‘26 Years’ producer wins special award

Film producer Choi Yong-bae, who was in charge of last year’s highly political film “26 Years,” is receiving a special honor from the Korea Film Reporters Association (KOFRA).

Choi has been selected as the “Person of the Year 2012” in the local film industry, for his film “26 Years,” whose production cost was paid by online crowdfunding.

The film tells the story about five ordinary people who get together to draw up a plan to assassinate the former president Chun Doo-hwan, for the massacre of innocent civilians while crushing a pro-democracy movement in May 1980.

The film’s initial pitches had been turned down by investors for three to four years, mostly due to its politically sensitive content. After facing a number of challenges, the film debuted at the top of the box office on Nov. 29. It drew almost 3 million viewers in total, no small achievement for a small-budget film.

The award ceremony will be held on Jan. 30 at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)