News

The opening night of the 29th Busan International Film Festival (Biff) saw a starry audience of more than 4,500 guests in fits of laughter as well as reduced to tears at a ceremony tonight (October 3).

Staged under the illuminated roof of the Busan Cinema Center in South Korea, directors, actors and producers from more than 70 films in Biff’s official selection walked the red carpet, including Thai star Billkin from blockbuster How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, India’s Banita Das from Village Rockstars 2 and Filipino director Brillante Mendoza. Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae was also in attendance as well as Portuguese filmmaker Miguel Gomes,...

Marking its 4th year, Actors’ House is a special event that offers an in-depth look into the works of actors who represent the contemporary film industry, sharing their candid stories. This year’s event draws attention with prominent figures’ participation, including Sul Kyung-gu, Park Boyoung, Hwang Jung-min, and Chun Woo-hee.

First, actor Sul Kyung-gu, known for his limitless transformations through various roles, will be featured at the Actors’ House. Continuously expanding his spectrum by navigating different themes, genres, and characters, Sul Kyung-gu has consistently garnered praise from audiences for his solid acting skills. Most recently, he crafted a new iconic character in the 2024 Netflix series The Whirlwind (2024). At the Actors’ House, Sul Kyung-gu is set to showcase his true essence as an actor.

Actor Park Boyoung will also meet with the audience in Busan. After skyrocketing to fame as a rising star in Chungmuro with the success of the film...

This review may contain spoilers.

Of the nine Korea-centered stories this year, Woo Min-ho’s blockbuster “Harbin” stands out in this year’s Toronto International Film Festival line-up. For the film’s world premiere, the Gala Presentation filled the Roy Thomson Hall to the brim. For each time visiting talent – including none other than Lee Dong-wook and Hyun Bin himself – walked along the aisles, squeals and stray “Saranghae’s” rippled through the crowd. Needless to say, the excitement in the air was palpable.

Harbin is screening at Toronto International Film Festival

The film itself was not as brilliant as its festival sheen, however. “Harbin” revives the Korean independence hero, Ahn Jung-geun (reincarnated through Hyun Bin) in early 20th century Manchuria. Ahn, alongside a group of dedicated independence militia the Righteous Army, plots to assassinate Ito Hirobumi, the first Japanese Resident-General of Korea who totally annexed Korea to the Japanese Imperial Army.

Indian filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar is returning to Yash Raj Films (Yrf), the studio where he made his first four films, Variety has learned.

Zafar made his feature directorial debut with Yrf’s 2011 romantic comedy “Mere Brother Ki Dulhan,” starring Katrina Kaif, Imran Khan and Ali Zafar. The film was a hit and Zafar followed up with the studio’s action film “Gunday” (2014), starring Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Irrfan Khan, which was a massive success. Blockbusters followed, including wrestling drama “Sultan” (2016), starring Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma, which is one of the studio’s all-time biggest hits; and “Tiger Zinda Hai” (2017), starring Khan and Kaif, the second instalment of Yrf’s popular spy universe franchise created by studio head Aditya Chopra.

Family drama “Bharat” (2019), also starring Khan and Kaif, an adaptation of Yoon Je-kyoon’s “Ode to My Father,” also proved to be a success. Produced by Reel Life Productions,...

As some of the lists of the previous years were not on par with the ones we have been publishing lately, we decided to take a closer look at some of the years that were not as covered at the time. In that fashion, here is a list with the 50 of the Best Asian movies of 2015, in completely random order.

1. Monster Hunt

Raman Hui evidently shot a film to indulge every demographic category in the country. In that fashion, the movie entails elements of RPGs, comics, martial arts, comedy, musicals, romance, some drama and a plethora of action scenes. (Panos Kotzathanasis)

on Amazon by clicking on the image below 2. Spl 2: A Time for Consequences

The action scenes are magnificent, with Tony Jaa as Chatchai and Wu Jing as Kit giving their best selves. Furthermore, the film excels in the technical department, both in cinematography and special effects,...

It’s hard enough to let go of loved ones when they die. But when your brain convinces you they’re trying to contact you from beyond, it’s next to impossible. Unless…they really are trying to send you a message? Jae-hyun must try to separate fact from fiction in “Yonder,” the new original drama series coming to Paramount+ on Tuesday, April 11. You can watch with a 30-Day Free Trial of Paramount Plus.

How to Watch 'Yonder' When: Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Where: Paramount Plus Stream: Watch with a 30-Day Free Trial of Paramount Plus. 30-Day Free Trial$4.99+ / month paramountplus.com

For a Limited Time, Get 1 Month of Paramount+ With Code: SURVIVOR44

About 'Yonder'

After his wife, Yi-hoo, passes away from an illness, Jae-hyun is left to pick up the pieces of his life and move on as best he can. But one day receives a message...

Paramount+ today announced that Yonder, its brand-new original drama series from South Korea, will premiere exclusively on the service on Tuesday, April 11 in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France. After his wife, Yi-hoo, passes away from an illness, Jae-hyun one day receives a message from her – an invitation to a world called Yonder, which was designed based on her memories. Jae-hyun goes to Yonder and reunites with Yi-hoo. But can they be together forever? Yonder is directed by Lee Jun-ik and stars Shin Ha-kyun (“Beyond Evil”), Han Ji-min (“Rooftop Prince”), Lee Jeong-eun (“Parasite”) and Jung Jin-young (“Ode to My Father”). Produced by Cj Enm and Doodoong Pictures, the series is the first local production out of Paramount Global’s strategic partnership with leading entertainment company Cj Enm. Last year, Paramount+ officially marked its entry to Asia with the launch of...

Streaming platform Paramount+ has set a release date for Korean series “Yonder” that is one of the first titles flowing from Paramount Global’s alliance with Cj Enm.

The show will premiere on April 11 in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France.

Set in 2032, “Yonder” is a science fiction-drama series about a man who receives a message from his deceased wife inviting him to a mysterious space. The space is designed for the dead to be able to live on by uploading memories of their lifetime from their brain. The show raises questions about life and death and what it means to have eternal happiness as humanity faces a world altered by advancements in science and technology.

It was directed by Lee Joon-ik who has numerous hit film credits including “The King and the Clown,” “Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet” and “The Book of Fish.

South Korean sci-fi drama series Yonder, the first local production under Paramount Global’s strategic partnership with Korean entertainment powerhouse Cj Enm, will launch globally on Paramount+, including in the U.S., on April 11.

The show will premiere exclusively on the streamer in the U.S. and, as previously unveiled, its international markets of Canada, the U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Switzerland Austria and France.

In addition, Paramount+ will also make available worldwide a collection of Korean thriller and mystery dramas produced by Cj Enm, starting on April 11.

They include Signal, about a criminal profiler from 2015 and a detective from 1989 who tackle crimes by communicating via a walkie-talkie that transcends time, seasons 1 and 2 of Voice, about the employees of an emergency call center and dispatch teams who try to help victims using only what they hear during their calls for help, and seasons 1 and 2 of Save Me,...

Markets

Berlin’s just concluded European Film Market (EFM), which had a physical edition this year after two online editions in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic, has reported “record results” according to the organizers. There were 230 stands and 612 companies from 78 countries and more than 11,500 market participants from 132 countries. Some 773 films were shown in 1,533 screenings, including 647 online screenings and 599 market premieres. The total number of buyers also rose to 1,302. 629 film projects were presented on the new Producers & Project Pages.

“After the past two irregular years, we’re pleased to return to the physical in full force, and with a vibrant, bustling and strong market. The exhibition areas at Gropius Bau and the Marriott Hotel were sold out, and the exhibitors reported strong sales and good business. The decision to group all the market happenings together with the Berlinale Series Market and the market screenings at Potsdamer Platz, and to provide the industry with an efficient infrastructure,...

“Decision to Leave,” the detective mystery by Korean director Park Chan-wook that will debut in competition in Cannes next month, is to be given theatrical releases in the U.S. and U.K. by streaming platform Mubi.

Mubi, which pitches itself as a global distributor, streaming service and production company, picked up multiple territory rights including North America, U.K., Ireland, Turkey, and India, in a deal with South Korea’s Cj Entertainment.

“The film will be released theatrically in the U.S. and the U.K. with fall 2022 release dates planned, followed by an exclusive Mubi streaming release,” Mubi said.

“Decision to Leave” was produced by Moho Film and is presented by “Parasite” studio Cj Enm.

The film stars Park Hae-il and China’s Tang Wei in a tale about a detective who develops a personal interest in the woman who should be the chief suspect in his ongoing murder investigation.

Producer Lynda Obst and Miky Lee (executive producer of “Parasite”) have joined forces to tap into the Korean music wave. They will produce “K-Pop: Lost in America,” a feature-length road movie to be released in 2023.

The Cj Enm production has tapped Jk Youn, director of two of the biggest Korean movies of all time, to helm the project. With disaster action movie “Haeundae” in 2009 and melodrama “Ode to My Father” in 2014, Youn was the first person to direct two films that each scored 10 million admissions, the mark of a mega blockbuster, at the Korean box office.

The narrative in “Lost in America” revolves around a K-pop boy group that mistakenly lands in Texas with only two days left until their global debut in the New York. With no money and little time, they must make their way to New York to perform on their dream stage.

“We plan to cast...

South Korean entertainment powerhouse Cj Enm is eyeing a bigger role on the world stage, saying it will invest more than 5 trillion won ($4.5B) in content creation over the next five years. The company behind Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar winner Parasite and Fox’s I Can See Your Voice has already set aside 800B won ($721M) for productions this year, CEO Kang Ho-sung said at a press conference in Seoul today, according to the Yonhap news agency.

