You can meet Korean works and actors at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. This is because Korean films were officially invited.
The 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, which will be held from February 16th to 26th, is considered one of the world's three largest film festivals, along with the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival. Hong Sang-soo, Kim Min-hee, Sol Kyung-gu, Yoo Teo, and Choi Sung-won are expected to be seen at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Director Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee, an 'adulterous couple', will walk the red carpet at the Berlin International Film Festival with the movie 'In the Water'. 'In the Water' is director Hong Sang-soo's 29th feature film, and his muse and lover Kim Min-hee participated as the production manager.
'In the Water' was invited to the Encounter section of the official competition section of the Berlin International Film Festival. Carlo Chatrian, Chairman of the Berlinale International Film Festival, said, "We saw 'In the Water' and enjoyed the minimalism of the film. And the consistency and precision in every shot also gave us pleasure. With this work, director Hong Sang-soo demonstrated his poetic vision. “I think we have delivered this through a new style. We love this achievement,” he said, explaining the reason for the invitation.
According to an official from the distribution company of 'In the Water', director Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee plan to fly to Berlin and meet the audience in person. Although they are not present at official events in Korea, they are attending side by side at overseas events. This time too, the two will be carrying out an overseas schedule together.
The Netflix film 'Gil Bok-soon', which is attracting attention due to the collaboration between Sol Kyeong-gu and director Byun Seong-hyun, known as 'Idols of 1998', was also officially invited to the Berlinale Special Section, the main section of the Berlin International Film Festival. 'Gil Bok-soon' is the story of Gil Bok-soon, a legendary killer in the contract killing industry, who is caught up in an inevitable confrontation that will either kill him or kill him, just before renewing his contract with the company.
The Berlinale Special Section, to which 'Gil Bok-soon' was invited, mainly invites hot works that show new trends in the world film industry, and has a reputation for selecting films that can communicate widely with the public. Among the sections of the film festival, this is the section where the most colorful and interesting films are mainly invited. It is currently undecided whether Sol Kyung-gu will attend the Berlin International Film Festival.
On the other hand, Teo Yoo plans to fly directly to Berlin. Teo Yoo was officially invited to the competition section of the Berlin International Film Festival for his film ‘Past lives’. 'Past lives' is the story of Nora and Hae-seong, who have been closely related since childhood. Twenty years after Nora immigrated to Canada at the age of 10 and separated, the two, now adults, spend a fateful week in New York. It's a story about reunion.
Previously, Teo Yoo attended the Sundance Film Festival in the United States and received favorable reviews. After being invited to the competition section of the Cannes International Film Festival with the Russian film 'Leto' in 2018, he is expected to receive world attention once again by attending the Berlin International Film Festival with the New York film 'Past lives' this year.
Choi Seong-won, who was diagnosed with acute leukemia in 2016, devoted himself to treatment and was declared fully cured that year, is also heading to Berlin. He was invited to the Forum section of the Berlin International Film Festival for his film ‘No Matter About Us’. 'Regardless of Us' tells the story of middle-aged actress Hwaryeong (played by Jo Hyun-jin), who was unable to attend the premiere of her first leading role due to a cerebral infarction, and was visited by people who worked with her.
Director Hong Sang-soo has a particularly close relationship with the Berlin International Film Festival. He received the Silver Bear Award for Best Actress for 'On the Beach at Night Alone', the Silver Bear Award for Best Director for 'The Woman Who Ran', the Silver Bear Award for Best Screenplay for 'Introduction', and the Silver Bear Award for Jury Prize for 'A Novelist's Film'. Attention is being paid to whether director Hong Sang-soo will be able to win a trophy at the Berlin International Film Festival again this time. Also, attention is focused on what kind of luck Sol Kyeong-gu, Yoo Teo, and Choi Seong-won will have.
Kang Min-kyung, Ten Asia reporter kkk39@tenasia.co.kr