Nam Dong-hyub’s “Handsome Guys” wins Best Film at the 23rd Florence Korea Film Fest

“Thanks to his extraordinary ability to flirt with genres and make his own typically Western atmospheres. It is a film that, under the patina of splatter and parody, launches an important message, especially today: do not stop at appearances, because sometimes the monster is not the strange or the different that we meet on the side of the road, but it is someone who is in our social group”

the words of the jury composed of Andrea Diego Bernardini, Lavinia Andreini, Pierfrancesco Bigazzi, Lorenzo Fantoni and Viola Giacalone

The Audience Award goes to the film “Harbin” by Woo Min-ho, a historical portrait of the early twentieth century, a story of Korea’s freedom from Japanese colonialist rule

Florence, March 28 – A damn funny film, which mixes splatter horror with the most irreverent comedy: it is “Handsome Guys” by Nam Dong-hyub that wins the award for best film of the 23rd edition of the Florence Korea Film Fest, the festival dedicated to South Korean cinema, whose award ceremony is held today, March 28, at the La Compagnia cinema at 8 pm. The work, in competition in the Korean Horizons section, is a remake of the American horror comedy “Tucker & Dale vs. Evil” of 2010, and marks the directorial debut of a feature film for the director.

The jury, this year chaired by Andrea Diego Bernardini and composed of Lavinia Andreini, Pierfrancesco Bigazzi, Lorenzo Fantoni and Viola Giacalone, awarded the prize with the following motivation: “The jury decided to award Nam Dong-hyeob’s horror comedy thanks to its extraordinary ability to flirt with genres and make its typically Western atmospheres. It is a film that under the patina of splatter and parody, launches an important message, especially today, and that is not to stop at appearances, because sometimes the monster is not the strange or the different that we meet on the side of the road, but it is someone who is in our social group. Same as us. All this, combined with the excellent interpretation of the protagonists, and a script with a great rhythm makes Handsome Guys an absolutely unmissable film “.

The jury also awarded two special mentions. The first to Hidden Face by Kim Dae-woo “Because it is a work with attention to every detail, from the aesthetics to the soundtrack, from the interpretations to the direction. Hidden Face impressed the jury with its intelligent and courageous writing in telling a perverse and passionate relationship, without ever being consolatory or educational. The director blends thriller and drama with a masterful use of suspense, involving the viewer in a continuous reversal of looks and points of view” . The second at 4 P.M. by Jay Song “For its ability to explore violence and human emotions from opposing but complementary perspectives. The film combines tension, drama and irony with great balance, while being both distressing and funny. The unexpected explosion of violence of the protagonist contrasts with the more silent and suffered one of the neighbor, leaving open questions about the ambiguity of their relationship and stimulating a reflection on social hypocrisy and our relationship with the pain of others “.

Finally, the film that wins the audience award in the hall is “Harbin”, a historical film directed by Woo Min-ho, known for laying bare the dark realities of Korean politics, who returns with a film set in the early ‘900 in the city of Harbin, where Korean activists plan secret operations to liberate Korea from Japanese colonial rule. For the short films, “Suzuki” by Ahn Jung-min wins.

The event is conceived and directed by Riccardo Gelli of the Taegukgi association together with co-director Chang Eun-young, organized with the support of Fondazione Sistema Toscana, the Tuscany Region, the Metropolitan City of Florence, the Municipality of Florence, KOFIC – Korean Film Council and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea; Korean Cultural Institute in Italy and KOFA – Korean Film Archive and the patronage of the Florence Chamber of Commerce, Publiacqua and the support of the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium.

In collaboration with: Mymovies, Arci, Nemo Academy, Florence Pops Orchestra, Aurelio Saffi Hotel Institute, Chungkang University.

Sponsors: Conad, The Mall Luxury Outlets, Marvis, Hyundai-Brandini, Helvetia & Bristol Firenze – Starhotels Collezione, Hotel Bernini Palace, Grand Hotel Baglioni – Carattere Toscano Hotels & Resorts, Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni 1, Grand Hotel Mediterraneo, Hotel Santa Maria Novella, Hotel Indigo, Arrighi Viticoltori all’isola d’Elba, Carpineto Grandi vini di Toscana, Ristorante Hallasan, Hotel Indigo, Ristorante Nuti, Ristorante Coreano Gangnam, Trattoria Dall’Oste, Boccanegra Restaurant, Acqua al 2 Restaurant, Hotel Anglo American Florence.

Media Partners: Radio Toscana; Taxidrivers; AsianFeast.org, Asianworld, Cinematographe, Firenze Spettacolo, Korean Community in Italy, Novaradio, Mugunghwa Dream.

Information: Florence Korea Film Fest; via San Domenico, 101 (Fi); Tel: 055 5048516; info@koreafilmfest.com; Cinema La Compagnia: 055 268451.