<I>Blood Rain</I> Takes Top Prize in Japan

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The 17th Yubari Fantastic Film Festival, held annually in Hokkaido, Japan, awarded its Grand Prize to Korean historical thriller Blood Rain (2005). The festival ran from February 23rd to the 27th and announced the prizes at an awards ceremony on the 26th at the Yubari Culture and Sports Center. Blood Rain, directed by KIM Dae-seung, debuted locally last summer, and starred CHA Seung-won, PARK Yong-woo and JI Seong. Produced by Fun and Happiness Pictures, the film competed in the Young Fantastic Competition Division at Yubari and was chosen from among six other films vying for the prize. Another Korean film, Never Belongs to Me, directed by NAM Ki-woong, was given the Special Jury Award. Crying Fist, directed by RYOO Seung-wan, was presented to audiences in the official selection. Director HUR Jin-ho, who has attracted much attention from Japanese audiences for his films April Snow (2005), starring BAE Yong-joon, and One Fine Spring Day (2001), was invited to sit as a juror at Yubari in the main competition division. The festival held many events including a ceremony to set up a sisterhood relationship with Korea's 10th PiFan (the Pucheon International Fantastic Film Festival). In 2004, South Korean film A Tale of Two Sisters, directed by KIM Ji-woon, also won the Grand Prize at Yubari. Nigel D'Sa (KOFIC)

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