TEHRAN (AFP) -- The outpouring of tributes for Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, who died Monday, has reminded the world of Iran’s huge impact on art-house cinema despite restrictions on its artists.“On the one hand, there is the state cinema, financed by the authorities ... then there is an independent sector that is flourishing,” Kiarostami told reporters at the Cannes Film Festival in May. A few days later, the point was underlined when “The Salesman,” by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, wa

Familyhood(Korea)Opened June 29Comedy, Drama. Directed by Kim Tae-gonSelf-absorbed diva Ju-yeon (Kim Hye-soo) has so far in life pursued fame, money and handsome young men. Now that she has entered her 40s, Ju-yeon realizes what she needs in life is a baby. The Hunt(Korea)Opened June 29Action, Thriller. Directed by Lee Woo-cheolDong-geun (Cho Jin-woong) ventures deep into the mountains when he hears gold has been discovered in a collapsed coal mining site. There, he meets Ki-seong (Ahn Sung-ki),

From the metallic shell of the 1996 smash “Independence Day,” director Roland Emmerich has pulled a seriously lousy sequel, dripping with alien goo and incoherence.I take no pleasure in reporting this news, folks. I’ve been a lonely, half-mad defender of some of Emmerich’s cheesiest cheese, including “10,000 B.C.” But “Independence Day: Resurgence” is the Emmerich movie his fiercest detractors always said he could manage, if he put his mindlessness to it.Will Smith, star of the original, passed

As the sweltering Korean summer sets in, theaters are gearing up to open a series of horror movies for audiences wishing to cool off with goosebumps and chills.　Coming soon to the screens are a diverse horror films, from spectral and psychological to survival thrillers. 　American supernatural horror flick “Sinister 2,” set to open in local theaters on July 7, features ghostly children and demonic sacrifices taking place inside an isolated farmhouse. Directed by Ciaran Foy, it is the sequel to th

Just within one day of its release, “Familyhood” topped the Korean box office, while second place went to “The Hunt,” which debuted on the same day. Released on Wednesday, “Familyhood” lagged behind “The Hunt” on the first day, but quickly stole the No. 1 spot by Thursday, attracting a total of 255,660 viewers, according to data from the Korean Film Council Friday. “The Hunt” has drawn a total of 234,726 viewers.  As of Friday morning, “Familyhood” and “The Hunt” have each grabbed 20.7 percent a

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, best known for hosting the prestigious Academy Awards, invited four representatives from Korea’s film industry to the organization’s newest membership class Wednesday.Among the 683 invitees are actor Lee Byung-hun, best known globally for his roles in Hollywood productions “Terminator Genisys” (2015) and “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” (2009), and filmmakers Park Chan-wook of “The Handmaiden” (2016) and “Oldboy” (2003), Lee Chang-dong of  “Poetry” (

Content streaming service Netflix, which launched here in January as part of its global expansion efforts, will be announcing plans for original Korean series within the year, Netflix leadership said at a press conference in Seoul on Thursday. Netflix’s current projects here include the film “Okja,” directed by Bong Joon-ho, and Korean-English drama series “Dramaworld,” produced in partnership with streaming service Viki.This is only the beginning of Netflix’s foray into the Korean market, said

‘Made’ reveals candid footage of hallyu stars smoking, cursing, performing, living

Award-winning director Park Chan-wook’s “The Handmaiden” has attracted more than 4 million viewers so far.　The film, which opened in local theaters on June 1, had attracted 4,005,806 moviegoers by Saturday, according to the Korean Film Council on Sunday.　It is currently the best performing 19-rated film this year, having surpassed the mark set by “Deadpool,” an American superhero film that opened in February and attracted more than 3.2 million moviegoers. Actress Kim Min-hee (right) and actor Ha

The Truth Beneath　(Korea)　Opened June 23　Thriller. Directed by Lee Kyoung-mi　A power-hungry politician (Kim Joo-hyuk) and his strong-willed wife (Son Ye-jin) discover their daughter (Shin Ji-hoon) has gone missing just days before election day. The two struggle over what to prioritize –- family or ambition.　Independence Day: Resurgence　(U.S.)　Opened June 22　Fantasy, Science fiction. Directed by Ronald Emmerich　Nations join hands to devise a gargantuan defense program to protect themselves from a

BIFF's first leader without government affiliation Kim Dong-ho expresses strong resolve for freedom

The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, now in its 20th year, is hoping to broaden its international scope, organizers said Wednesday. 　 　This year’s festival will screen a record 302 titles -- up 67 from last year -- from 49 different countries. Two new programmers and three program consultants with expertise in Chinese and Southeast Asian films are included among the festival’s organizers to make it more international.　BIFAN aims to “respect the artistic freedom of its participants,