Actor Shim Eun-kyung has clinched Best Actress from Kinema Junpo―one of Japan’s oldest and most prestigious film honors―for her performance in the film “Two Seasons, Two Strangers,” marking a historic first for a Korean actor.
Her agency shared on the 30th that Shim won Best Actress at the 99th Kinema Junpo Best Ten Awards for “Two Seasons, Two Strangers.”
“I’m sincerely grateful for such an incredible honor,” Shim said. “Meeting this project felt like a small miracle, and winning on top of that makes me truly happy. I believe many around the world will be drawn to director Miyake Sho’s distinct vision on display in ‘Two Seasons, Two Strangers.’”
Founded in 1919, Kinema Junpo is widely regarded as Japan’s most authoritative film magazine. Its annual “Best Ten” list and awards stand alongside the Japan Academy Prize, Blue Ribbon Awards, and Mainichi Film Awards as key markers of achievement in Japanese cinema.
Ahead of the ceremony, the 99th Kinema Junpo Best Ten named “Two Seasons, Two Strangers” the No. 1 film of the year and officially announced Shim’s Best Actress win. She becomes the first Korean actor ever to take the honor, and the first non-Japanese recipient since Ruby Moreno in 1993 for Sai Yoichi’s “All Under the Moon,” underscoring the moment’s significance.
Shim previously made waves with “The Journalist” (2020), becoming the first Korean actor to win Best Actress at the Japan Academy Prize and earning top honors from the Mainichi Film Awards and the Takasaki Film Festival. With Kinema Junpo―selected by film journalists and critics from Japan’s oldest film magazine―she further cements her standing on the global stage.
“Two Seasons, Two Strangers” paired Miyake Sho―one of Japan’s most closely watched young auteurs―with Shim Eun-kyung, who continues to break barriers as a Korean actor winning top actress prizes in both Japan and Korea. Anticipation was high from the start.
The film lived up to the buzz, taking the top Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival and landing the No. 1 spot at this year’s Kinema Junpo Best Ten. It also drew global spotlights with invitations to the 73rd San Sebastian International Film Festival, the 22nd Reykjavik International Film Festival, the 33rd Hamburg Film Festival, and the 30th Busan International Film Festival.
Shim’s performance has been a standout throughout awards season. She was nominated for Best Actress at the 38th Nikkan Sports Film Awards in Japan and at the 36th Singapore International Film Festival, which highlights innovative works across Asia. She also scored a Best Leading Performance nomination at the 80th Mainichi Film Awards―a gender-neutral lead category―before securing this Kinema Junpo Best Actress win and reaffirming her presence on the international stage.
The 99th Kinema Junpo Awards ceremony is set for February 19, and Shim is arranging her schedule to attend.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)
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