South Korean distributor Chungeorahm Film makes its first trip toCannes this year with a wide slate of upcoming titles from its newly-launchedproduction and investment arm. These include a new film by Old Boy and Chihwaseonstar Choi Min-shik and a big-budget disaster movie by Bong Joon-ho, director ofthe award-winning Memories Of Murder.

Unlike most Korean production houses, Chungeorahm is also keen to workwith international sales companies from other countries. "Our main goal for this Cannes is to establishcontacts with international companies who would be willing to board ourprojects," says Lewis Kim, head of the company's International BusinessDepartment.

Spring In My Heart by debutfilmmaker Ryu Jang-ha stars the acclaimed Choi Min-shik in the role of atrumpet player who agrees to teach music at a rural school. Shooting opened on March 5, with a deliveryexpected by autumn.

Bong Joon-ho's The River(working title) is described as a disaster movie along the lines of M. NightShyamalan's Signs, set on the HanRiver which runs through downtown Seoul.The director, who says it will feature special effects "the likesof which Korea has never seen," is in advanced talks with Weta Digital ofNew Zealand for CGI and post-production work.A final screenplay for the film is expected to be ready by mid-summer,and top actor Song Kang-ho (Memories OfMurder) is tipped as the lead.

Apple, scheduled to start shooting this spring, stars award-winning actressMoon So-ri (Oasis, A Good Lawyer's Wife) in a story about a woman hurtby an intense love affair. Other titleson Chungeorahm's slate include school comedy Hell Class; romantic comedyThe Art Of Seduction with young star Kim Rae-won; Romantic Comic Bookfrom Kim Kyung-hyung, director of the smash hit My Tutor Friend; andcomic drama A Boy Who Went To Heaven starring Eom Jeong-hwa (Singles).