News

“Harbin,” the South Korean spy action thriller that debuted this week at the Toronto International Film Festival, has been picked up for North American release.

Well Go USA, a specialty distributor which has a long track record of handling commercial film titles from Asia, has licensed the rights for the U.S. and Cananda. It has confirmed to Variety that it will give the film a theatrical release, but did not confirm a schedule.

Directed by Woo Min-ho, who previously helmed 2015 hit “Inside Men” and “The Man Standing Next,” the film dramatizes pivotal events in the arduous struggle for Korean sovereignty.

In 1905, Japan forced Korea to sign the Eulsa Treaty, stripping the nation of its diplomatic rights and reducing the entire Korean peninsula to a Japanese colony. By 1909, when “Harbin” begins, Korea’s small but tenacious Righteous Army militia is deep into a campaign of armed resistance against the Japanese.

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.

The Toronto International Film Festival will be placing an ever larger emphasis on the international in its name.

Outlined to Variety by Toronto chief programming officer Anita Lee, the move comes in response to the emergence of younger audiences driving the post-pandemic box office rebound, reshaping audience tastes in both U.S. independent cinemagoing and at film festivals.

“Our festival audiences have become younger, and younger audiences are coming out for the non-English international arthouse films,” Lee told Variety, adding it was Toronto’s “biggest growth and shift” in audience attendance.

Drivers for this evolution abound, Lee said, such as the fact that audiences are consuming more international content. In the last few years, a new breed of “crossover or slightly more accessible international arthouse films” has emerged, she added, citing Ruben Östlund’s “Triangle of Sadness.” “That’s on the rise. There’s more industry attention to films which could work in this way,...

It’s likely you’ve heard from your neighborhood cinephile about Korean thriller films. Whether it’s the classic Oldboy, I Saw The Devil, or a more recent Bong Joon-Ho obsession, there’s no denying that Koreans just know how to make high-quality, terrifying thrillers that’ll keep your adrenaline flowing for days. But what if I said they’re just as good at doing it in the series format? When you hear “K-drama,” you probably think romantic comedy or pure drama, but the thriller/psychological drama genre is just as big in the country. And you notice this, especially when even the rom-coms or the dramas will have a mystery serial killer angle to them. It’s just something that somehow works for them. But! If you’re keen on watching a thriller that has a satisfying ending and is pure thriller, here are some recommendations for you to...

The Frog is a South Korean psychological mystery crime thriller series written by Son Ho-young. The Netflix series tells its story in two different periods of time, the first one is of Gu Sang-jun, a middle-aged man running a motel in the countryside in the year 2000, and the second one is of Jeon Young-ha, the owner of a pension house in the forest in 2021 as both of them face unexpected incidents after a mysterious guest arrives. The Frog stars Kim Yoon-seok, Yoon Kye-sang, Go Min-si, Lee Jung-eun, and Ha Yoon-Kyung in the main roles. So, if you loved the thrilling story, complex and dark characters, and surprising twists in The Frog here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Hell Is Other People (Pluto TV)

Hell Is Other People is a psychological thriller series written by Jung Yi-do. Based on the Naver webtoon series of the same name by Kim Yong-ki,...

Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced the on-stage guests at next month’s 49th edition, including Cate Blanchett, Alfonso Cuarón, and Malala Yousafzai.

TIFF’s In Conversation With… (Icw) series will see Blanchett, who stars in TIFF selections Disclaimer from Cuarón and Guy Maddin’s Rumours, and Zoe Saldaña, who stars in TIFF selection Emilia Perez and shared the Cannes best actress prize, discuss their careers and creative processes.

The programme will also hear from Presence director Steven Soderbergh, and South Korean stars Hyun Bin of TIFF spy thriller Harbin and Lee Dong-wook of Disney+ series A Shop For Killers.

The Toronto Film Festival has unveiled speakers for its 2024 edition next month, to include discussions with Cate Blanchett, Zoe Saldaña and Steven Soderbergh.

Blanchett will be in Toronto along with two of her latest projects: Alfonso Cuarón’s TV series Disclaimer and Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson and Guy Maddin’s Rumours, which bowed in Cannes. The star of Tár, Blue Jasmine, Carol and Elizabeth will also be honored in Toronto with a Tribute Award, while also participating in the In Conversation With … event.

TIFF lineup speakers tend to have films in Toronto’s official lineup. Saldaña is also bringing to Toronto her star turn in Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez, while Soderbergh will be in Toronto to present Presence, his ghost tale starring Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan.

