Kim Hye-ja named best actress at Asia Pacific awards

SEOUL, Nov. 27 (Yonhap) -- Veteran South Korean actress Kim Hye-ja was named the
best actress of the year by the third Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) for her
role in the mystery thriller "Mother," the event's Web site said Friday.

Kim, 68, a popular TV celebrity widely known for her on-screen persona of a
benevolent mother, surprised fans with her intense performance in the
Cannes-invited film, which has been sold to 12 countries including Japan and the
United States. "Mother," the fourth feature by director Bong Joon-ho revolves
around a murder case and obsessive maternal love.
Kim was also named best actress at Korea's Busan Film Critics' Awards and China's
Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival.
"A Brand New Life," a Korea-France collaborated film produced by Cannes-winning
Lee Chang-dong and directed by Ounie Lecomte, was named the best children's
feature film by the APSA, while director Baek Seung-bin was honored with the
NETPAC award for his feature "Members of the Funeral."
Actor and director Yang Ik-june received a high commendation for his performance
in "Breathless."
Established in 2007, the APSA is an international cultural initiative of
Australia's Queensland State Government, bringing together Atlanta-based CNN
International, Paris-based UNESCO and FIAPF -- the International Federation of
Film Producers Associations.
Aimed at exploring the cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the vast
Asia-Pacific region, the award ceremony is held in November each year. This
year's jury was headed by Chinese director Huang Jianxin.
hayney@yna.co.kr