Korean pic "Eighteen" wins award at Canadian film fest

Korean film "Eighteen" has won an award at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), according to a press release on Thursday.

The film won the Dragons & Tigers Award for Young Cinema, given to a new director from the Asia-Pacific region every year, along with a cash prize of $10,000, announced the film's distributor Jinjin Pictures.

"Eighteen", about a young high-school couple who go on a seaside vacation without their parents' permission and causing problems when they return, was directed by Jang Kun-Jae who has made numerous independent films.

"Although this is the classic boy-meets-girl, boy-breaks-up-with-girl story, Jang takes on a completely new direction to produce something completely different," the festival's jury member Noel Vera was quoted as saying. "All the characters are very alive and real and the film conveys well the pressure society inflicts on the characters who are screaming on the inside."

Jang said it was his first time taking part in an international film festival and that he learned a lot from watching the other nominated films.

"Eighteen" is set for release in Korea early next year.

Reporter : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr