HAEMOO to Represent Korea at Academy Awards

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BONG Joon-ho Produced Maritime Thriller

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has selected SHIM Sung-bo’s debut maritime thriller Haemoo as its pick for the Best Foreign Language Film category at next year’s Academy Awards.

Executive produced and co-written by Bong Joon Ho, Haemoo follows a fishing trawler that takes on illegal immigrants only to be pursued by the coast guard and encounter disaster out on the open sea.

The film recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it had a gala presentation, and was well received by local press, a fact that KOFIC stated was one of the main factors for the film’s selection.

This week, SHIM’s film is also screening in competition at the San Sebastian International Film Festival and Fantastic Fest. It will next be seen at the Busan and Vancouver International Film Festivals.

Previous Korean films to be put up for Oscar consideration include Bong Joon Ho’s Mother (2009), JANG Hun’s The Front Line (2011), KIM Ki-duk’s Pieta (2012) and KANG Yi-kwan’s Juvenile Offender last year. Up until now, no Korean film has made the Academy Awards shortlist for Best Foreign Language Film. Next year’s Oscars will take place on February 22nd.

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