WEEKENDS Picks Up 3rd Panorama Prize in Berlin

NEWS & REPORTS
News
Korean Film News

Korean Film News

NEWS & REPORTS

WEEKENDS Picks Up 3rd Panorama Prize in Berlin

Feb 22, 2016

Writer by Pierce Conran
View7402

Documentary Follows Experiences of Korea’s 1st Gay Chorus

One of three Korean films that screened at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival, LEE Dong-ha’s debut documentary WEEKENDS triumphed by festival’s end, as it left Berlin with the 3rd place Panorama Audience Award Panorama Dokumente 2016. The top prize was won by Tomer & Barak Heymann’s Who’s Gonna Love Me Now?, a British-Israeli co-production, while second place went to the Netherlands-Belgium non-fiction work Strike a Pose from directors Reijer Zwaan and Ester Gold.

2016 marks the fourth year on the trot that a Korean film has picked up a prize in Berlin, following the Golden Bear for Best Short last year (NA Young-kil’s Hosanna), the Crystal Bear for Best Short in Generation (YOON Ga-eun’s Sprout) and NETPAC Prizes (Kelvin Kyung Kun PARK’s A Dream of Iron and JUNG Yoon-suk’s Non Fiction Diary) in 2014 and the Special Mention from Generation 14plus (SHIN Su-won’s PLUTO) and Special Prize from Generation Kplus (KIM Jung-in’s Cheong) in 2013.

In WEEKENDS, director LEE tells the story of G-Voice, Korea’s first gay chorus. Combining behind the scenes footage of the various frictions within the group and the homophobia which they experience on the eve of a special 10th anniversary concert, along with glossy music videos of the band in action, the film acts as a commentary on the current state of gay rights in Korea. Born in Busan, director LEE studied cultural sciences in Seoul before embarking on a career as a television drama director.

Any copying, republication or redistribution of KOFIC's content is prohibited without prior consent of KOFIC.

Related People