A Midsummer's Fantasia

A Midsummer's Fantasia (Korean: 한여름의 판타지아; RR: Hanyeoreumui pantajia) is a 2014 Korea-Japan co-production film commissioned by the Nara International Film Festival (NIFF). Written and directed by Jang Kun-jae, the film was co-produced with world-renowned filmmaker Naomi Kawase. It made its debut as the opening film of the 5th Nara International Film Festival in September 2014.^[2]

A Midsummer's Fantasia
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Jang Kun-jae
Written by	Jang Kun-jae
Produced by	Naomi Kawase Jang Kun-jae
Starring	Kim Sae-byuk Iwase Ryo Lim Hyung-kook
Cinematography	Fujii Masayuki
Edited by	Jang Kun-jae Lee Yeon-jung
Music by	Lee Min-whee
Production company	Mocushura
Release dates	September 2014 (2014-09) (5th Nara International Film Festival) June 11, 2015 (2015-06-11) (South Korea)
Running time	97 minutes
Countries	South Korea Japan
Languages	Korean Japanese
Box office	US$255,211[1]

Plot

The film is structured into two halves. Part one First Love, Yoshiko, shot in monochrome and documentary-like, deals with a Korean filmmaker researching to shoot a film in Gojo City, Japan. While Part two Well of Sakura, in colour, tells a tale of romance between a Korean actress and a Japanese man from the area inspired by the research from Part one.^[3][4][5]

Cast

• Kim Sae-byuk as Hye-jeong
• Iwase Ryo
• Lim Hyung-kook

Production

A Midsummer's Fantasia is a film commission for the Nara International Film Festival (NIFF). The NARAtive is a project to make an original film in Nara prefecture, funded by NIFF.^[2][6]

It was shot in Gojo, a small city in the Nara prefecture, for 11 days during a monthlong stay.

Reception

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result
2014	19th Busan International Film Festival	DGK Award	A Midsummer's Fantasia	Won
2015	24th Buil Film Awards	Best New Actress	Kim Sae-byuk	Nominated
	35th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards[7]	FIPRESCI Award	A Midsummer's Fantasia	Won
	16th Asiatica Film Mediale - Encounters with Asian Cinema[8]	Jury Prize for Best Film	A Midsummer's Fantasia	Won
	16th Busan Film Critics Awards[9]	Best Screenplay	Jang Kun-jae	Won
	Association of Korean Independent Film & Video[9]	Best Independent Film	A Midsummer's Fantasia	Won
2016	3rd Wildflower Film Awards	Best Director (Narrative Films)	Jang Kun-jae	Nominated
		Best Actor	Iwase Ryo	Nominated
		Best Actress	Kim Sae-byuk	Nominated
		Best Screenplay	Jang Kun-jae	Nominated
		Best Cinematography	Fujii Masayuki	Won
	52nd Baeksang Arts Awards	Best New Actress (Film)	Kim Sae-byuk	Nominated