Elsewhere, Korean stars Hyun Bin and Lee Dong-wook will talk about about their respective careers in the Korean film and television industry...

This morning, the Toronto International Film Festival announced their list of speaker engagements for the 49th edition in the In Conversation With… series, TIFF Industry Conference panels, and events designed to inspire and spark future collaborations. TIFF runs Sept. 5–15.

TIFF’s In Conversation With… (Icw) this year counts 2x Oscar winner Cate Blanchett (who is receiving a TIFF award this year), Emilia Perez star Zoe Saldaña, Steven Soderbergh, and Hyun Bin and Lee Dong-wook.

“TIFF 2024’s stellar lineup of speakers for our iconic In Conversation With… series reflects our vision that film and creative culture have the power to open minds, spark new ideas, and impact the world around us,” said Anita Lee, TIFF’s Chief Programming Officer. “We are thrilled to connect our public audiences with a dynamic roster of global trailblazers through these in-depth conversations.”

In TIFF’s Visionaries section, the onstage conversation series counts Alfonso Cuarón, Pete Docter,...

Das Toronto International Film Festival muss versuchen, verlorenen Boden wieder gutzumachen. Bevor Venedig erste offizielle Titel benennen kann, legt das größte Filmfestival auf amerikanischem Boden (5. bis 15. September) schon einmal mit sechs Weltpremieren vor. Der größte Titel darunter ist wohl „The Wild Robot“ von Chris Sanders.

„The Wild Robot“ von Chris Sanders (Credit: Universal)

Seit Jahren versucht das Toronto International Film Festival, wieder an alte Glanzzeiten anzuknüpfen. Finanzielle Schwierigkeiten und ein allzu rigides, auf politische Korrektheit ausgerichtetes Programm hat es dem einstigen Platzhirsch unter der Leitung von Cameron Bailey zunehmend schwergemacht, mit Venedig und zuletzt auch Telluride mitzuhalten. Mit der Bekanntgabe von sechs Weltpremieren zweieinhalb Monate vor Festivalstart des TIFF ’24 am 5. September will man zumindest schon einmal ein Zeichen setzen.

Ein echter Coup ist „The Wild Robot” von Chris Sanders, dem gemeinhin zugetraut wird, in der Herbstsaison als weiterer großer Animationsfilm (nach u. a. „Alles steht Kopf 2“ und „Ich – Einfach unverbesserlich 4...

The 49th Toronto International Film Festival is set to run from September 5th to the 15th, 2024, and with those dates swiftly approaching, the festival has just revealed their first wave of titles and honorees (both via The Hollywood Reporter).

The film line-up includes “the world premiere of R.J. Culter’s new documentary Elton John: Never Too Late about the legendary British singer; the Korean drama Harbin from director Woo Min-ho (Inside Men) starring Hyun Bin, Lee Dong-wook, Park Jeong-min, and Jeon Yeo-been; Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck, a genre-bending story about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz, adapted from the Stephen King short story, and starring Jacob Tremblay, David Dastmalchian and Tom Hiddleston; Netflix’s Rez Ball, a coming-of-age tale about Indigenous basketball, directed by Sydney Freeland and produced by LeBron James; the world premiere of DreamWorks Animation’s animated feature The Wild Robot,...

The Toronto Film Festival has unveiled its first titles for its upcoming 2024 edition, leading off with world premieres for Elton John: Never Too Late, Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck and Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch, the latter which stars Amy Adams as a stay-at-home-mom whose domestic life takes a surreal turn.

The Life of Chuck is based on the 2020 Stephen King short story of the same name. Toronto, set to run this year from Sept. 5 to 15, also plans career honors for David Cronenberg and Adams as part of its Tribute Awards.

The Elton John doc, from director David Furnish and R.J. Cutler, is set for the gala program at Roy Thomson Hall, as is a world premiere for South Korean director Woo Min-ho’s Harbin — which stars Hyun Bin, Lee Dong-wook, Park Jeong-min and Jeon Yeo-been — and Chris Sanders’ The Wild Robot from DreamWorks Animation.

The Wild Robot is...

“Elton John: Never Too Late,” a feature documentary about pop legend Elton John, will have its world premiere as a gala screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. So too will “Nightbitch,” an Amy Adams-starring dark comedy about a stay-at-home mom whose life takes a surreal turn.

The pair are among the first six titles announced by the high-profile festival, as Toronto organizers pulled back the curtain on some of the prestige presentations and honorees planned for this year’s 49th edition, as well as preparations for Toronto’s 2026 launch of an organized film market.