“We will become a comprehensive entertainment company through diversifying content creating systems and meeting consumers’ demands on a real-time basis. And we will compete with global platform and media powerhouses,” Kang vowed.

Cj Enm is a major player in Asia and has a presence globally; in 2020, it made a strategic investment in David Ellison’s Skydance Media whose TV division is adapting 2019 Korean fantasy drama Hotel Del Luna as a series. Earlier this month,...

Sebastian Kim will oversee Cj Enm’s finished content sales, including to global platforms such as Netflix, Viu and iQIYI.

South Korea’s Cj Enm has appointed Sebastian Kim as the new director of its Seoul-based global sales and acquisition arm.

Kim will report to Jangho Seo, SVP of content business, and will oversee Cj Enm’s finished content sales, including to global platforms such as Netflix, Viu and iQIYI.

He will also oversee content acquisition from major studios for Cj Enm basic and premium pay channels.

Kim joined Cj Enm in 2007, starting his career in international business development. He...

Don’t let the cheery name fool you. During its premiere at Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (Bifan), “Festival” — Kim Lok-kyoung’s slice-of-life family drama and first feature — warranted sniffles and tears all around. This incredible tranche de vie combines James Joyce-ian levels of reality with the irony endemic to Greek tragedy. Little wonder, then, that the film should win four awards in the Korean Fantastic Feature section that it competed in — including the Audience Award, a Distribution Award, Best Actor, and the prestigious Best Techcross Environmental Services Korean Fantastic Film.

“Festival” follows the humble story of Kyung-man (Ha Jun). Kyung-man is an unknown Mc who goes the extra (and often humiliating) mile to take care of his perpetually ailing father and his younger sister, Kyung-mi (So Joo-yeon). When Kyung-man’s father suddenly passes away, however, Kyung-man finds himself unable to pay the funeral bills all on his own…...

The Asian film and movie industry has been on a roll over the last two decades. After years in the shadows of the more glamorous Hollywood, many countries now have impressive move making industries. The most notable of these are India’s Bollywood, China’sand South Korea’s film industries. China’s film industry is the fastest-growing film market in the world.

The 2020 Best Picture win by South Korean film Parasite at the Oscars heralded the arrival of the Asian film industry to the global scene. It is a move that has been long in coming with some blockbusters already coming from the region. With government support, countries such as Malaysia and Singapore have also entered the fray in film production to boost the industry.

Local Stories Fueling Film Industry

Most of these films have storylines steeped in the region’s culture and history. These are stories you find in other art forms.

About the Film

South Korea provided the second largest contingent in support of South Vietnam, after the Us. Providing what was effectively a mercenary force, South Korea earned payments from the Us which kick-started her period of meteoric economic growth (source: https://londonkoreanlinks.net/2010/07/13/white-badge-korea-and-the-vietnamese-war/). However, both the war, and the rather abrupt economic boom took a toll on Korean society particularly on the working class, who provided the main source of men for the Korean force. This presence has recently come to the fore, particularly through “Ode to My Father”, which took a dramatic, but entertainment-focused approach to the actual events. If one was to see the real circumstances of the Koreans who fought there, though, one should look no further than “White Badge”

Synopsis

Based on Ahn Jeong-hyo’s homonymous novel, the film revolves around Han Gi-joo, a Vietnam veteran who works for a local newspaper, writing articles about the war,...

There is no doubt that director Jk Youn is a man who has the potential to make massively successful film. Six years ago, he made “Ode to My Father”, a film which after all these years still remains the fourth highest-grossing domestic film at the Korean box-office. His film prior to that was just as successful, with 2009’s “Haeundae” still well within the top 20 in the same list. After a long wait, he is finally back with his newest film “Hero” and it is an interesting project for various reasons.

Synopsis

Ahn Jung-geun is a fighter for the Korean independence movement. Seol-hee used to be a court lady for Queen Myeongseong, but, after Queen Myseongseong was assassinated by the Japanese, Seol-hee takes part in Korean independence activity. She becomes a geisha and gains the favor of Hirobumi Ito, who is the Japanese Resident-General of Korea. He travels to Manchuria and Seol-hee accompanies him.

Another hit game is getting the big-screen treatment.

Sony Pictures is partnering with South Korean game developer Smilegate on the film adaptation of the mega-hit game “Crossfire.” Chuck Hogan penned the movie from “Fast and Furious” producer Neal H. Moritz.

Tencent Pictures will co-produce and co-finance the movie, which is based on the popular first-person shooter game that boasts 1 billion users in over 80 countries around the world.

Moritz will produce through his Original Film banner. Moritz and the studio have a long-standing relationship that includes the “21 Jump Street” franchise and the upcoming “Bloodshot” adaptation starring Vin Diesel.

