Netflix war epic to open Asia's largest film festival

Seoul –
A Netflix period war drama produced by South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook opened Asia's largest film festival Wednesday, the first time a streaming title has kicked off the event.
Directed by Kim Sang-man and featuring Korean megastar Gang Dong-won in a lead role, "Uprising" is one of 224 official entries at this year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), which runs through Oct. 11.
The film attracted significant attention ahead of its world premiere thanks largely to the involvement of Park, best known for ultra-violent thrillers like 2003's "Old Boy," which played a key role in bringing South Korean cinema to the global forefront.
Park was a screenwriter and producer on "Uprising," a story set during Korea's Joseon Dynasty about two friends who grow up together — but become enemies when war breaks out in the country.
"I believed it was a work that could appeal to the public (the most) among all the (BIFF) opening films in history," Park Do-shin, the festival's acting director, says of the choice.
Streaming-only content like Netflix's "Squid Game" and the Apple TV+ series "Pachinko" have contributed to a significant surge in the global visibility of Korean and Korean diaspora stories in recent years.
Busan's 2024 line-up reflects how that content has become an "important part of our culture," BIFF programmer Jung Han-seok says.
On Wednesday morning, ahead of the opening ceremony, visitors were already queuing at festival venues, while the red carpet for the star-studded opening ceremony had been laid out.
The decision to open this year's edition with a major streaming title, however, has sparked criticism within South Korea's cinema community, as BIFF has long been dedicated to supporting emerging talents in Asia as well as small-scale, independent films.
"I find it disappointing that a streaming title was selected as the opening film," says Kay Heeyoung Kim, who owns film studio K-Dragon. "The challenges confronting the theater-based physical film market and filmmakers can be partly attributed to the streaming platforms."
This year's edition also comes as organizers still grapple with the fallout from former festival director Huh Moon-yung, who resigned last year amid accusations of sexual misconduct. The director position remains vacant.
The South Korean government's budget for supporting film festivals including BIFF was also slashed by half this year.
Despite those setbacks, this year's 29th edition is presenting about 15 more films than last year, organizers say, with 86 world premieres.
BIFF will posthumously honor South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, screening six of the actor's film and television works, including "Parasite," "Our Sunhi" (2013) and a portion of TV series "My Mister" (2018).
Best known globally for his starring role in Bong Joon-ho's 2019 Oscar-winner "Parasite," Lee was found dead in an apparent suicide last year after a two-month investigation into suspected drug use, sparking public outrage over what many perceived as an excessive police interrogation.
Meanwhile, filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa, best known for his contributions to the Japanese horror genre, will receive the festival's Asian Filmmaker of the Year award, joining the ranks of previous winners such as Hong Kong legends Tony Leung and Chow Yun Fat.
The Japanese filmmaker is showcasing two new films at BIFF this year: the violent thriller "Cloud" and "Serpent's Path," a French-language remake of his 1998 film of the same name.
Other notable world premieres include "RM: Right People, Wrong Place," a documentary on K-pop sensation BTS member RM and the making of his second solo album.
Chung, Yu Chieh, a 39-year-old visitor from Taiwan, says she is excited about South Korean director Hur Jin-ho's latest film, "A Normal Family" — a psychological thriller featuring two upper-class couples seemingly leading perfect lives.
Featuring some of the most celebrated veteran performers in South Korea — including actress Kim Hee-ae and actor Jang Dong-gun — the film is one of the most anticipated homegrown films to be featured at BIFF this year.
"I believe (the festival) will be very special," she says.
BIFF's industry platform, the Asian Contents and Film Market, will host a conference focused on the integration of AI in content production — a current hot-button issue in Hollywood.
Companies including South Korea's CJ ENM, Chinese VOD service iQIYI and Microsoft will take part.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yomiuri Shimbun

