The Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, one of the largest genre film events in the world, has demonstrated a consistent interest in Korean genre fare over the years, and this year was no different as a number of Korean films found their way onto the program. Out of those, a pair walked away with awards by the time the curtain closed on this year’s edition.

 

YEON Sang-ho’s sophomore feature The Fake has been getting a strong reception since its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last month and its selections in Austin’s Fantastic Fest and this month’s Busan International Film Festival. The dark feature was also well received in Sitges where it picked up the prize for Best Animation.

 

Following a strong showing at home earlier this year, when it racked up over four million admissions, PARK Hoon-jung’s gangster saga New World has been thrilling audiences around the world. Well Go USA released it theatrically in North America and it was screened at many events, including the Jeonju, Vancouver and Moscow International Film Festivals. It also won a Jury Prize at the Beaune International Thriller Festival. Now it has bagged another award as it earned Best Feature Film in the Focus Asia category in Sitges.

 

Korean cinema has had a long history at Sitges, going back as far as YOUN Yuh-jung’s Special Mention for Best Actress in 1972 for her role in KIM Ki-young’s The Insect Woman. This year’s 46th edition Sitges took place from October 11th to 20th.