“Crossfire,” which launched in 2007, was originally conceived for Microsoft Windows, though it has since been regularly updated and expanded onto other platforms. In China as an online game by Tencent. Smilegate claims “Crossfire” has 1 billion registered users and up to 6 million concurrent players. The “Crossfire”-based global esports league “Crossfire Stars” records...

David Ellison’s Skydance Media has received a $275 million strategic investment from RedBird Capital Partners and Cj Entertainment and Merchandising (Cj Enm), the studio behind the 4x Oscar-winning Parasite. All in, this takes Skydance Media’s value to $2.3 billion.

Skydance’s current investor base, including the Ellison family and Tencent Holdings Ltd., also participated in the investment round.

The equity investment solidifies a strategic partnership with RedBird Capital and Cj Enm to further support Skydance’s substantial growth trajectory. RedBird Capital, founded by former Goldman Sachs Partner Gerald Cardinale, led the investment round and brings to Skydance its expertise in scaling owner-operated companies with a focus on growing value over time.

In this new partnership with Cj Enm and Studio Dragon, Skydance will collaborate with both studios’ on the project level, tapping into their vast libraries which appeal to a worldwide audience. In addition the team-up with Cj Enm, strengthens...

South Korea celebrated the centennial of the country’s cinema in style. “Parasite” became the first film to win the coveted Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival as well as the first film to be nominated for and win a Golden Globe award after being nominated for both Best Director and Best Foreign Language Film, eventually being awarded the Best Foreign Language Film of the year. Commercially as well, Korean films enjoyed a successful year, with both “Extreme Job” and “Exit” benefiting from a strong word of mouth to secure their places among the highest grossing Korean films of all time at the domestic box office. Simultaneously, independent cinema also flourished last year, with several smaller films winning big at various international film festivals around the globe, sending hopeful signs for the country’s independent cinema.

Naturally, expectations are high from what Korean cinema has to offer this year.

Bharat movie review (critic review) is here. Salman Khan?s grand Eid bonanza has finally released in theatres today. Starring superstar Salman Khan along with Katrina Kaif, Bharat is based on the 2014 South Korean game changer Ode To My Father by Yoon Je-kyoon. Reuniting the magical combo of Salman Khan and Ali Abbas Zafar after Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai, the movie is jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Atul Agnihotri, Alvira Khan Agnihotri, Nikhil Namit and Salman Khan under the banners T-Series, Reel Life ?Productions and Salman Khan Films. Does Salman Khan?s Bharat bring?cheers to all of us this Eid??Find out in our critic review of Bharat.

Immediate reaction when the end credits roll

Super star Salman Khan in his thirty one years of illustrated career has never been so controlled, subtle and ?matured?, the Dabangg of Bollywood ages with grace in this movie which is all about family,...

The Hindi trailer of Disney's family entertainer "The Lion King" will be attached to superstar Salman Khan's much-awaited film "Bharat".

The update was shared via a statement on Monday. Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, "Bharat", which also features actresses Katrina Kaif and Disha Patani, is scheduled to release on June 5.

It is an official adaptation of the 2014 South Korean film "Ode To My Father", and is produced by Atul Agnihotri's Reel Life Production Pvt Ltd and Bhushan Kumar's T-Series.

Jon Favreau's live-action version of "The Lion King" will release on July 19 in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

The remake comes from the director of "The Jungle Book" -- Favreau with Donald Glover leading the cast as young Lion Simba, while Beyonce, who is credited in the trailer with her last name, Knowles-Carter, voices Nala, a childhood friend and later love interest to Simba.

Glover and Knowles-Carter...

While Godzilla: King Of The Monsters is expected to dominate the global and international box office this weekend, Bong Joon-ho’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner Parasite is coming on strong in its home market. The Thursday Korea opening was a No. 1 $3.93M (including previews), according to local reporting service Kobiz. That topped all comers and holdovers with about 76% of the market on 1,783 screens (more than double those reserved for the likes of Godzilla and Aladdin).

Last Saturday, Bong’s multi-genre comedy-thriller became the first Korean film ever to scoop the top prize in Cannes and has been hailed at home as a triumph by an eager audience. Pre-sales were already at a high throughout this past week and a full weekend take of $15M+ is likely, with some estimates in the $20M range. If that happens, Parasite will enter the Top 20 openings ever in Korea. Warner Bros/Legendary’s...

The Buzz around coming in for Salman Khan starrer Bharat, we have some good news for our fans. Salman Khan took to social media posting the various posters of Bharat, showing his different looks in a different era.

