The 50th Grand Bell Film Awards, also known as the Dae Jong awards, took place on Nov. 1 in Seoul's KBS Hall. Presented annually, the red carpet awards ceremony is hosted by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea. It has been called the Korean equivalent of the American Academy Awards.
This year's big winners were the historical film "The Face Reader" and the comedy/melodrama "Miracle in Cell # 7." They both did so well that the judges had to split one prize between them.
"The Face Reader" won best picture award and also best director award for Han Jae Rim. Actor Song Kang Ho, who appeared as Nae Gyeong in "The Face Reader," shared the Best Actor Award with Ryu Seung Ryong, who starred as Lee Yong Gu in "Miracle in Cell # 7."
"The Face Reader" is the story of a man who practices the ancient art of determining a person's character by reading his or her facial features. His talents land him in a royal court teeming with political intrigue. The film earned a supporting actor award for Jo Jung Suk and a popularity award for Lee Jung Jae, who played Prince Suyang.
"Miracle in Cell # 7," the film about an unjustly imprisoned mentally challenged man, had almost as many awards. In this film, the imprisoned man befriends his hardened criminal cellmates and they help his young daughter break in to his jail cell. "Miracle in Cell # 7" won best screenplay for writer Lee Hwan Kyung and a Special Judges Award for the child actress Kal So Won. The film also starred Park Shin Hye.
Uhm Jung Hwa won the best actress award for her role as Ha Kyung in the action crime thriller "Montage," while actress Jang Young Nam won a supporting actress award for her work in "Werewolf Boy."
A new actor award went to Kim Soo Hyun for his role as an undercover North Korean spy in "Secretly Greatly." He beat out fellow actors Park Shi Hoo, Park Jung Min and Hong Wan Pyo. Actress Seo Eun Ah got a best new actress award for her work in "Act."
Director Jung Byung Hil won a new director award for the film "I Am A Murderer," which stars Park Shi Hoo.
"Snowpiercer," the science fiction film directed by Bong Joon Ho, won two technical awards including editing and art direction. The film "Berlin" won a technical award for cinematography. "The New World" won a best music award.
