Born in 1994, actress Shim Eun-kyung has achieved a remarkable feat by winning the Best Actress award at the 99th Kinema Junpo Awards for her role in the film 'Travel and Days'. Previously, she made headlines in March 2020 by becoming the youngest recipient of the Best Actress award at the 43rd Japan Academy Awards for her performance in 'The Journalist', where the film also swept Best Picture and Best Actor awards.

Shim Eun-kyung's agency, 'Fanfare', announced on the 30th, "Shim Eun-kyung has received the Best Actress award at the prestigious 2025 99th Kinema Junpo Best Ten Awards for her role in 'Travel and Days' in Japan."

Shim expressed her gratitude, saying, "I am truly thankful for receiving such a wonderful award. I am happy just to have encountered this project like a miracle, and winning this award makes me even happier." She added, "I believe many around the world will be captivated by the world of director Miyake Sho, as seen in 'Travel and Days'."

Founded in 1919, Kinema Junpo is recognized as Japan's most authoritative film magazine. It annually announces the 'Best 10' films of the year and is considered one of the most prestigious awards in the Japanese film industry, alongside the Japan Academy Awards, Blue Ribbon Awards, and Mainichi Film Awards.

Celebrating its 99th edition this year, Kinema Junpo announced 'Travel and Days' as the number one film in its Best Ten list and officially declared Shim Eun-kyung as the Best Actress award recipient. This achievement marks Shim as the first Korean actress to win the Kinema Junpo Best Actress award, and she is the first foreign actress to do so since Ruby Moreno in 1993 for 'Where Is the Moon?' directed by Sai Yoichi.

Already in 2020, Shim made history as the first Korean actress to win the Best Actress award at the Japan Academy Awards, Mainichi Film Awards, and Takasaki Film Festival for 'The Journalist'. Her dominance at the Kinema Junpo Awards further solidifies her unique position on the global stage.

The film 'Travel and Days' has been highly anticipated from the start, as it marks the collaboration between the globally recognized young director Miyake Sho and Shim Eun-kyung, the first Korean actress to achieve Best Actress awards in both Korea and Japan.

Living up to expectations, 'Travel and Days' won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival, one of the world's top six film festivals, and was selected as the number one film at the 99th Kinema Junpo Best Ten. It has also been invited to the 73rd San Sebastian International Film Festival, the 22nd Reykjavik International Film Festival, the 33rd Hamburg Film Festival, and the 30th Busan International Film Festival, receiving global attention.

Shim Eun-kyung, the film's lead, was previously nominated for Best Actress at the 38th Nikkan Sports Film Awards and the 36th Singapore International Film Festival, which focuses on innovative Asian works. She was also nominated for the Best Actor award at the 80th Mainichi Film Awards, a category that does not distinguish between male and female actors, adding to its significance. Her recent win at the 99th Kinema Junpo Awards further cements her presence on the international stage.

Praised for its stunning mise-en-scène and the director's exceptional storytelling, as well as Shim Eun-kyung's nuanced and intense performance, 'Travel and Days' continues to enjoy long-running success in both Japan and Korea, winning the hearts of audiences. As Shim Eun-kyung continues to shine in diverse global projects, her impact as a Korean actress on the international stage is eagerly anticipated.

The 99th Kinema Junpo Awards ceremony is scheduled for February 19, and Shim Eun-kyung is currently adjusting her schedule to attend.


Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr
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