Lee Joo Young received the 2020 Screen International Rising Star award at the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) for her role in the film "Baseball Girl".
Via the virtual festival, the award will be presented due to the pandemic. The NYAFF recognizes unique and fun films in all genres thus every year the organizing body selects among actors who have received attention in Asia in the category International Rising Star Awards. In the past years, Korean actors such as Ryu Jun Yeol and kim Go Eun received the same award from their previous films.
Lee Joo Young's daring roles and commitment to every performance she appears has been recognized by NYAFF primarily in her hard work in "Baseball Girl".
Directed and written by Choi Yun Tae's "Baseball Girl" tackles a talented highschool student played by Joo Sooin (Lee Joo-young) who had a hard time getting in the professional level of playing baseball due to gender issues. Usually men are sent to the professional league but Joo Soo-in wanted to prove the stereotype assumptions that women cannot compete on a professional level.
The people who surround her challenge her will and determination to overcome what she plans to do. With the help of her coach Choi Jin Tae played by Lee Joon Hyuk, he teaches her to surpass her physical limitations and provides pitch strategies that work to her advantage.
The movie is a must-watch film who enjoys the underdog sports story as characters succeeded through hard work and determination. An inspiring story in times of crisis and for the young ones whose dreams are hard to achieve.
"Baseball Girl '' was part of the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA), they make advanced feature film courses then debuted at the 2019 Busan Film festival. It was then opened in Korea in June 2020 and Lee Joo-young won an Independent Star Award at the Seoul Independent Film festival.
Lee Joo Young also played as chef Ma Hyun-Yi in the hit series "Itaewon Class", the transgender character who works hard in the restaurant and is being admired by her cafe co-workers. Lee makes a point to commit and transform every character as unique as the others.
In her portrayal in the "Baseball Girl" as a woman with strong will to overcome the harsh reality of life, she continued to draw attention in her acting transformation.
Lee Joo Young, through her management Ace Factory, sent her message of gratitude to her fans that her award may bring hope and joy amidst the difficult time due to COVID-19.
Congratulations, Lee Joo Young!
