suggests something more grotesque than

From AI-restored classic to virtual actors, industry ventures into machine learning technology The AI revolution that's been shaking up Hollywood for the past few years has made its way to South Korean shores. From remastering classics to creating productions entirely through generative AI, the local film industry is starting to test out using AI tools for experimental projects. This week brings a remastered version of "Leafie, a Hen into the Wild." The 2011 animated feature gets new life throug

From Swedish vampires to Japanese letters, these stories show how winter makes the perfect canvas for exploring love, loss and memory In cinema, winter isn't just a backdrop -- it's a character itself, shaping emotional landscapes as much as it shapes physical ones. As the freezing cold tightens its grip, here are three films that use snow-covered settings as vital elements in their storytelling, each exploring complex human emotions against a pristine white canvas. 'Let the Right One In' (2008)

"Forbidden Fairytale" (South Korea) Opened Jan. 8 Romance/Comedy Directed by Lee Jong-seok Fairy tale writer-turned-content moderator Dan-bi (Park Ji-hyun), tasked with tracking adult content, stumbles into the world of online erotic fiction when a chance encounter with a publishing executive leads to an unlikely side gig. "Bogota: City of the Lost" (South Korea) Opened Dec. 31 Action Directed by Kim Seong-je After his family immigrates to Colombia in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial cr

Annual ceremony recognizes individuals who enhance Korea‘s image and brand globally Diplomats, business leaders and cultural figures from around the world gathered at the InterContinental Seoul Parnas on Wednesday evening for the annual Korea Image Awards, which has recognized the country's most distinguished cultural ambassadors since the Corea Image Communication Institute's founding in 2003. "When passion and wisdom come together, we can achieve remarkable things," said CICI President Choi Ju

Musical romance that inspired a generation returns with new notes for contemporary audiences For many Korean millennials who grew up in the 2000s, Jay Chou's "Secret" brings back memories of grainy bootleg downloads and impromptu music class screenings. The 2008 Taiwanese romance about young musicians at an elite conservatory carved out an unlikely niche here, where Chinese-language films rarely break through. Even those who couldn't tell their Chopin from their Liszt know the film's famous pian

Jang Man-min's feature debut finds modern family caught between affection and self-interest "Blood is thicker than water," goes the age-old saying, a truth long held as unquestionable by many Koreans. But what if that blood becomes literal sustenance, and family members must feed off each other to survive? That question drives Jang Man-min's "Silver Apricot," a nuanced exploration of family bonds in a modern Korean society driven by material desires. The premise is simple enough, as a slice of w

Shin Hyun-joon pays tearful tribute to late co-star Kim Soo-mi At Monday's press event for "Thunderstruck Cop" at CGV Yongsan in Seoul, emotional tributes to the late actor Kim Soo-mi overshadowed the typical prerelease discussions. "Mom always hoped this would open during Lunar New Year," said Shin Hyun-joon, who consistently referred to Kim as "mom" throughout the conference ― a testament to their bond forged through multiple on-screen mother-son pairings. Kim, who passed away in October at 75

Kim Ga-hyeon rolls her eyes when asked about being part of the "MZ generation," a term commonly used in South Korea to describe young people in general. "We're talking about people who could be my aunts and uncles," says the 21-year-old part-timer at a Yongsan cafe. "When I think of older Millennials, I think of my bosses, not my peers." She's referring to a Korean phenomenon that combines two distinct generations into a single category -- a practice that has left many young Koreans feeling misu

High-profile ‘Harbin,’ ‘Bogota’ falling short of breakeven goals despite star power The commercial viability of South Korea's two major year-end film releases is being tested by streaming platforms and pandemic aftershocks that continue to threaten theatrical prospects. Even with star power and heavyweight promotion, these productions are struggling to recoup their large-scale investments in an increasingly risk-averse market. "Harbin," CJ ENM's period epic starring Hyun Bin, has accumulated 3.8