Read Cameron Bailey’s full interview here.

In addition to the screening of “Nightbitch,” which Adams produced via her Bond Group Entertainment company, the six-time Oscar nominee will receive Toronto’s 2024 TIFF Tribute Performer Award.

Canadian director David Cronenberg will receive the 2024 Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award. Organizers described Cronenberg...

TIFF is almost underway!

The film festival has unveiled part of its film lineup along with the first honorees for the sixth annual Tribute Awards, taking place Sunday, September 8. Meanwhile, “Nightbitch” starring Amy Adams will have its world premiere at the festival, with Oscar-nominated actress Adams receiving the TIFF Tribute Performer Award. The festival will take place from September 5 through 15. Six titles from the gala and special presentation programs were also announced.

Elton John documentary “Elton John: Never Too Late” will debut, along with “Harbin” starring Hyun Bin, Lee Dong-wook, Park Jeong-min, and Jeon Yeo-been. Marielle Heller’s aforementioned “Nightbitch” will be unveiled, as well as Stephen King’s “The Life of Chuck” starring Tom Hiddleston. LeBron James produces Indigenous basketball coming-of-age film “Rez Ball,” and animated film “The Wild Robot” will screen with Lupita Nyong’o voicing the titular android.

The 11-day celebration also hosts the annual Tribute Awards. This year,...

The Toronto Film Festival unveiled its first raft of titles for its 49th edition in September, presenting a lineup that will include the world premiere of R.J. Culter and David Furnish’s new documentary Elton John: Never Too Late about the legendary British singer; the Korean drama Harbin from director Woo Min-ho (Inside Men) starring Hyun Bin, Lee Dong-wook, Park Jeong-min, and Jeon Yeo-been; and Nightbitch, a horror comedy from director Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me?, The Diary of a Teenage Girl) starring Amy Adams as a stay-at-home mom whose life takes a surreal turn. Adams will also be honored this year with the TIFF Tribute Performer Award for her life’s work.

“We know the TIFF audience has been eagerly anticipating what films will be coming to Toronto this September, and today’s announcement is a perfect snapshot of what’s to come this year,” said Anita Lee,...

2024 is nearly half over and while it’s a wasteland at the box office this year for television fans it is one of the better years as we have gotten many brilliant shows both at the big and small scale. With incredible series like Masters of the Air starting the year, there was no way that the rest of the year could go bad and that’s what happened because we got powerful and thrilling shows like Shōgun, Fallout, and 3 Body Problem. So, if you want to know the best new shows that came out this year here are the top picks for you. We have only added the shows that came out with their first season this year and excluded the shows that returning with a new season.

Baby Reindeer (Netflix)

Baby Reindeer is a psychological thriller and dark comedy series created by Richard Gadd. Based on Gadd...

Korean Action

Korean action drama “A Shop For Killers” has become the most viewed local original on Disney+ in the Asia Pacific region so far in 2024, the streamer has revealed.

Set in contemporary Korea, the eight-part series follows college student Jeong Jian who dives for cover in her childhood home after a series of highly skilled assassins come after her. Fighting to survive, Jian begins to remember invaluable lessons her uncle taught her before his apparent suicide, drawing on them to help her stay alive. Jian now has to uncover her uncle’s hidden past and figure out why so many people are desperate to gain access to her house and the extensive arsenal hidden inside.

The cast includes Lee Dongwook (“Guardian: The Lonely”) and Kim Hyejun (“Connect”). “A Shop For Killers” is based on the popular novel by Kang Jiyoung, written by Ji Hojin and Lee Kwon, and directed...

The star of A Shop for Killers on Disney+ and Hulu recently gave a grim update on the possibility of a Season 2.

A Shop for Killers, starring Lee Dong-wook and Kim Hye-jun, recently released Season 1 on Disney+ in select regions and on Hulu in the United States.

The South Korean action series, adapted from Kang Ji-young's novel, follows a young woman raised by her uncle in a dubious shopping mall. 

Read full article on The Direct.

My Demon is a fantasy romance K-drama created by Choi Ah-il. The Netflix series revolves around a workaholic CEO, who thinks that she has no time for romantic entanglement in her life but when a demon loses his powers and comes to work for her as a recruit, things change and they both fall in love with each other. My Demon stars Song Kang, Kim Yoo-Jung, Lee Sang-Yi, Jo Hye-Joo, Lee Yoon-Ji, and Kim Hae-Sook. So, if you loved the Netflix series here are some similar shows you could watch next.

