South Korean distributor Showbox/Mediaplex has sold Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opening film Always, directed by Song Il-gon, to Pony Canyon for Japan.
The melodrama with pan-Asian stars So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo sold out in seven seconds for the Opening screening. The film, which was inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights, tells the fatal love story of a former boxer who fights to make money so that the blind girl he loves can get her sight back.
The film is the sixth feature from director Song Il-gon whose debut feature Flower Island world premiered at Venice and won the New Currents prize at Busan ten years ago.
Always is scheduled to be released on Oct 20 in Korea.
At Busan, where the Asian Film Market starts today, Showbox is also screening the Korean War film The Front Line, which was selected as South Korea’s submission to the upcoming Oscars’ Best Foreign Language Film Category.
The company’s new lineup includes the courtroom thriller The Client starring Ha Jung-woo (The Yellow Sea). The film went over 1.5 million admissions in ten days after release.
Showbox is also selling the horseracing drama Champ starring Cha Tae-hyun (Hello Ghost) and Mr. Idol with pop star Jay Park, a film about K-pop stars and the music industry.
In addition, the company is selling A Company Man, which also stars So Ji-sub, and Nameless Gangster (working title) which is directed by Yoon Jong-bin (Beastie Boys) and stars Choi Min-sik (I Saw The Devil) and Ha Jung-woo (The Yellow Sea).
No comments yet