‘Harbin,’ Korean Blockbuster, Sets Christmas Release – Global Bulletin

‘HARBIN’ TO BE PRESENT AT CHRISTMAS

As a longtime film enthusiast with years of immersion in the vibrant world of cinema, I find myself deeply captivated by the multitude of stories and talents that this latest roundup presents. From the record-breaking success of “MAI” in Vietnam to Kyuhyun’s upcoming tour celebrating a decade of his solo career, it’s clear that there’s an abundance of creativity and passion fueling the Asian film industry.

Set to be one of the most anticipated blockbusters for Korean cinema this unpredictable year, the film titled “Harbin” will officially hit theaters on Christmas Day (December 25). The movie initially premiered in September at the Toronto International Film Festival, but its distributor and financier, CJ ENM, decided to postpone the domestic release until the bustling holiday season at the end of the year.

The historical action movie chronicles the brave efforts of Korean freedom fighters as they execute a bold assault on the Japanese occupation troops stationed in Manchuria, which is now contemporary China.

The film is helmed by Woo Min-ho, featuring Hyun Bin (“Crash Landing on You”), Park Jeong-min (“Decision to Leave”), and Jeon Yeo-been (“Cobweb”). All three actors appeared at a press conference in Seoul on Monday.

APPLE CIDER

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that Netflix has revealed a trailer for the upcoming 2025 release of “Apple Cider Vinegar,” an Australian-produced limited series. This six-part drama follows the meteoric rise and devastating fall of nutrition guru Belle Gibson, brilliantly played by Kaitlyn Dever. The story unfolds around a fictional empire built on a deception that emerged in the early days of Instagram.

The hit series was conceived and jointly penned by Samantha Strauss (of “Nine Perfect Strangers”) and Jeffrey Walker (“The Clearing”), respectively. Its production is a collaboration between See Saw Films and Picking Scabs, with filming taking place on-site in Melbourne, Australia, backed by VicScreen through its Victorian Production Fund. Post-production occurred in NSW, receiving support from Screen NSW and its PDV Fund.

Watch the trailer here.

BANGKOK PRIZES

The World Film Festival in Bangkok concluded on Sunday, honoring four Lotus Awards and showcasing films. These included Miguel Gomes’ movie titled “Grand Tour” set in Asia, as well as Pedro Almodovar’s first English production called “The Room Next Door.

In the Namibia Desert documentary, directed by Yoko Yamanaka, was declared the top film. The Jury Prize was shared between “Viet and Nam,” helmed by Nguyen Thi Xuan Trang, and “Pepe” by Nelson Carlos De los Santos Arias. Matthew Rankin won the best director award for “Universal Language.” Additionally, there was a special recognition given to “MA Cry of Silence,” directed by The Maw Naing.

The prizes were decided by a group that included Yeo Siew Hua, Freddy Olsson, Kim Young-Woo, Anke Leweke, and Chananan Chotirungroj.

GOLDEN ROOSTER PRIZES

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the Golden Rooster Awards, held in Xiamen over the weekend, recognized “Article 20” directed by the esteemed Zhang Yimou as the best film of the year. This comedy-drama, revolving around legitimate defense law, was a blockbuster hit, especially during the Lunar New Year season. The leading man, Lei Jiayin, also took home the award for Best Actor. Chen Kaige was honored with the title of Best Director and a special jury prize for his patriotic film “The Volunteers: To the War.” The documentary category was won by “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru,” a WWII tale that showcases Chinese valor in rescuing British sailors. Interestingly, this film was China’s entry to the Oscars but was disqualified due to excessive English content. Lastly, Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” was recognized as the Best Foreign Film.

MAI MAI

The Vietnamese movie titled “MAI” has been chosen as the winner of the Asia Pacific Box Office Achievement Award, a distinction that will be given during the December 12 closing ceremony of the CineAsia conference for film exhibitors and distributors in Bangkok.

Under the guidance of director Tran Thanh, the movie “MAI” tells the story of a captivating woman, skillfully played by Phuong Anh Dao, who possesses an extraordinary destiny. As a masseuse, Mai frequently encounters criticism and bias from those around her. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Duong, portrayed by Tuan Tran, a known romantic charmer. Initially losing interest in love and the pursuit of personal happiness, Mai’s longing for a fresh start is reignited. The film shattered box office records with a gross of VND518 billion ($21 million), making it the most successful Vietnamese movie to date. It also surpassed $2 million in gross earnings at the U.S. and European box offices.

KOMING SOON

Kyuhyun, a renowned Korean singer who is part of both a solo career and the K-pop boy band Super Junior, will commence his significant “COLORS” Asia tour in December, marking the 10th anniversary of his solo debut. Having successfully sold out the Seoul debut at Olympic Hall in Olympic Park on Dec. 20-22, he will travel to Kaohsiung (Jan. 4), Hong Kong (Jan. 25), Jakarta (Feb. 8), Taipei (Feb. 22), Yokohama (March 5-6), Bangkok (Mar. 15), Macau (Mar. 22) and Manila (Apr. 5). In addition, Kyuhyun intends to release his first full-length album, “COLORS”, on Nov. 27.

GENDER MATTERS

Screen Australia, a crucial funding and regulatory body in the film and television industry, has unveiled their 2023-24 performance targets for projects they support. Interestingly, approximately 58% of key creative roles in approved development and production projects were filled by individuals who identify as women, non-binary, or gender diverse.

Screen Australia’s Chief Operating Officer, Grainne Brunsdon, expressed her optimism over the increasing presence of individuals identifying as non-binary and gender diverse, as well as the achievement or surpassing of parity for women in several categories within successful Screen Australia applications. Although the 58% figure for the previous fiscal year is promising, it’s important to note that this trend has been influenced by a higher number of women, non-binary, and gender diverse individuals in producer roles (61%). Brunsdon acknowledges that directors and writers are key areas requiring attention, particularly in feature drama production, and emphasizes the need for continued efforts to ensure equality in these domains.

NOT ZEE END

The contentious leader of the Indian media conglomerate, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, Punit Goenka, has been given approval by the board of directors to vacate his role as managing director. Despite this, he will continue in his position as chief executive officer. The company stated that this move allows him to focus solely on the future of the Company, aiming to boost its performance and profitability. Earlier, ZEE and Sony‘s Indian division had been in discussions about merging for approximately two years. However, the merger fell apart in January, and since then, ZEE has undergone restructuring and made efforts to enhance its performance.

2024-11-19 11:17