As Indonesian Horror Redefines Asian Genre Cinema, Korea Looks to Women Directors for New Energy

Still of ‘Ghost in the Cell’ In April 2022, Indonesian horror film KKN di Desa Penari (also released internationally as Curse of the Dancing Village) opened in theaters and went on to draw 9.2 million admissions within two months, becoming the highest-grossi...

BIFAN Turns 30: Fan Bingbing, Isabelle Huppert Lead Starriest Lineup Yet as Festival Pushes Into AI

Actress Fan Bingbing attends a press conference for the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), held July 3 at the Hyundai Department Store Jungdong branch in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province.(provided by Kookmin Ilbo) The Bucheon International...

'Hana Korea': Danish Director's Decade-Long Journey to Tell a North Korean Defector's Story

Still of 'Hana Korea' (provided by Triple Pictures) "Hana Korea," the feature narrative debut of Danish documentary filmmaker Frederik Sølberg, opens in South Korean theaters on July 8. The film follows Hye-seon (played by Kim Min-ha), a youn...

Newly Launched 'KoCo Fund' Opens Second-Half Call for Entries — Deadline July 10

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) will close applications for the second-half round of the 'Film International Co-Production Support Program (KoCo Fund),' newly introduced in 2026, on July 10.The KoCo Fund supports international co-production projects created jo...

Academy Invites 529 New Members: Directors Maggie Kang and Kim Jee-woon Set to Gain Oscar Voting Rights

(From left) Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans, Michelle L.M. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) released its 2026 new member invitation list on June 24 (local time), and among the 529 invitees are a number of individuals connected to the Kore...

Na Hong-jin's Hope Named Centerpiece of NYAFF — Cannes Competition Sensation Set for North American Premiere

Still of ‘HOPE' (provided by VAIRETY) Na Hong-jin's Hope Selected as NYAFF Centerpiece — Buzz Continues in North America Following Cannes Na Hong-jin's Hope has been named the centerpiece film of the 25th New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), wi...

Beyond Export: Lầu Chú Hỏa and Korea's Second Southeast Asia Playbook

Poster of ‘Lầu Chú Hỏa’ (provided by Hive Media Corp) The latest box office hit from Hive Media Corp — the studio behind Seoul Spring and Insiders — is not a Korean film. It is a Vietnamese horror film, Lầu Chú Hỏa, based on urban legends surrounding a real ...

Hit Films Return, But Korean Cinema Warns the Fundamentals Are Broken

Panelists at the 22nd Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival's 'Deep Focus: What's Next?' session (provided by Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival) The numbers look like a recovery. In the first quarter of 2026, Korean films captured 75.3% of domesti...

The Malaysian Formula: Why Korean Zombie Films Dominate Southeast Asia

Poster of ‘Colony’ (provided by Showbox)Overseas Trends · International PerformanceThe all-time top three Korean films at the Malaysian box office are Colony, Train to Busan, and Peninsula — all zombie thrillers by the same director. That a single filmmaker ho...

MIFFest Honors Lee Chang-dong with Lifetime Achievement Award, Expanding Its Korean Cinema Focus

Photo of Lee Chang-dong (provided by THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)The Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) has officially announced that Korean director Lee Chang-dong will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at its 9th edition, running July 18–25 in Ku...