46th Blue Dragon Film Awards: Nominees Announced for Korea's Prestigious Film Honors

The nominees for the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards, which celebrate the best in Korean cinema, have been announced.

The final nominees were determined through a combination of expert panel reviews and an initial round of online voting by netizens, conducted from October 1 to 19.

Excluding the Most Popular Film and Cheongjeongwon Popular Star Awards, the categories include Best Film, Best Director, Best New Director, Best Actor and Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, Best New Actor and Actress, Best Cinematography and Lighting, Best Screenplay, Best Music, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, and Best Technical Achievement, totaling 15 categories.

Competing for the Best Film award are five films: 'No Choice', 'Face', 'Zombie Daughter', 'Destruction', and 'Harbin'. These films, known for their artistic and commercial appeal, have captured the attention of audiences and critics alike.

Director Park Chan-wook's 'No Choice' leads the pack with nominations in 12 categories, followed by 'Face' with 10, 'Harbin' with 8, and both 'Zombie Daughter' and 'High Five' with 6 nominations each.

The awards also highlight a diverse range of films noted for their innovative approaches and unique storytelling, showcasing the broad spectrum of Korean cinema this year.

'War' and 'Destruction' have each received nominations in 5 categories, while 'Noise' and 'The Match' are nominated in 3 categories. Films like '3670', 'Black Nuns', 'Ordinary Family', 'Amoeba Girls and School Ghost Story: School Anniversary', 'The Devil Moved In', and 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' are recognized in 2 categories each. The presence of fresh perspectives from new directors and explorations of new genres highlight the harmony between generations and the growing diversity in Korean cinema.

The final winners will be determined through netizen voting, which begins on October 21 via the 'Celeb Champ' mobile app. Voting is open in 16 categories, including Best Film, Best Director, Best New Director, Best Actor and Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, Best New Actor and Actress, Best Cinematography and Lighting, Best Screenplay, Best Music, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Technical Achievement, and the Cheongjeongwon Popular Star Award. The results of the netizen vote will carry the same weight as a vote from the professional judging panel.

As anticipation builds over who will take home the top honors, the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards ceremony is set to take place on November 19 at the KBS Hall in Yeouido, and will be broadcast live on KBS2TV.

Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr