Shim Eun-kyung has landed Best Actress nominations at Japan’s Nikkan Sports Film Awards and the Singapore International Film Festival for her performance in “Two Seasons, Two Strangers.”
Her agency, Fanfare, confirmed Tuesday that Shim is up for Best Actress at the 38th Nikkan Sports Film Awards and the 36th Singapore International Film Festival, which highlights bold, innovative Asian cinema.
Set against a snowbound inn, “Two Seasons, Two Strangers” follows a screenwriter named Lee who thinks she’s at the end of the road―until an impromptu escape gifts her an unexpected stretch of time and a fresh start in the winter of 2025, on a dreamlike journey shared with everyday travelers.
The film pairs closely watched young auteur Miyake Sho with Shim, who has been cementing her global status as the first Korean actor to capture top Best Actress honors in both Korea and Japan.
After winning the Golden Leopard―the top prize at the Locarno Film Festival―the feature drew worldwide attention and was invited to the 73rd San Sebastian International Film Festival, the 22nd Reykjavik International Film Festival and Filmfest Hamburg. It opened in Japan in November to raves from critics and audiences alike.
Back home, it was an official selection at the Busan International Film Festival―earning some of the highest marks in competition―and its masterclass slot at the Seoul Independent Film Festival has been selling out.
Beyond its striking mise-en-scene and assured direction, Shim’s delicate yet deeply layered turn has been widely praised as a standout.
In 2014, Shim swept major Best Actress trophies for “Miss Granny,” including at the Baeksang Arts Awards, the Chunsa Film Art Awards, the Buil Film Awards and the Korean Film Producers Association Awards.
In 2020, she became the first Korean performer to win Best Actress at the Japan Academy Film Prize with “The Journalist,” also taking top honors at the Takasaki Film Festival and the Mainichi Film Awards―an achievement that underscored her rare cross-border pull.
“Two Seasons, Two Strangers” opens in Korea on Dec. 10.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)