‘Hummingbird’ honored in Seattle

“House of Hummingbird” by Korean director Kim Bo-ra won the Grand Jury Prize in the official competition at the 45th Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) on Sunday local time.

SIFF is one of the largest and most highly attended film festivals in the United States. This year, the festival featured more than 400 films from 86 countries over its 25 days.

“House of Hummingbird” is Kim’s debut feature film. The movie is set in the summer of 1994 and the protagonist is a confused 14-year-old girl named Eun-hee, who struggles through her school life and personal issues until she meets a teacher who gently tries to guide her through her hardships.

The film has been quietly receiving praises and accumulating prizes at a number of international film events this year. It won the Grand Prix prize in the Grand Prix Generation 14 Plus section at the Berlin International Film Festival, the Grand Jury Prize at the Istanbul Film Festival and the Best International Narrative Feature Award at the Tribeca Film Festival.

It is scheduled to be released in local theaters at the end of August, although the exact date hasn’t been set.

By Lee Jae-lim