Recently a video was released by Salman in his social media. His post read, "Bharat Ka Josh #BharatThisEid - http://bit.ly/BharatKaJosh ?@Bharat_TheFilm @aliabbaszafar @atulreellife @itsBhushanKumar #KatrinaKaif #Tabu @bindasbhidu @DishPatani @WhoSunilGrover @norafatehi @nikhilnamit @reellifeprodn @SKFilmsOfficial @TSeries".

We get to see an Old Salman Khan, in his "Salt and Pepper" look taking some goons down. In the start of the video, we see that he is surrounded by?goons in the bike. Post which he delivers some action-packed performance to take the goons down.?

One lesson we get from this video is age is just a number and that Salman Khan has proved it very well.

Bharat is slated to be released on 5 June 2019. Salman Khan,...

The trailer for Bharat ends with the line “Desh logon se banta hai, aur logon ke pechan unki pariwar se hoti hai” delivered by Jackie Shroff to his son Bharat in a flashback. This seems to be the key motif to this year’s Eid thriller for the masses, Bharat, starring Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Disha Patani. With this line, all that came in the previous 2:40 of the trailer boils down to 1 man, 1 country but it’s obvious that director Ali Abbas Zafar will be taking audiences on a fast-paced ride filled both with pride and power. Julius Packiam and Vishal-Shekhar come together to deliver an all-round score for this epic story spanning the history of both Bharat the man and Bharat the country based on the South Korean story “Ode to my Father”.

The album opens in Slow Motion as Salman and Disha Patani dance to a...

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is set to conquer again with his upcoming Eid bonanza Bharat, which is making all the right noise. Before watching the movie on 5th June 2019, let?s remember our first ?Bharat?.

Born in Abbottabad, a town in the North-West Frontier Province, now in Pakistan, Harikishan Giri Goswami aka Manoj Kumar urf Bharat stayed as a refugee in Delhi when he was around 10 after the Partition. A fascination towards one of India?s most influential freedom fighter Bhagat Singh took seed when a friend Surinder Chawla, narrated the story of the legend to the young Harikishan Giri Goswami (Manoj Kumar). The enthusiasm of the kid resulted in a stage play on Shaheed Bhagat Singh in which the young Manoj Kumar managed that trademark Bhagat Singh hat but stage fear ruined the child?s dream but the passion to act one day and respect for Bhagat Singh and motherland ? India remained intact.

The film is a remake of Korean blockbuster ‘Ode To My Father’.

Cinestaan AA Distributors and its sister company C International Sales have picked up international rights to Indian action drama Bharat, starring leading Bollywood actor Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif.

Khan plays a character called Bharat from the ages of 18 to 70 in the big-budget drama, which traces the history of India since independence, with events running parallel to the main character’s life.

Written and directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the film is remake of Korean blockbuster Ode To My Father, written by Park Su-Jin and directed by Yoon Je-kyoon.

The films are Shin Su-Won’s Light For The Youth, Yoon Ga-eun’s The House Of Us and Jung Jin-young’s Me And Me.

Finecut has picked up international sales rights to a trio of Korean films from directors renowned on the international festival circuit.

Shin Su-Won, whose Madonna was in Un Certain Regard 2015 and whose Pluto won Special Mention in 2013 Berlinale’s Generation 14plus, is in post-production on Light For The Youth.

The film is about the mysterious disappearance of a call centre manager. It is produced by June Film, which also produced the director’s Glass Garden and Madonna.

The film is a remake of Korean blockbuster ‘Ode To My Father’.

Cinestaan AA Distributors and its sister company C International Sales have picked up international rights to Indian action drama Bharat, starring leading Bollywood actor Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif.

Khan plays a character called Bharat from the ages of 18 to 70 in the big-budget drama, which traces the history of India since independence, with events running parallel to the main character’s life.

Written and directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the film is remake of Korean blockbuster Ode To My Father, written by Park Su-Jin and directed by Yoon Je-kyoon.

The South Korean entertainment business has been shaken deeply by scandal in the past year, and the fallout is still being felt across the board.

As K-pop superstars Bts glide triumphantly across the U.S. on a sold-out tour, fellow music superstar Seungri (ne Lee Seung-hyun) of boy band Bigbang is in the middle of one of the worst scandals in the Korean entertainment industry involving drug distribution, prostitution, hidden-camera footage, police corruption, embezzlement and tax evasion in a nightclub owned by Seungri.

Most damning were messages from Seungri on a Korean Im service KakaoTalk, in which he had discussed, planned and shared illegal acts in the group chat along with his business partners and fellow K-pop talents.

The #MeToo movement has been slow to gain traction in the Korean entertainment industry, but the unlawful acts that took place in Seungri’s Burning Sun nightclub immediately faced the public condemnation.

In 1966, the Korean government and filmmakers agreed to designate Oct. 27, 1919, as “the day of cinema,” because “Fight for Justice,” its inaugural film was screened for the first time on that day. In its 100th year, the industry is celebrating the event in a critical, yet festive fashion.