Doom at Your Service (Netflix & Viki) Credit – tvN

The fantasy-drama Korean drama revolves around a hard-working woman named Dong-kyung who gets diagnosed with brain cancer. Frustrated with everything in her life, Dong-kyung curses the world and wishes for everything to disappear. What she didn’t was that her wish would bring the Doom himself to her doorstep. Now, realizing...

In Disney Kdrama, A Shop For Killers, the character of Jinman has been efficiently played by Lee Dong-wook, who is known for his roles in dramas like Tale of the Nine Tailed. Jinman was way ahead of his time and had planned impeccable safety measures for his niece before his disappearance. He knew that he could die at any time in his profession and hence could not protect Jian all his life; therefore, he planned things in a manner so that Jian would be safe. Jinman was the most mysterious character in the series. He had been running an underground arms-dealing shopping mall, the MurtleHelp, without anyone’s knowledge. He was a one-man army who was capable enough to tackle his enemies single-handedly. What will happen after Jinman’s death? Will his comrades be able to save Jian? Let’s find out!

Spoilers Ahead

How Did Jinman Train Jian? Why?...

A Shop for Killers is an action drama series created by Ji Ho-jin and Lee Kwon. The Korean series is based on a novel titled The Killer’s Shopping Mall by Kang Ji-young, and it revolves around the story of a young girl who grew up with her uncle after the death of her parents. Her uncle runs a suspicious shopping mall and when he dies, some very dangerous assassins come looking for her, and now the only way to survive is to execute the training her uncle gave her during her childhood.

The Disney+ series stars Lee Dong-wook and Kim Hye-jun in the lead roles and for the action fans it has a lot of great moments with solid character work that will make you feel the uncertainty of the story and the characters.

A Shop for Killers – Episode Guide (When are the Episodes Coming Out?) Credit – Disney+

A Shop for Killers...

The Bequeathed is Netflix’s latest Korean thriller series and after its release, it is gaining a ton of traction on the streaming service. The Bequeathed revolves around a college lecturer who inherits a burial ground from an estranged uncle. This prompts her to go to the family mountain but when she gets there all of the buried family secrets come out and ominous things start happening including a murder that might reveal everything the townspeople are trying to hide. If you liked the Korean series here are some similar shows you could watch next.

Stranger

Stranger is a hit Korean series with two seasons already out and a possible third season or a spin-off on the way. The Bequeathed seems very interested in digging up old wounds for our character and that’s the same thing you will see in this Korean drama. The story of the series revolves...

The Korean drama A Shop For Killers has been directed under the able guidance of Lee Kwon. The series stars faces like Kim Hye-jun and Lee Dong-wook, who seem to do justice to their roles. The dark action-thriller series revolves around hitmen trying to hunt down Jeong Jinman’s niece, Jeong Jian. Jinman had been involved in the weapon smuggling market, which had taken a toll on his personal life. The series highlights the horrific aftermath of accessing the dark web. Will Jian be able to survive the attacks on her life? Will Jinman’s lessons for self-survival help Jian? Let’s find out!

Spoilers Ahead

How Does Jeong Jinman Survive The Hitman?

A hitman was seen taking shots at Jeong Jinman’s house, which Jian was trying to dodge. Her friend, Bae Jeongmin, was already seen lying flat on the floor after being injured, and Minhye (Jinman’s Chinese...

Award

British presenter, broadcaster, filmmaker, author and historian, professor David Olusoga, will be presented with a BAFTA Special Award at the upcoming BAFTA Television Awards on May 14. The award is one of BAFTA’s highest honors recognizing an outstanding contribution to film, games or television.

Olusoga’s credits include presenting history series “A House Through Time” (BBC Two), writing and presenting series “Black & British: A Forgotten History” (BBC Two) and the BAFTA-winning “Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners.” In recent years he led major interviews with the former President of the United States, Barack Obama and lectures including the Edinburgh TV Festival MacTaggart Lecture in 2020.

Olusoga said: “It is humbling to have my work in television, as both a producer and a presenter, recognized in this way.”

Jane Millichip, CEO at BAFTA added: “We are honoured to present David Olusoga the BAFTA Special Award at our forthcoming BAFTA Television Awards with P&o Cruises.

The hit 2020 fantasy K-drama, Tale of the Nine-Tailed, is returning with a long-awaited second season. Lee Dong-wook returns as the leading character, a gumiho named Lee Yeon. Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 has Lee Yeon forced back to the past as he desperately looks for a way to return to the present. But fans may notice the first season of the K-drama gave a small teaser of Lee Yeon in the 1930s.

