Shin Eun-kyung Becomes the First Korean Actress to Win Japan's 'Kinema Junpo' Best Actress Award

Actress Shin Eun-kyung has been selected as the first Korean actress to win the Japan Kinema Junpo Best Actress Award.

Distributor Etnine Film announced on the 30th that Shin Eun-kyung, who starred in the film 〈Two Seasons, Two Strangers〉, has been named the winner of the 99th Kinema Junpo 'Best 10' Best Actress Award.

Kinema Junpo is a Japanese film magazine founded in 1919, which selects the year's best films 'Best 10' and awards acting prizes at the end of each year. It is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in the Japanese film industry, alongside the Japan Academy Prize.

This is the first time a Korean actress has won the Kinema Junpo acting award.

In her acceptance speech, Shin Eun-kyung expressed, "I am grateful for this wonderful award. I am already happy just to have met this work miraculously, and I am truly delighted to receive this award as well," adding, "I believe that the worldview of director Sho Miyake shown in 〈Two Seasons, Two Strangers〉 will surely captivate audiences around the world."

〈Two Seasons, Two Strangers〉 also received the honor of being selected as number one in the Japan 'Best 10' films. The award ceremony is scheduled to be held on February 19.

This film tells the story of a screenwriter named 'Lee' who goes to a small snow-covered village during a slump, directed by Sho Miyake, who also directed 〈Small, Slow but Steady〉 (2022). Shin Eun-kyung played the role of the protagonist 'Lee'.

〈Two Seasons, Two Strangers〉 was recognized for its artistic value by winning the Golden Leopard Award, the top prize in the international competition section at the 78th Locarno Film Festival held last year, and it was released domestically on the 10th of last month.