22 movies compete for the prestigious Palme d’Or during 12-day film festivalCANNES, France (AP) ― Wes Anderson opened the 65th Cannes Film Festival with his meticulously composed ode to young love, “Moonrise Kingdom,’’ while less mannered theatrics surrounded the annual French Riviera extravaganza. Anderson and his star-studded cast declared the festival officially begun at the opening ceremony Wednesday night shortly after striding down the absurdly glamorous Cannes red carpet, a seaside gauntl

Standard Chartered Korea sponsors exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in time for OlympicsA total of 34 Korean contemporary artists have been selected for an upcoming “Korean Eye” exhibition in London, which will be held at the Saatchi Gallery from July 29 ― just in time for the summer Olympic Games. The exhibition, sponsored by Standard Chartered Korea, a leading global financial group, presents some 100 works by 34 established Korean artists, including Ahn Chul-hyun, Kang Hyung-koo, Moon Beom, B

Earth, Wind & Fire, Eric Benet and George Benson to highlight Seoul Jazz FestivalLegendary jazz artists and pop stars are coming to Seoul to perform at the annual Seoul Jazz Festival that kicks off this weekend at the outdoor venues of Olympic Park in southern Seoul.The list of artists includes American soul rock band Earth, Wind & Fire, jazz guitarist George Benson, Al Di Meola, Ledisi and Eric Benet, one of Korea’s all-time favorite R&B singers from the U.S. Benet is already attracting the spo

Junsu, a member of the popular music group JYJ and a rising musical star, said on Wednesday that he wouldn't mind if he was called Xia Junsu, which he had used for the formerly five-member boyband TVXQ.He said that his newest music video of “Tarantallegra,” the first single from his solo album, may be one of the most expensive music videos he has ever made.“If you had watched it, you could’ve imagined that it would be one of the most expensive music videos. If I considered only the Korean market

K-pop idol group 2PM will be making its Japan debut on June 6 with its new single album “Beautiful” and Arena Tour Live DVD. Title track “Beautiful” has gained popularity ahead of the debut as the song of Sempio’s black vinegar drink. The song topped Recochouk chart, the biggest ringtone download website in Japan.A song written by 2PM member, Junho, “If You are Here” will also be included on the album. 2PM is expected to meet Japanese fans at a Tokyo fan meeting on June 16, before performing liv

Three internationally renowned chamber orchestras to perform in Seoul in May, JuneChamber orchestras traditionally performed in palace chambers or great mansions in the West for the privileged few. The venue for these small orchestras today has moved from small private rooms to concert halls and their performances are now open to anyone. However, despite the change in venue over the centuries, there is one enduring quality that continues to mesmerize audiences ― intimacy.Three internationally re

“Tokyo Waka: A City Poem” by John Haptas and Kristine Samuelson of the United States won the Best Feature Film Award of this year’s Green Film Festival in Seoul (GFFIS), including prize money of 10 million won ($8,668), organizers said Tuesday.Tokyo Waka was selected as the best feature film, as it broadly reflected social and cultural viewpoints while signifying the relationship between the environment and mankind rather than simply concentrating on environment, the competition’s jury said.“The

The U.S. nighttime soap opera "Desperate Housewives" ended its eight-season run with a 2-hour season finale. A scene from the soap opera "Desperate Housewives"The Emmy Award-winning show, which ended Sunday night, was created by writer-producer Marc Cherry and boasted an ensemble cast led by Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross and Eva Longoria. Other stars who appeared on the series were

Director of ‘Love Letter’ criticizes Japanese media’s coverage of the nuclear disasterFor those used to seeing Iwai Shunji’s sentimental romantic films such as “Love Letter” and “Hana and Alice,” his latest film may come as a surprise.The film, titled “Friends after 3.11,” is a documentary with no fictional narrative. The anti-nuclear film deals with the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and Shunji’s own friends who were affected by the catastrophic event. “I’m a filmmaker but I’m also a human