Korean film "Mother" wins award at Santa Barbara film fest

South Korean director Bong Joon-ho's film "Mother" received the Best East Meets West Cinema Award at the annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival held in California over the weekend.

The movie, about a mother's search for a killer who framed her disabled son for a murder, was first screened at the Cannes Film Festival last year. The pic stars veteran actress Kim Hye-ja and Hallyu star Won Bin.

"Mother" has created much buzz in the film industry ever since, winning nods at several film fests including the title for best screenplay at the Dubai International Film Festival and the SIGNIS Award at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival in Argentina.

The veteran actress Kim Hye-ja and Hallyu star Won Bin starrer is currently up for nomination in six categories -- best film, best director, best screenplay, best actress, best supporting actor and best editing -- at the Asian Film Awards to be held in Hong Kong next month.

Other films recognized at the Santa Barbara fest on Sunday were American film "Exam," which was awarded the Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema, Best International Film Award went to Finnish movie "Letters to Father Jaakob" and the Nueva Vision Award for best Spanish/Latin American film went to American production "The Wind Journeys."

Reporter : Ko Kyoung-seok kave@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Lucia Hong luciahong@asiae.co.kr