tag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/05/Russian_director_Sokurov_abandons_heritage_97fc

Russia's best-known director and Saint-Petersburg native Alexander Sokurov said Tuesday he would stop fighting to save the city's architectural heritage, and for freedom of expression, as it was "useless" to do so.

2013-03-05T22:45:18ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/02/23/Birthday_Oscar_French_oldest_actress_cd06

Veteran French star Emmanuelle Riva turns 86 on Sunday -- and could end up celebrating her birthday by becoming the oldest ever best actress Oscar winner.

2013-02-23T21:06:10ZAFP Global Editionby Michael Thurstontag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/12/10/Psy_Samsung_push_brand_Korea_e4ab

A breakthrough year for "brand Korea" -- led by the rapper Psy and electronics giant Samsung -- has boosted efforts to promote a country that still feels overshadowed, under-appreciated and misunderstood.

2012-12-10T14:36:15ZAFP Asian Editionby Giles Hewitttag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/11/21/Loach_turns_down_Italian_film_a533

British director Ken Loach on Wednesday turned down a prize from a festival organised by Italy's National Museum of Cinema in Turin in protest over the rights of cleaners and security guards at the museum.

2012-11-21T19:12:22ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/11/21/Record_year_South_Korea_films_28b2

South Korea's film industry has capped a spectacular year with the number of tickets sold for domestic movies breaking through the 100 million mark for the first time, an official said Wednesday.

2012-11-21T04:51:52ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/11/17/Italian_erotic_film_wins_prizes_049f

Italian erotic film "And They Call it Summer" which was booed during its screening at the Rome Film Festival, scooped two prizes at the awards ceremony on Saturday to catcalls from the audience.

2012-11-17T20:24:17ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/11/09/Rome_film_fest_favours_emerging_8553

The Rome Film Festival opened in the Italian capital on Friday with a line-up dedicated mainly to emerging talents, swapping red carpet stars for films by Tajik, Catalan and Mexican directors.

2012-11-09T17:53:13ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/11/06/SKorea_decorates_Gangnam_Style_success_385d

South Korea has awarded one of its highest cultural honours to the rapper Psy for taking the world by storm with his "Gangnam Style" hit.

2012-11-06T05:20:50ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/11/05/Tale_old_brightens_Philippine_film_54bd

A Philippine movie about a grumpy, old, gay man and his faithful dog has become an unlikely hit abroad while shaking the belief that local independent films have to focus on the darker side of life.

2012-11-05T22:27:32ZAFP Global Editionby Mynardo Macaraigtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/10/31/Gwanghae_reigns_supreme_SKorea_film_2867

A costume drama about a stand-in monarch has swept South Korea's domestic Oscars, winning 15 of the 23 awards up for grabs, including best film.

2012-10-31T05:16:04ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/10/19/Gangnam_fever_just_beginning_Korean_d725

The phenomenal success of "Gangnam Style" is just the start of a new surge of attention for Korean entertainment, according to the man responsible for some of South Korea's biggest films.

2012-10-19T09:59:01ZAFP Global Editionby Mathew Scotttag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/10/18/Acclaimed_Japanese_director_Koji_Wakamatsu_5f2e

Acclaimed Japanese director Koji Wakamatsu, who said he "chose the camera instead of the gun" to make people listen in a career that began in pornography and ended in international awards, has died aged 76.

2012-10-18T16:38:40ZAFP Global Editionby Harumi Ozawatag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/10/18/Gangnam_fever_just_beginning_Korean_d725

The phenomenal success of "Gangnam Style" is just the start of a new surge of attention for Korean entertainment, according to the man responsible for some of South Korea's biggest films.

2012-10-18T12:06:38ZAFP Global Editionby Mathew Scotttag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/10/10/Stallone_Twilight_star_Rome_film_46de

Hollywood veteran Sylvester Stallone will take to the red carpet at Rome's 2012 film festival, which will host 59 world premieres including the hotly-awaited second episode of the vampire-themed Twilight saga.

2012-10-10T17:43:12ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/10/08/Low-budget_films_award_Busan_festival_7145

Two low-budget productions are among those vying for the top award at Asia's premier film festival this week, with organisers praising their creativity despite their technical limitations.

2012-10-08T11:02:12ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/10/03/Busan_festival_puts_Asian_film_17cf

Asia's largest film festival rolls out the red carpet in South Korea on Thursday, offering a window into the region's cinema landscape and a rare screening of a North Korean film.

2012-10-04T01:46:36ZAFP Global Editionby Mathew Scotttag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/09/13/Korea_selects_Venice-winning_Pieta_Oscar_3a52

South Korea has chosen film director Kim Ki-duk's "Pieta", which won the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, as its entry for best foreign film at next year's Oscars.

2012-09-13T17:08:43ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/09/12/Chinas_films_struggle_festival_exposure_b406

The Chinese cinema industry may be the second largest in the world, but its films have been absent from major competitions at the most prestigious international festivals in the past year.

2012-09-12T05:06:53ZAFP Global Editionby Mathew Scotttag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/09/11/vows_stay_maverick_after_Pietas_e4f4

South Korean film director Kim Ki-Duk said Tuesday he would stick to his maverick ways after winning the coveted Golden Lion prize at the Venice film festival for his anti-capitalist movie "Pieta".

2012-09-11T11:09:45ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/09/09/Controversy_clouds_Kims_victory_Venice_0cd1

The Venice film festival wrapped up in controversy on Sunday after Kim Ki-duk took the Golden Lion with his Korean morality tale "Pieta" amid reports the jury had wanted a different winner.

2012-09-09T17:58:06ZAFP Global Editionby Dario Thuburn