4 hours ago

• Yomiuri Shimbun

Prada Wants to Change the Conversation Away from Aggression, toward Gentleness

MILAN (AP) — With global tensions escalating, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons want to change the conversation to something gentle, calm and nice with their menswear collection for next summer, previewed during Milan Fashion Week on Sunday. 'We tried to make a change of tone, from powerful to gentle, calm,' Prada said after the show. 'Basically, the opposite of aggression, power, nastiness.' 'Sometimes it is good to reflect, and be a bit more calm,' added Simons, her co-creative director. Innocence reimagined In that vein, the pair's latest menswear collection recalled childish innocence, opening with short shorts that were more precisely elasticized briefs, with pleated pockets, worn with a sturdy, sure-footed shoe and black sock and a crisp white buttoned-down shirt with a naive print of a sun and waves. These panty-shorts were paired also with leather coats, long cotton shirts or fringed knitwear that give men access to the pant-less look already embraced by some female celebrities. Freedom in form and color A more serious double-breasted suit was worn with the sleeves pushed up in a get-to-work gesture layered over track jackets. Track pants with a side stripe or straight, cropped cotton trousers otherwise anchored the looks with leather jackets, car coats or knitwear. Urban looks ensembles paired with backpacks and flip-flops, on the verge of the getaway. Light, summer looks were finished with loafers. Nothing was completely office, and nothing was completely beach. The silhouette was deliberately unstructured, and the color palette broad and undefined. Gray, black, khaki and navy were offset by red, sky blue, lime green and turquoise and purple, monochromes mixing casually, as if to say, any way you want. 'We wanted everything to be human in its dimension, to be light and fresh and colorful,' Simons said. Playful, with a shadow There was humor, even whimsy, in bright cone-shaped woven raffia hats that recalled a shuttlecock, some with strands of raffia feathering over the eyes as if a shade. In the spirit of change, the showroom was left deliberately raw, with concrete and orange beams exposed and sunlight streaming through the high windows. Childlike daisy-shaped rugs were the only decoration. While the colorful headgear and floral accents put a smile on people's faces, news that the U.S. had entered Israel's war with Iran on Sunday cast a somber mood. 'We are always very aware of that,' Prada said. 'Good luck to everyone.' Celeb frenzy Outside the Prada Foundation showroom, hundreds of fans screamed for the arrival of Asian pop group TransfOrmProject, South Korean actor Lee Do-hyun and Japanese singer Sana. Also on hand were English-Ghanaian rapper Stormzy, NBA star Anthony Edwards and actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Harris Dickinson.

Nikkei Asia

a day ago

• Nikkei Asia

How Labubu became a monster of a business

Caixin Monetizing a tale of furry female forest elves at least as old as the dinosaurs The auctioneer congratulates the winning bidder for a Labubu figurine at Yongle International Auction in Beijing on June 10. © Reuters WANG XINTONG, FENG YIMING and ZOU XIAOTONG, Caixin Labubu is a little doll in fleecy, bunny-eared onesies whose coffee-bean eyes hover above a serrated row of smiling teeth. Ostensibly an elf, the creature is either cute or creepy, depending on whom you ask. But one thing is clear -- it has become a monster of a business. The dolls have been caught on camera with celebrities such as Rihanna and K-pop superstar Lisa, typically dangling from the strap of a designer bag. Their popularity has propelled the stock of the owner, trendy toy retailer Pop Mart International Group, up more than 180% this year.

The Mainichi

a day ago

• The Mainichi

Armani's global aesthetic shines in bohemian Emporio Armani show, though designer misses Milan bow

MILAN (AP) -- Giorgio Armani's admiration for other cultures and global aesthetic was on full display at his latest Emporio Armani show, but the designer himself was notably absent. Armani, 90, skipped the customary bow at the Emporio Armani menswear preview for Spring-Summer 2026 during Milan Fashion Week on Saturday, as he recovers at home. His fashion house confirmed his convalescence in advance but did not provide details about his condition. Despite his absence, Armani was deeply involved in shaping the collection, his fashion house said, working closely with Leo Dell'Orco, his longtime menswear director, who took the final bow. Normally, Armani would have posed with the models at the end of the show -- another signature moment missing. Bohemian cool for the world traveler The Emporio Armani collection carried a free-spirited, Bohemian air -- a vision for the youthful adventurer who balances comfort with style, ornament with utility. Models sported braids or silver beads in their hair, and layered accessories: beaded necklaces, charms, tassels, and fringes. Jackets ranged from softly tailored with sweeping scarf collars -- ideal for wind and sun protection -- to intricately detailed styles with feather-light touches or loose weaves. Crafted textures and nomadic vibes Natural fabrics like crepe and linen, often left rough to the touch, contrasted with silky prints inspired by Moroccan mosaics. Trousers varied from gently pleated to dramatically ballooned, paired with long, embroidered tunics. The traveler's ensemble was completed with crossbody bags, tapestry duffels, vintage-style suitcases, woven slippers, and straw hats worn low over the eyes, conjuring the image of a man journeying through sun-soaked lands. A sporty take on desert looks For the EA7 Emporio Armani line -- his sporty offshoot -- Armani leaned into more technical textiles. A desert-inspired capsule collection played out against a soundtrack of howling wind, echoing the stark and elemental feel of the clothes as the models strode through the showroom, which was decorated with sheer curtains. A tribute to Armani's aesthetic origins The show notes described the collection as "a moment of introspection and identity. Not to pause in contemplation, but to channel new energy into moving forward, while conscious of one's own origins." Armani returns to "shapes and attitudes that have always been present, returning to a founding principle of his aesthetic: A genuine interest in other cultures,'' the notes said. Front-row guests included Olympic champion sprinter Marcell Jacobs, actors Andre Lamoglia, from the Netflix series "Elite," and Michael Cooper Jr., currently starring in the Netflix series "Forever,'' and NBA players Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers and Anthony Black of the Orlando Magic.