“Korean cinema had its earliest beginning at the time of the March First Independence Movement, when Korea fought for independence,” said Korean actress Chang Mi-hee (“Claire’s Camera”), who is also the co-head of Korean Film Council’s committee for the centenary anniversary celebration project at a press event in April. “With veteran filmmakers who devoted their lives to pioneer Korean cinema for the past hundred years, we hope to organize a forum for celebration.”

To recognize the 100th anniversary, the Korean Film Council (Kofic) has lined up several projects, including a “dictionary” of Korean filmmakers, digital restoration of old films, academic conferences...

Superstar Salman Khan's transformation to looking old in the forthcoming film Bharat?took almost two-and-a-half hours.

Talking about the Dabangg?star's transformation, the film's director Ali Abbas Zafar said: "This was a difficult task and one has to be very patient with the procedure. It took almost two-and-a-half hours to transform Salman into an older avatar. He had to try over 20 different mustaches and beards for this look."

Zafar said that Salman did an amazing job when he was told that this particular character is very important in the film.

The film, which is set to release on Eid, also stars Tabu, Jackie Shroff, Disha Patani, Nora Fatehi, and Sunil Grover.

The film is an official adaptation of the 2014 South Korean film Ode To My Father. It is produced by Atul Agnihotri's Reel Life Production Pvt Ltd and Bhushan Kumar's T-Series.

- By Ians...

Actress Katrina Kaif says she is excited about developing content, and wants to become a producer. The actress opened up about broadening her horizon in the filmmaking industry when she appeared in an episode of Voot's "Feet Up with the Stars Season 2", read a statement.?When the host Anaita Shroff Adajania asked her about her future plans, Katrina said she wants to become a producer.?

"I am excited about developing content. I want to become a producer, and I want to take ownership," she said, going on to congratulate Anushka Sharma and Deepika Padukone for having created production companies of their own.

On the film front, Katrina will next be seen in Salman Khan-starrer Bharat. Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the film is an official adaptation of the 2014 South Korean film Ode To My Father. It is produced by Atul Agnihotri's Reel Life Production Pvt Ltd and Bhushan Kumar's T-Series.

The Internet had been flooded with the various posters of Salman Khan starrer Bharat. The trailer of the much-awaited Salman Khan starrer Bharat is finally out for the fans to get a glimpse of the upcoming film. The trailer takes the audience on to the journey of Salman Khan?s character tracing about 5 decades and what transpired in all those years.

The trailer also shows the leading lady, Katrina Kaif in a hilarious dialogue sequence even as we are given the glimpse of Salman Khan?s young avatar and his colorful life. There is a presence of Disha Patani and Nora Fatehi too in the trailer.

There is Jackie Shroff who plays Salman Khan?s father with patriotic dialogues and sepia-toned scenes.

Bharat, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar is an official adaptation of the 2014 South Korean film Ode To My Father. Apparently, Bharat traces the journey of a man (Salman...

It is true that India is the country that produces the largest number of films every year. Thousands of new titles in many languages pour into our screens every year. They include both big-budget films with major movie stars that have the backing of the biggest studios and production houses and also a growing and thriving independent cinema which produces many of the best movies every year.

There are films which manage to generate pre-release buzz and are highly anticipated by the movie going audience. The buzz could result from the involvement of major stars, a grand scale, subject matter that catches our fancy, an encouraging response to the trailer or in some cases, nationwide controversy.

The big event releases worldwide like “Avengers:Endgame” or the final season of “Game of Thrones” have seen unparalleled excitement from fans and it will be the same in India. However, this article will restrict itself to Indian movies.

Superstar Salman Khan has found a new fan in socialite Paris Hilton. Soon after the Dabangg star on Tuesday shared a new poster of his upcoming film Bharat, in which he features in a younger avatar, Hilton posted a "cool" emoticon on it. "Jawaani humari jaaneman thi! 'Bharat' ki jawaani," Salman had captioned the look, which reminded his fans of his looks in the 1990s. Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, Bharat is an official adaptation of a 2014 South Korean film Ode To My Father. It is produced by Atul Agnihotri's Reel Life Production Pvt Ltd and Bhushan Kumar's T-Series.?

The film also stars Katrina Kaif, Disha Patani, Tabu and Nora Fatehi, among others. It is slated for an Eid release.

Salman on Wednesday introduced Katrina's character with a poster, saying: "Aur phir humaare zindagi mein aayi 'Madam Sir'."

- By Ians...

Salman Khan today released the first look of his upcoming film Bharat. Bharat, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar is an official adaptation of the 2014 South Korean film Ode To My Father. The first look of the poster shows Salman Khan in a very non-Salman manner. He is shown in an elderly salt-n-pepper look with spectacles et al. The poster also informs us that it is a ?journey of a man and a Nation together? and it is probably a narrative until 2010!! as inscribed on the face of the poster.

Salman Khan?s tweet reads, ?Jitne safed baal mere sar aur dhaadi mein hain, usse kahin zyada rangeen meri zindagi rahi hain!? (Meaning? my life has been far more colourful than the number of gray hair strands on my head and beard). The tweet assures us that we would get to hear quite a few whistle worthy dialogues mouthed by Salman Khan in this historic narrative.

Since taking the Korean film scene by storm with his ultra-low budget debut feature, “Die Bad”, Ryoo has been making noteworthy films in the action and thriller genre such as “No Blood No Tears”, “Arahan”, “Crying Fist”, “City of Violence” and “The Unjust”. Nicknamed ‘Chungmuro’s Action Kid,’ Ryoo’s pulpy crime thrillers have recently given their place to blockbuster film during the latest years, with films like “Veteran” and most of all, “Battleship Island”.

Hwang Jung-min is an actor who completely melts into his characters. No other actor is as versatile as he is. He turns himself instantly into a character like a chameleon for any genre or style of movies. From romantic melodramas, to social dramas, to gangster and action films, to horror, Hwang has highlighted his range and prowess in almost every genre possible.

On the occasion of their films, “Veteran” and “Battleship Island” Director’s Cut...

Lee Byoung-heon’s action comedy still trails 2014 release Roaring Currents in terms of admissions.

Lee Byoung-heon’s Extreme Job has become the highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea, despite still having fewer admissions than Roaring Currents (2014), the all-time top admissions record-holder.

According to the Korean Film Council (Kofic), action comedy Extreme Job had clocked up more than $120.7m (KW135.9bn) by March 1, a public holiday in South Korea, Independence Movement Day.

Historical naval battle drama Roaring Currents’ gross stands at $120.5m (KW135.7bn), at today’s exchange rate, with more than 17.6 million admissions.

Extreme Job’s gross has...

Has passed 14.5 million admissions.

In South Korea, Cj Entertainment’s action comedy Extreme Job has become the second biggest hit in history after reaching a total of more than 14.5 million admissions today (February 18), according to the Korean Film Council (Kofic).

Released January 23, the film has now made more than $111.3m at the local box office from 2,003 screens.

Directed by Lee Byoung-heon (Twenty), Extreme Job follows a team of narcotics detectives that goes undercover working at a fried chicken joint to bring down an organized crime gang. Their plans go awry when their chicken recipe is so good the place becomes the hottest eatery in town.

Indian superstar Salman Khan will play the hardened detective lead in a planned remake of South Korean cop thriller “Veteran.” Rights for a Hindi adaptation were acquired by Reel Life Production from Korean major Cj Entertainment.

The deal continues a well-established trend of cross-over between the Korean and Indian entertainment sectors – not all of it legal – in recent years. Indian popular music and dance and K-Pop choreography appear to borrow liberally from each other, while Bollywood has frequently leaned on the high-concept stories delivered by Korean commercial movies.

The “Veteran” story pitches a tough detective against an arrogant young millionaire, who repeatedly uses his wealth and connections to escape being brought to justice. The Korean original was directed by Ryoo Seung-wan and starred Hwang Jung-min as the veteran cop, with Yoo Ah-in as his playboy nemesis. Released in 2015, the film grossed $93.8 million and stands as the fourth-highest grossing Korean film of all time.

Ryoo Seung-wan’s action blockbuster clocked up more than 13.4 million admissions in Korea.

South Korea’s Cj Entertainment has sold Indian remake rights for Ryoo Seung-wan’s action blockbuster Veteran to Reel Life Production Pvt. Ltd.

The Korean original clocked up more than 13.4 million admissions and $94m on local release in 2015, according to the Korean Film Council (Kofic).

Nikhil Namit, CEO of Reel Life Production says Salman Khan will be playing the lead role in the remake and that the rest of the cast and crew is to be announced shortly.

Atul Agnihotri, who picked up the Hindi-language rights to the film,...

South Korean spy films have almost exclusively been action fares: an undercover agent from the North is stuck in the South or vice versa or agents from both agencies work together for a common end with lots of big action set pieces and hand-to-hand combats. This makes director Yoong Jong-bin’s latest film “The Spy Gone North” quite a unique effort, in that it draws inspiration from a real-life operation in South Korean covert operations history, to gives us a solid espionage thriller in the real sense.

“The Spy Gone North” is screening at the International Film Festival Rotterdam

It’s 1993. News of the North establishing reactor plants capable of manufacturing nuclear weaponry have worried the power structures in South Korea, which leads the National Intelligence Agency, spearheaded by Director Choi Hak-seong, to put in place a spy to find out more about the status of these rumoured plants. Enter Park Suk-young,...

