'My Name' starring Yum Hye-ran wins Audience Award at NYAFF

The film "My Name," starring actress Yum Hye-ran, has captured the hearts of audiences in New York. Director Chung Ji-young's latest work, "My Name," won the Audience Award at the 25th NYAFF, which concluded on July 26, after receiving the highest number of votes from the audience. This achievement follows its official invitation to the Berlin International Film Festival and its win at the 28th Udine Far East Film Festival, signaling that the film's artistic quality has now been recognized by North American audiences as well.

A Global Journey: From Europe to North America and Back to Asia

Following the win in New York, invitations to international film festivals continue to pour in. The film has been officially invited to the competition section of the 14th Asian Film Festival Barcelona, held in Spain from October 22 to November 1. It is reported that this invitation was secured after the director of the Barcelona festival, who watched the film at the Udine Far East Film Festival, offered high praise, stating, "The film is truly magnificent. I absolutely must invite it to our festival." The film's global momentum does not stop there; it has also been selected for the Panorama (non-competition) section of the 26th Kaohsiung Film Festival in Taiwan, held from October 9 to 26. Director Chung Ji-young and actress Yum Hye-ran are scheduled to visit Taiwan from October 9 to 12 to participate in official events, including Guest Visit (GV) sessions to meet with local audiences.

Confronting Jeju's Painful History Across 78 Years

"My Name," which was released domestically on April 15, has garnered steady interest, recording a cumulative audience of 220,000. The film centers on 18-year-old Young-ok (played by Shin Woo-bin), who wishes to shed his outdated name, and his mother Jeong-sun (played by Yum Hye-ran), who lives with the painful memories of Jeju in 1949. It is characterized as a generational mystery drama that depicts the process of these two characters confronting a brilliant truth across a span of 78 years. The narrative, which delicately portrays Jeong-sun's life blooming despite the tragedies of history, delivers a profound resonance to audiences worldwide, maintaining its momentum across North America, Europe, and Asia.