"Poetry" picks up most deals for Korean pic at Busan film market

Official poster for Lee Chang-dong film "Poetry" [Uni-Korea]

Critically acclaimed director Lee Chang-dong's film "Poetry" was sold to the most countries at this year's Asian Film Market held concurrently with the 15th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF).

The film, which won the award for best screenplay at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, was picked up by distributors in Hong Kong, Syria, Japan, Portugal and Spain.

Earlier in the year, the picture had been sold to nine countries including Taiwan, Spain, Greece, Russia, former Yugoslavia, Benelux, and Brazil, during the Cannes Film Market held concurrently with the Cannes Film Festival.

Starring veteran actress Yoon Jeong-hee, "Poetry" is about an elderly woman who learns how to write her own poems while fighting Alzheimer's and was released in Korea in mid-May.

Meanwhile, "Into Fire," which stars actors Cha Seung-won, Kim Seung-woo, Kwon Sang-woo and T.O.P. of idol group Big Bang, signed with distributors in three countries including Taiwan, Thailand and France.

Close to half a dozen local pics also scored deals; Hong Sang-soo's "Hahaha" to Hong Kong and Mexico, Kwon Hyuk-jae's "Troubleshooter" to Singapore and Taiwan, Kim Hyuk-suk's "Cyrano Agency" to Singapore and Taiwan, Kang Woo-suk's "Moss" to Taiwan and Hong Kong and Kim Dae-woo's "A Story of Bangja" to Taiwan and Singapore.

The Asian Film Market was held for four days from October 10 during the PIFF's run from October 7 to 15.

Jessica Kim jesskim@