Director Hong Sang-soo’s latest film starring his muse and lover Kim Min-hee will hit the local theaters on April 25.Distributors for the drama, which has a highly-decorated actress Isabelle Huppert as the titular main character, has released the main trailer and the poster for the film.It features a conversation between the leading ladies, Huppert and Kim -- playing Claire and Man-hee, respectively -- about why Claire takes pictures. The poster for “Claire‘s Camera: (Jeonwonsa Film Co.)“Claire’

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum(Korea)Opened March 28Horror, MysteryDirected by Jun Bum-shik Ha-jun (Wi Ha-jun) who runs a YouTube channel that deals with the supernatural, leads the team of youngsters to the Gonjiam asylum and the mysterious room No. 402, which is supposed to have never been opened since the hospital closed decades before. Despite the rumors that the place is cursed, Ha-jun and his team strap on cameras and plunge into the darkness surrounding the battered building.Ready Player One(US)

“Burning,” the latest movie by director Lee Chang-dong, will open in Korean theaters in May, starring actor Yoo Ah-in and “Walking Dead” star Steven Yeun.It is a drama featuring three youngsters tumbling into a rabbit hole of mystery. A trailer released Wednesday featured Yoo, who will return to the silver screen for the first time in two year since “Like for Likes.” Poster for “Burning” (CGV Arthouse)Yoo starred in hit films such as “Veteran,” period piece “The Throne” and coming-of-age film “P

In its set-up, “Snatch-Up” looks quite promising: The premise of seven men, each with his own share of troubles, their destinies entangled around a gigantic wad of cash and a cast of actors with resumes ranging from promising to superb seemed to spell comedic gold. But the film -- directed by Heo Jun-hyeong -- soon falls flat due to the obvious plot, weak directing and jokes that sometimes work and other times are just annoying. A scene from “Snatch-Up” (LittleBig Pictures)The film starts with M

Ma Dong-seok occupies a unique place in the hearts of Korean movie fans: the 18-inch arms, rock-solid exterior and rugged looks immediately spell a tough guy, but the Korean-American actor also packs a friendly demeanor that has earned him the nickname “Mavely,” a combination of his surname “Ma” and “Lovely.” The upcoming film “Champion,” directed by Kim Yong-wan, is one that seems tailor-made for Ma, as it follows the story of Korean adoptee Mark on his journey to become an arm wrestling champi

The 20th Seoul International Women’s Film Festival will kick off on May 31, showcasing films made by women that advocate gender equality.Organizers of the annual event on Wednesday said that the festival would be held from May 31 to June 7 at Megabox in Shinchon-dong, Seoul. This year’s SIWFF has added the category of feature-length domestic and international film competition to the existing categories of Asian short film and video competition, documentary Ock-Rang award, Pitch & Catch and I-Tee

Gang Dong-won may be looking to expand his fan base to the US, as “Tsunami LA,” the Korean actor’s first Hollywood film, will start filming next month.The film is a disaster movie in which Gang appears as a man who struggles to cope as the most powerful tsunami in history hits Los Angeles. All of Gang’s lines will be in English, and the film will be shot in Mexico and Europe. Gang Dong-won (YG Entertainment)“I have great expectations for this project and the character I’m playing, and I’m honore

Pacific Rim: Uprising(US)Opened March 21Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Directed by Steven S. DeKnightBe With You(Korea)Opened March 14Romance, DramaDirected by Lee Jang-hoonWoo-jin (So Ji-sub) and his son Ji-ho (Kim Ji-hwan) struggle to cope with the loss of Woo-jin’s wife Soo-ah (Son Ye-jin). Ji-ho believes that his mother will return during the rainy season, just like in his favorite fairy tale. One day, Soo-ah miraculously comes back without her memory.The Vanished(Korea)Opened March 7ThrillerDire

Despite the disadvantage of not being distributed by powerhouses like CJ E&M, crime thriller “The Vanished” managed to stay afloat in the Korean box officer for nearly three weeks. This is thanks to a strong story and good acting, along with solid directing by Lee Chang-hee. The first feature-length film of the young director knows how to depict the tumultuous state of men pushed to the edge, and use a plot twist effectively. Lee Chang-hee is seen during a press conference after the premiere of

The upcoming romantic comedy film “What A Man Wants” features the tempestuous affairs of four middle-aged characters.“Why is it that we are constantly lonely, even if we fall in love, even if we get married?” reads the film’s tagline.Shin Ha-kyun stars as Bong-soo, who once dreamt of being a top chef but is now the meek husband of Mi-young, played by Song Ji-hyo.Bong-soo is led into the world of social media dating through his friend Seok-geun, played by Lee Sung-min. Shin Ha-kyun (left) and Son

Choi Soo-young, better known as Sooyoung of Girls’ Generation, is to take a leading role in a Korean-and-Japanese-made film. Choi will play a leading role in the film “Memories of a Dead End,” based on a novel written by Japanese writer Banana Yoshimoto. It depicts how a female character faces a life-changing moment. The film will start shooting in April in Japan.  Choi Soo-young (Echo Global Group)Choi debuted as a member of Girls’ Generation in 2007. She did not renew her contract with the age

“Seven Years of Night” a story of two unstoppable forces with very different motives

“Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum” is typical found-footage horror film, but tells a legitimately scary story

In a report released late Tuesday, the state-run Korean Film Council on Tuesday revealed an attempt to cover up a sexual harassment case by a director against her colleague by officials from its affiliated organization.According to KOFIC, officials at the Korean Academy of Film Arts attempted to conceal actions by director Lee Hyun-joo, who was convicted of a sexual attack on her female colleague in 2015 and was sentenced to a suspended prison term in 2017. Lee has claimed innocence, but announc

Police questioned Lee Youn-taek, a disgraced theater writer and director, for two consecutive days over the weekend over alleged sexual violence against female junior members of his drama troupe.His appeared at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Sunday morning, hours after he returned home at 1:10 a.m. following a 15-hour interrogation.The 66-year-old Lee is one of the high-profile South Korean men to fall over sexual misconduct as the "Me Too" movement quickly spreads in the country.After