Lee Dong-wook and the cast of ‘Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938’ | via tvN Lee Yeon meets his rebellious brother again in ‘Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938’

The first season ended on a good yet happy note as Lee Yeon gets to live a somewhat normal life. The characters faced peril with Nam Ji-ah (Jo Bo-ah) alive. Because of this, fans got a happy ending as Lee Yeon finally gets to be with his true love after spending decades looking for her.

While love between a male and female lead in a K-drama is enjoyed, there is another type of love that fans adore. K-dramas like Twenty-Five Twenty-One display two fencing rivals who grow and become the closest of friends as they navigate life. Over the past couple of years, some K-dramas stole the show thanks to their memorable friendship groups and a bit of drama in between.

Kim Se-jeong and Seol In-ah as their best friend characters in ‘Business Proposal’ K-drama | via tvN ‘Business Proposal’ has Shin Ha-ri help her best friend ward of marriage suitors

Netflix and tvN’s Business Proposal K-drama became one of the top non-English series in 2022. Fans flocked to watch its boss-employee unsuspecting love story. The K-drama became well known for its comedy, steamy romance, and two main couples. But Business Proposal also had one of the best friendship duos.

The crux of the romance story...

Over the past few years, I have become heavily immersed in K-content and K-dramas on a personal and professional level. Many hours have been spent watching the same perfectly executed tropes in various genres, from crime thrillers to romance K-dramas. Some dramas have won my heart and become favorites, like the teen romance True Beauty. But there is no denying that not all K-dramas were spectacular. K-dramas like Inspector Koo and a few others did not hold my interest and were unfinished.

Unfinished K-dramas ‘Inspector Koo,’ ‘Forecasting Love and Weather,’ and ‘Bad and Crazy’ | via Jtbc ‘Inspector Koo’ lacked the riveting edge of a murder mystery

It is not often that a crime K-drama has a female character as the heinous killer. The 2021 Netflix K-drama Inspector Koo made me excited as two female actors would lead the storyline. The storyline had a fun quirkiness that seemed like a good investment.

Rock Island Returns

Production is now under way at the Pinnacle Studios in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia on the second season of Network 10 and Nickelodeon kids’ mystery adventure series “Rock Island Mysteries.” The show is produced by Fremantle Australia with support by Screen Queensland and federal body Screen Australia. The 20-episode season sees teenager Taylor Young, portrayed by Alexa Curtis, and friends again take up the challenge of finding Taylor’s missing uncle. “Rock Island Mysteries” is produced by series producer Timothy Powell and Jonah Klein of Fremantle Australia. Directors include Jovita O’Shaughnessy and Evan Clarry. Season 1 premiered on 10 Shake in May this year and has since screened on Nickelodeon in Australia, New Zealand, U.K., and the U.S. It is currently streaming on 10 Play, Paramount+ in Australia and Latin America and on Binge. Season 1 premiered on 10 Shake in May this year and has since screened on Nickelodeon in Australia,...

The success of The Ring inspired Japan’s nearest neighbors to tell their own ghost stories, and South Korea certainly didn’t waste the opportunity in the mid-2000s. During this heyday of “K-Horror,” there was a burst of spectral yarns centered around cursed objects, haunted technology, and most of all, revenge. Homemade folklore often played a role as well, and filmmaker Ahn Sang-hoon looked to a classic Korean story for inspiration when putting together his debut.

A new and disturbing case awaits Detective Min So-young (Song Yoon-ah). In the 2006 crime-chiller Arang, a man’s charred corpse is discovered in the remains of a house fire, but his autopsy reveals he died before the fire broke out. And the reason for his death was a heart attack caused by prussic acid. What makes an already strange death even stranger is the addition of a second victim; another man later died from the same cause.

Multi-starrer Christmas films have been being released around the holiday season for a while now and the fad seems to have finally reached South Korean shores. After “New Year Blues” last year, this year sees director Kwak Jae-yong, who is no stranger to the mushy romance genre after having made such classics as “My Sassy Girl”, “Windstuck” and “The Classic”, take on a similar project, with a massive star-cast boasting of impressive talents both young and young-at-heart.

Synopsis

The story of people who met each other at Hotel Emros during the New Year holidays, each with their own stories and creating relationships in their own ways.

As expected from the storyline, the characters are divided in both the staff and guests working in the Hotel. The staff comprises of Han Ji-min (“Miss Baek”), who plays the hotel manager, Lee Dong-wook (“The Beauty Inside”) as the hotel’s CEO, Yoona (“Exit”) as the receptionist,...