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The high skies have often been a setting for cinematic stories, playing with the high altitude setting for laughs, thrills and even action. For his latest film “Ok! Madam”, director Lee Cheol-ha uses the same setting for a mix of all three, in a final product that doesn't quite manage to succeed at either successfully.

“Ok! Madam” is available from Echelon Studios

Married couple Mi-yeong, a local market baker, and Seok-hwan, a computer repair expert, both slog out day in, day out to make just enough of a living to get by with their daughter Na-ri. Their dream is to go on a vacation for the first time since their wedding. So when Mi-yeong wins an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii, the happy family gladly boards the flight to take them to their dream holiday. However, it is on the same flight that a purported North Korean defector is supposed to be flying,...

The Busan festival has experienced its share of fandom in previous editions, with everything from frenetic crowds at guest visits in Haeundae, an overflowing Biff Square in Nampodong, through to star-struck teenagers camping in the entrance to the Grand Hotel. None of these are particularly appropriate in the age of Covid and social distancing.

With that in mind, the festival has built what it calls an ‘Actors House,’ a slightly more respectful and arms-length series of encounters between on-screen stars and their public. The series consists of six, more in-depth conversations with successful, younger talent.

They will be sharing stories that have never been heard before, including their acting philosophy and their most memorable scenes, organizers say. The sessions are moderated by Una Beck, the head of Una Labo Actorology.

Highest profile participants are actress Uhm Junghwa and actor Cho Jinwoong, who have established their filmographies across the silver screen and television.

South Korea, a hotbed of contemporary cultural fervor, is to get a significant new development and production company headed by veteran studio executives. The new venture, Covenant Pictures starts operations with solid financial backing, a diverse slate, and a first-look deal with the producers of the hit “Along With The Gods” movie franchise.

Covenant sees itself scouring Asia for IP that will be developed and produced as Korean-made films and TV series. Relationships in East Asia could cast the net wider, in future.

Covenant is co-founded by Lee Young Han and Justin Choi, both former GMs of Lotte MediaWorks (previously Lotte Cinema), Korea’s second-largest vertically-integrated movie conglomerate. Lee has production and film finance experience managing over 90 titles while at Lotte, while Choi’s focus was on international affairs, acquisitions and marketing. Choi was also the territory Gm for Paramount Pictures’ sub-distribution relationship in Korea.

“Korea is the most exciting...