"King and Clown" nominated for 15 categories of Daejong award

The film "The King and the Clown" has been nominated for 15 categories at the 43rd Daejong Film Festival slated to open on July 21. The number is the most categories a single film has ever been nominated for in the festival's history. The runner-ups were "Typhoon" with 12 categories and "Welcome to Dongmakgeol" with nine categories.

The nominated films were announced on June 20th at the Seoul Press Center.

"King and the Clown" will vie for best picture, best director (Lee Joon-ik), best leading actor (Kam Woo-sung), best supporting actor (Yoo Hae-jin), best supporting actress (Kang Sung-yeon), best new actor (Lee Joon-gi), best script, best cinematography, best lighting, best editing, best music, best art, best acoustic technology, best planning and best costumes.

"Typhoon", for its part, will compete for best picture, best director (Kwak Gyeong-taek) and best leading actors (Jang Dong-gun and Lee Jung-jae).

Comedian/actor Im Ha-ryong has been nominated as best supporting actor in the movie "Welcome to Dongmakgol", while singer/actor Tak Jae-hoon has been nominated for best new actor in the movie "Marrying the Mafia II".

The Daejong Film Festival screens 49 of a total of 74 presented domestic movies selected by a 10 member jury headed by filmmaker Lee Doo-yong. To eliminate irregularities and suspicions over unfair judgment, the festival also operates a jury comprising some one thousand ordinary people from five cities who participate in choosing the best picture and the best leading and supporting actors and actresses.

Voting for the people's choice award is conducted not only in Korea but also in Japan through July 20 via the Internet and mobile communication.

An official from the festival's organizing committee said award-winners will be selected through a transparent process thanks to the ordinary jury, the first of its kind in the nation.

This year's festival will open July 21 at 6 p.m. at the Convention Hall of the Convention and Exhibition Center in Samseong-dong, Seoul, and be broadcast live from 8:50 p.m. on SBS TV. "