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South Korea’s CJ Entertainment Inc. presold director Park Chan-wook’s untitled project about a priest-turned-vampire to Wild Side of France on Saturday at the American Film Market.
Park, perhaps best known for “Oldboy,” the 2004 Cannes Grand Prix-winning ultra-violent thriller, will begin to shoot the new mid-range budgeted film in the spring with his production company MOHO Film. CJ plans to release it in Korea at the end of 2008.
The film will see star Song Kang-ho (“The Host,” “Secret Sunshine”) as the priest whose transformation, due to a failed medical experiment, results in physical and psychological change that leads him into an affair with the wife of his childhood friend.
Tom Oh, senior vice president for international, said CJ also sold presold Park’s film to Russia’s Maywin Media, which also picked up “Secret Sunshine” by Lee Chang-dong, the film which garnered star Jeon Do-yeon the best actress prize at Cannes this year.
Oh said CJ also sold completed romantic drama “Love Now” by Chong Yun-su (“Yesterday”) to Twin Co Ltd. in Japan. The film stars, among others, actress Han Chae-young (“Wild Card”).
CJ also sold the period horror mystery “Shadows in the Palace” by debut woman director Kim Mi-jung to Splendid in Germany. The film was an official selection at San Sebastian this year.
Rounding out sales, CJ’s Oh said “May 18” by Kim Ji-hoon — the second highest-grossing film in Korea this year — sold to Mingyo in Australia.
