So
many people are already counting the days to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF)
for them to finally see “Miracle in Cell
No. 7”, the official entry from Viva Films.
This is Aga Muhlach’s first movie to be included in the MMFF after 26
long years, his last being “May Minamahal” (1993).
The
overwhelming support is not just from Filipinos alone. Korea’s very own Lee Hwan-kyung, the
director of the original “Miracle in
Cell No. 7”, and Kim Min-ki, the producer of the said
record-breaking movie, are both very pleased that a Filipino adaptation has
been made. In fact, they are even coming
to the Philippines to show their full support of this Pinoy version helmed by
director Nuel C. Naval.
Apart
from creating the highest grossing Korean film in 2013, what else makes Lee
Hwan-kyung and Kim Min-ki such great filmmakers?
Director
Lee Hwan-kyung, also a screenwriter, is a graduate of Seoul Institute of the
Arts, one of the premiere art schools in South Korea. Just two years after his directorial debut (He Was Cool), he was named Best New
Director for the film “Lump Sugar” at the 2006 Chunsa Film Art Awards. In 2013, he won Best Screenplay at the Grand
Bell Awards for “Miracle in Cell No. 7”. He also got a nomination for Best Director
for this heartrending family drama. It
was said that Lee Hwan-kyung worked around a tiny budget while filming “Miracle in Cell No. 7”, but it became
one of the industry’s most profitable films, with over 12.32 million viewers in
South Korea alone. Lee Hwan-kyung is
reported to be working on his next film, “Next Door Neighbor”.
Producer
Kim Min-ki received his Masters Degree in Film Planning in France. After years of making commercial films, he founded
FineWorks in 2004. This entertainment
company specializes in the production of feature films and television series,
mostly in the horror, family and romantic-comedy genre. In 2011, he produced “The Champ”, the third
film of Lee Hwan-kyung. It was their
first collaboration. Two years later,
they made history together with the tremendous success of “Miracle in Cell No. 7”, starring Ryu
Seung-ryong.
Meanwhile, actor Ryu Seung-ryong
also extends his best wishes to the Filipino cast in a video that can be seen
in the official Facebook page of Viva Films.
“I will be cheering for it from
afar, from Korea,” he says. He adds,
“We hope this movie will bring much
comfort and laughter to the Philippine viewers.”
The
whole cast and crew of “Miracle in Cell
No. 7” are honoured to have director Lee Hwan-kyung and producer Kim Min-ki
as guests as we are into the final stage of the promotion. These gentlemen will be gracing us with their
presence on December 16th until the 18th.
Don’t
miss “Miracle in Cell No. 7” in
cinemas nationwide. Opens on Christmas
Day.
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