JANG Joon-hwan picked up the Best Director Award for his film 1987: When the Day Comes (2017) at this year’s CinemAsia Film Festival. JANG’s historical drama was among a quartet of Korean films invited this year, which also included JANG Hun’s A Taxi Driver (2017), the winner of this year’s Audience Award, SHIN Dong-seok’s Last Child (2017) and KIM Jin-muk’s TRUE FICTION.

Released last December and based on the true story of a Korean government coverup conspiracy, 1987: When the Day Comes was a hit with audiences and critics, having recorded 7.23 million admissions (USD 54.26 million) to date, as well as a nomination for Best Film at the 9th Korean Film Reporters Association Film Awards. It follows the massive success of fellow 1980s democratic movement drama A Taxi Driver, which was released earlier in the year and went on to achieve blockbuster status and critical acclaim, after accruing 12.19 million admissions (USD 89.42 million).

Meanwhile the suspense thriller TRUE FICTION, which recently received the Best Picture and Best Screenplay Awards from the Fantasporto - Oporto International Film Festival, will be released in Korea on April 19, while the drama Last Child, which screened in the ‘Forum’ section of the this year's Berlin International Film Festival, has yet to announce its domestic premiere date.

Now in its 11th year, the CinemAsia Film Festival takes place annually in Amsterdam and works to promote Asian cinema and culture. This year’s festival ran from March 6 to 11.