Shim Eun-kyung Lands Best Lead Nod at Japan's Mainichi Film Awards with 'Two Seasons, Two Strangers'

Shim Eun-kyung has been nominated for Best Lead Performance at the 80th Mainichi Film Awards in Japan.

Her agency Fanfare said on the 2nd that she earned the nod for the film “Two Seasons, Two Strangers,” presented by the Mainichi Shimbun and Sports Nippon Newspapers. The company noted that the category is gender-neutral, making the recognition even more meaningful.

Shim has already pulled off a rare feat, claiming top best actress honors in both Korea and Japan. In 2014, she swept major Korean prizes for "Miss Granny," including the Baeksang Arts Awards, Chunsa Film Art Awards, Buil Film Awards and the Korea Film Producers Association Awards. In 2020, she became the first Korean actor to win Best Actress at the Japan Academy Film Prize for The Journalist, and also took home leading-actress trophies from the Takasaki Film Festival and the Mainichi Film Awards.

Keeping a steady presence in Japan, Shim delivers another career peak in director Miyake Sho’s “Two Seasons, Two Strangers,” a performance that has already led to best actress nominations at the Nikkan Sports Film Awards and the Singapore International Film Festival. Now she’s in the running for the Mainichi Film Awards’ top acting honor as well.

“Two Seasons, Two Strangers” opened in Korea last December and has topped 50,000 admissions nationwide, bolstered by strong word of mouth. Critics have praised the pairing of Miyake’s meticulous visual language with Shim’s finely tuned performance, calling it one of 2025’s standout releases.

Shim is also set to return to Korean television this spring in tvN’s weekend drama “How to Become a Landlord in Korea” (literal translation) premiering in March.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)