The film 'Informant', starring Heo Sung-tae and Jo Bok-rae and directed by Kim Seok, has been selected as the opening film for the 24th New York Asian Film Festival.
'Informant' is a comedic buddy movie and a crime action film that follows the misadventures of a bumbling but earnest South Korean detective and a savvy, quick-witted informant.
Now in its 24th year, the New York Asian Film Festival is a celebration of Asian cinema, introducing a diverse array of genre films from across Asia. This year's festival in New York City boasts its most globally expansive lineup yet, with 'Informant' being chosen as the opening film, marking a significant pre-release achievement by receiving attention from prestigious international film festivals.
The organizers of the New York Asian Film Festival explained their choice of 'Informant' as the opening film, stating, "'Informant' perfectly embodies this year's festival theme, 'Cinema as Disruption', as an action comedy that transcends genre boundaries. Its unique style, world premiere screening, and the attendance of the director and actors all contribute to its symbolic and topical significance as the opening film."
'Informant' is directed and written by Kim Seok, who made his debut with the award-winning short film 'Humanist' at the CJ Young Festival in 2008.
In the film, detective Oh Nam-hyuk, who is ignored due to his trauma, is portrayed by Heo Sung-tae, who has proven his strong presence in Netflix's 'Squid Game' Season 1, and the movies 'The Outlaws' and 'Hunt'. Heo Sung-tae is set to introduce a new action character through Oh Nam-hyuk, who gets entangled in a mysterious case while trying to turn his life around. Jo Bok-rae, who has shown his presence across both television and film in works like 'C'est si bon', and 'Coin Locker Girl' plays the role of Oh Nam-hyuk's partner and informant, Jo Tae-bong.
'Informant' will have its world premiere at the Walter Reade Theater in New York on July 11, with director Kim Seok, Heo Sung-tae, Jo Bok-rae, and Seo Min-ju attending the opening screening and participating in various events, including a Q&A session following the screening.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)