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Scorsese's foundation selects KIM Ki-young classic

Director Kim Ki-young has lately been revived in various retrospectives and the latest posthumous honour will be the digital restoration of his 1960 masterpiece "The Housemaid - 1960" (Hanyeo), part of the 10th anniversary of the influential late director. The film has been selected for support by the World Cinema Foundation headed by renowned director Martin Scorsese.

The total restoration budget needed will be US$ 170,600. The World Cinema Foundation will cover almost the entire budget as it contributes US$ 120,000. A Korean government fund for the support of art will finance the remaining amount and the Korean Film Archive will assist with equipment and manpower.

The digital restoration of "The Housemaid - 1960" is part of several events related to the 10th anniversary of the late director KIM. Among those initiatives are the screening of the entire body of KIM's works and the release of a DVD box set.

Kim Ki-young was a commercially successful director. Lately he receives recognition for his artistic achievements. Some of Korea's celebrated contemporary directors – including Bong Joon-ho, an active promoter of KIM's films – praise KIM and admit his influence on them. The 2006 documentary Two or Three Things I Know about Kim Ki-young: Directors Talking about Kim Ki-young reflects the admiration for KIM among current directors.

Moreover, KIM's reputation is also internationally increasingly recognised. He received prestigious retrospectives at the 1997 Pusan International Film Festival, the 1998 Berlin International Film Festival, and in 2006 at the Cinematheque Francaise in Paris.

The World Cinema Foundation also selected "Touki Bouki" (1973) from Senegal and the Turkish Dry Summer (1964). Scorsese founded the organisation at last year's Cannes Film Festival. Besides Scorsese, the World Cinema Foundation includes renowned collaborators from around the world, including directors Wong Kar Wai and Walter Salles.

Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)

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