South Korea

CHICAGO – Opening Night at the 2024 Chicago Critics Film Festival (CCFF) on May 3rd will include the last film of popular South Korean (SK) Actor Lee Sun-kyun, entitled “Sleep” (click here for tickets) The world was rocked on December 27th, 2023, when the report came through that that actor – who had a prominent role in the 2019 Oscar Best Picture “Parasite’ – had died at age 48 from an apparent suicide in Seoul (SK), months after his appearance in Chicago during the Asian Pop-Up Cinema.

CHICAGO – Wednesday, March 20th, will begin Season 18 of Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC), a film festival that has grown and evolved to become a prime cultural influencer. The Founder and Curator of APUC, Sophia Wong Boccio, provides a preview to the new season below. For details, click SEASON 18.

CHICAGO – The world was rocked on December 27th, 2023, when the report came through that South Korean (SK) actor Lee Sun-kyun – who had a prominent role in the 2019 Oscar Best Picture “Parasite’ – had died from an apparent suicide in Seoul (SK), months after his appearance during Closing Night at Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC), where he represented his outrageous new comedy, “Killing Romance

CHICAGO – There is a thoughtfulness in the top South Korean films that cannot be duplicated in any other cinema culture. Along with now classics like “Oldboy” and “Parasite,” another Korean visionary emerges with a story about humanity … co-writer and director Um Tae-hwa has created a “Concrete Utopia.” The film is in U.S. theaters on December 15th.

CHICAGO – Season 17 of Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema’s (APUC17) had their Closing Night on October 7th, 2023, with a special screening of “Killing Romance” … part of their South Korean Film Showcase … which included an appearance by SK movie star Lee Sun Kyun, who also had a prominent role in the Oscar Best Picture “Parasite.”

CHICAGO – Season 17 of Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema’s (APUC17) wraps up with a South Korean Cinema Showcase on October 6th-7th, 2023, featuring a special in-person appearance by actor Lee Sun-Kyun of the Oscar Best Picture “Parasite,” representing his new film “Killing Romance.” For appearance details and ticket info, click

CHICAGO – Week Three of Season 17 Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema’s (APUC17) will focus on some outside-the-norm Asian countries including Iran, Afghanistan and Mongolia, including in-person appearances. For details and ticket info, click APUC17.

CHICAGO – It’s Hong Kong Weekend for Season 17 Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC) on September 16th and 17th, 2023, and representing the films there will be actor and filmmaker appearances. APUC will honor three guests with a Pinnacle Career Achievement Award and two Bright Star Awards for up and coming actors.

CHICAGO – Fall film festivals begin this week with Season 17 of the Asian Pop-Up Cinema, curated by Executive Director/Founder Sophia Wong Boccio. Opening Night is Friday, September 8th, with the Japanese film “Yudo,” subtitled “The Way of the Bath,” directed by Masayuki Suzuki. For tickets and info, click APUC 17.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on June 8th, reviewing “Past Lives,” a different type of romance drama, exploring how past relationships still resonate. In theaters on June 9th.