Korean Genre Cinema Heads to Swiss Fantastic Fest
A quarter of Korean films will be heading to the Jura province in Switzerland to take part in the lakeside Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival, which is set to unspool from July 5th to 13th. NIFFF is one of the premiere events for genre cinema in Europe. With their strong focus on Asian cinema, Korean films figure strongly on the festival’s lineup year after year.
This year’s batch of Korean cinema includes Ghost Sweepers and The Berlin File in the New Cinema from Asia section. From director SHIN Jeong-won, Ghost Sweepers is a high concept supernatural comedy which, though not a commercial success in its native country, has been well received by critics. It previously screened at this year’s Udine Far East Film Festival. Far more popular at home RYOO Seung-wan’s The Berlin File, which scored over seven million admissions to become the most successful Korean action film of all time. With its location setting, tense pacing, tight choreography and top cast, featuring the likes of HA Jung-woo, HAN Suk-kyu, JEON Ji-hyeon and RYOO Seung-beom, the film has also been embraced overseas. Its selection at NIFFF follows a slew of other invitations to fests around the world.
LEE Wonsuk’s debut film How to Use Guys with Secret Tips will be featured in the ‘Films of the Third Kind’ sidebar. LEE’s work is a fresh take on romantic comedies, which for its color, liveliness and endearing cast, has earned itself spots at many spring and summers festivals, including Udine, the New York Asian Film Festival and next month’s Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan).
Meanwhile, PARK Chan-wook’s Hollywood bow Stoker, starring Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman and Matthew Goode, will be on of two ‘Ceremonies’ screenings. Following its strong critical reception at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, PARK’s latest has impressed viewers around the world for its stunning mise-en-scene and gothic coming-of-age story.
NIFFF, now in its 13 edition, has featured a great many Korean films over the years. Hello Ghost, which was recently picked up for a Hollywood remake, took the top Asian film prize in 2011. Tokyo!, the omnibus featuring BONG Joon-ho, also picked up two prizes in 2008.