All eyes are on Katrina Kaif post her positive reviews for Zero! Her outstanding performance in Aanand L Rai’s Zero introduced audiences to a new side of the star. She completely became the character and portrayed the troubled Babita brilliantly.

Critics raved and called the film a turning point in Katrina’s career.

In our review, Subhash K Jha wrote, “As Babita, Katrina Kaif just tears the screen apart. Kaif is so stunning in her role as a dumped alcoholic actress, she gave me goosebumps every time her kohl-laden eyes swelled up with unshed tears.”

While noted critic Rajeev Masand said,”Katrina Kaif really gets into the part, bringing Babita’s pain and cynicism to the surface in a nicely realised performance.”

Anupama Chopra too said, “Katrina hits all the right notes. It’s her best performance in years.”

Up next for the actress is Bharat, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar...

South Korea hasn’t really done an exciting hostage negotiation film so far. Here to change that is hit-making production house Jk Films, whose latest film “The Negotiation” pits popular actors Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin against each other in a game of cat-and-mouse.

Synopsis

Not much is known about the plot at the moment, except that it is a criminal thriller movie about a kidnapper and a negotiator whose superior has been kidnapped.

Hyun Bin, who was last seen in the conman drama “The Swindlers“, stars in his first negative role as the kidnapper while Son Ye-jin, who last appeared in the romantic melodrama “Be With You“, plays the lead negotiator trying to secure the release of the hostages from the kidnapper’s clutches. Directed by Lee Jong-suk, who has previously worked as an assistant director on Jk Films’s hugely popular “Ode to My Father“, “The Negotiation” also...

We have learned that Katrina Kaif is now starring opposite Salman Khan in the upcoming film Bharat. Directed by ALi Abbas Zafar, Katrina’s character, according to the director, is Bharat’s lifeline. The highly anticipated film currently in production is set to release Eid 2019 and also stars Tabu, Disha Patani and Sunil Grover.

Zafar is very happy about his leading pair, “I am extremely excited to work with Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan once again for Bharat. We have had exciting collaborations in the past and it is very interesting to work with the duo once again. It is very delightful to work with the immensely talented actress yet again.”

Salman welcomed the actress on Twitter writing, “Ek sundar aur shusheel ladki jiska Naam hai Katrina Kaif …. Swagat hai aapka #Bharat ki zindagi mein ….”

From what we have heard so far Bharat will be the biggest film of 2019 and...

Tagline: "Don't Follow its Voice." Well Go USA has announced this month that Huh Jung's The Mimic will be releasing in June. This terrifying horror film was originally released, in South Korea, in late 2017. The film involves a mythological figure, known as "the Tiger of Mt. Jang." This entity simulates people, causing chaos. This Korean language film stars: Park Hyuk-Kwon (A Taxi Driver), Shin Rin-Ah (Ode To My Father), Yum Jung-Ah (Tell Me Something) and P Heo Jin. The North American release trailer has just been released and the clip can be found here. The trailer shows a family moving into a new home. The daughter finds a strange character in the home. Slowly, the family begins to succumb to a strange ghost, which cannot be escaped (nor buried). The North American debut will take place on a couple of formats. The film will be available on Blu-ray and on Digital platforms,...

Following the acclaim for his first feature film Hide and Seek, writer/director Huh Jung returns to the genre that made him famous with his sophomore horror-thriller The Mimic, generating terror on digital and Blu-ray June 12 from Well Go USA Entertainment. Based on the mythological “Tiger of Mt. Jang,” where a legendary ghost that mimics humans, a woman takes in a lost girl she finds near the mysterious Mt. Jang and mystifying things begin to happen to her frightened family.The Mimic stars Yum Jung-Ah (Tell Me Something), Park Hyuk-Kwon (A Taxi Driver), Shin Rin-Ah (Ode To My Father), Heo Jin (The Wailing), Kil Hae-Yeon (Missing) and Lee Yool (Hello Murderer).

A classic Korean ghost story gets a horrifying new spin in The Mimic, as the mother of a missing child takes in a lost girl she finds in the woods and soon begins to wonder if she is even human.

Based on the testimony of infamous South Korean spy “Black Venus,” who once infiltrated the highest ranks of North Korean leadership, Yoon Jong-bin’s “The Spy Gone North” recounts a tortuous operation that’s more fascinating and far-fetched than many fictional espionage yarns. Instead of the usual dose of action and suspense one expects of this genre, watching this dense 140-minute political drama unfold is like fumbling through a long tunnel that’s nonetheless worth it when the ray of light emerges at the end. Though nowhere near as crowd-pleasing as the recent espionage action-fantasy “Steel Rain,” this well-crafted work deserves to be seen for its thorough account of intricate workings of secret service and political skullduggery.

After debuting with the violent and intense independent film “The Unforgiven,” which screened in Cannes’ Un certain regard section in 2005, Yoon went on achieve commercial success. Even so, a strain of social critique,...