Netflix shows have been attracting a lot of buzz lately for its history breaking 44 wins at the recent 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards for acclaimed titles The Crown and The Queen’s Gambit.

More Netflix titles continue to make a global impression and this time, it’s at the 26th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) with the invitation of seven Netflix titles to be screened at one of the largest international film festivals in Asia and the largest in Korea. Some notable titles include upcoming Korean drama series My Name and Hellbound that have been selected as the first to be invited to the new On Screen program this year.

Check out the full list of shows that will be screened at the 26th BIFF below!

1) My Name
My Name is directed by Kim Jin-min who previously shocked the world with the Netflix series Extracurricular.

My Name centers on Jiwoo who joins a crime ring and becomes an undercover police officer to find her father’s killer. As she assumes a new identity, she faces the cold, hard truth and exacts her revenge. You can look forward to a 180-degree transformation from actress Han So-hee as she portrays the vengeful Jiwoo. Actors Park Hee-soon, Ahn Bo-hyun, Kim Sang-ho, Lee Hak-ju, and Jang Yull add on to the series’ suspense-filled story.

My Name launches on Netflix on 15 October 2021.

2) Hellbound
After being screened at the 46th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Hellbound has received much praise for director Yeon Sang-ho’s skillful directing, the explosive storyline, and the actors’ impressive performances. Through BIFF, the series will be unveiled in Korea for the first time.

Hellbound tells the story of supernatural beings appearing and condemning people to hell, resulting in a new religious group gaining prominence while others investigate the truth behind this strange phenomenon.

Director Yeon Sang-ho and writer Choi Gyu-seok reunite to work on the series as creators of the original webtoon which the series is based on. The top-notch cast includes Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hyun-joo, Park Jeong-min, Won Jin-a, Yang Ik-june, Kim Do-yoon, Kim Sin-rock, Ryu Kyung-soo, Lee Re, and more. Following TIFF and BIFF, Hellbound will also be screened at the BFI London Film Festival.

Hellbound is coming soon to Netflix.

3) Space Sweepers
Space Sweepers, which received much love from all over the world, will be featured in the Korean Cinema Today - Panorama section at BIFF. Directed by Jo Sung-hee and starring Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Jin Sun-kyu, and Yoo Hai-jin, Space Sweepers made the Netflix Top 10 chart in about 80 countries.

Space Sweepers is set in 2092 where spaceship Victory is one of the many that live off of salvaging space debris. Crewed by genius space pilot Tae-ho (Song Joong-ki), mysterious ex-space pirate Captain Jang (Kim Tae-ri), spaceship engineer Tiger Park (Jin Sun-kyu), and reprogrammed military robot Bubs (Yoo Hai-jin), Spaceship Victory surpasses all other space sweepers. After successfully snatching a crashed space shuttle in the latest debris chase, Victory’s crew find a seven-year-old girl inside. They realise that she’s the humanlike robot wanted by UTS Space Guards, and decide to demand ransom in exchange.

Space Sweepers is now streaming on Netflix.

Image courtesy of Netflix

Squid Game is an exciting series about 456 cash-strapped individuals who participate in mysterious games in order to win a prize of 45.6 billion won. The players begin to play children’s games only to realize that the cost of losing is death. A thrilling adventure is played out as the players try to survive every game and win the large cash prize. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, and actors Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Wi Ha-jun, Jung Ho-yeon, and Heo Sung-tae gathered at today’s press conference to discuss the upcoming series. Find out some interesting facts below!

1. Where the Title Comes From
Creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk explained where the titles of the series comes from saying, “Squid Game is a game I used to play as a child in the schoolyard or the streets of the neighborhood. This is a story about people who used to play this game as children and return to play it as adults. It was one of the most physical and it was also one of my favorite games. I felt that this game could be the most symbolic children’s game that could represent the kind of society we live in today.”

2. It All Started in 2008
Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk actually started writing the first draft of Squid Game in 2008, long before some of his hit films like Silenced and The Fortress. He said, “I was reading a lot of comic books, and I finished the script in 2009. At the time, it seemed very unfamiliar and violent. There were people who thought it was a little too complex and not commercial. I wasn’t able to get enough investment and casting was difficult. I dabbled in it for about a year, but I had to put it to sleep then.” The director also shared about how he was given creative freedom to work as he wanted to thanks to Netflix, about 10 years later.

3. Squid Game Is Not Like Other Survival Shows
Despite some perceived similarities with other survival genre shows, Squid Game has unique traits that sets it apart. Hwang Dong-hyuk shared, “The essence of survival games is the level of entertainment that is seen through and seeing how the participants struggle to win these games. Looking at differentiating factors, I would say the simplicity of the rules. There’s not a lot of time or energy spent understanding the rules; it’s very simple. Rather than the game itself, Squid Game focuses on how they act and how they respond. Usually, we look at the winners in survival games but in Squid Game, we look at the losers. Without losers, there are no winners.”

4. There Are a Lot of Memorable Characters
With 456 participants, it’s no surprise that there are people from different walks of life. Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) is a divorcee struggling with business failure and debt. His neighborhood friend Sang-woo (Park Hae-soo) went to a prestigious university and works at an investment firm, but ends up in a difficult situation. There’s also Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon) who is a North Korean defector striving to reunite her family. Other interesting characters include Deok-su (Heo Sung-tae) who is a gangster and Jun-ho (Wi Ha-jun), a police officer who discovers the games while searching for his missing brother. You’ll find yourself invested and interested in each of the characters.

5. Great Symbolism, Great Sets, and Great Music
In addition to the entertainment factor, there’s a lot of symbolism to appreciate. The whole series is an allegory meant to symbolize the competitive contemporary society we live in. How humans change as adults through society is reflected in how innocent children’s games transform into something terrifying and deadly. The actors also complimented the detailed sets and how the director didn’t rely heavily on computer graphics, opting for realistic and large-scale sets. Lastly, the music reflects what children listened to in the 70s and 80s resulting in a nostalgic and relatable feel. All of these attributes come together for an immersive and captivating experience.

These are just some interesting facts about Squid Game. To discover more about the fascinating series, watch Squid Game now, only on Netflix!

Image courtesy of Netflix

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Promo valid until 30 September 2021 only.

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You can now make your own personalised prints with Photobook. They make personalisation easily accessible to everyone by providing the perfect online platform along with a wide selection of Photo Books and Photo Albums. Besides photo books, Photobook Malaysia also offer the best personalisable prints such as canvas prints, cards, stationeries, calendars, prints and photo gifts. Check out their website for more info and don't forget to get your free Insta Prints!

Have you ever wondered why survival shows are so popular? There’s something relatable about the struggle to survive despite not being in extreme situations like the protagonists. It’s absolutely engrossing as we watch characters overcome hurdles and try to find strength in themselves. The best survival shows keep our attention until the very end as we wonder what will happen next and what will become of them. Check out some survival shows that will keep you guessing until the end here.

1) Squid Game
Squid Game is a unique series in that the 456 participants willingly sign up to compete in games for a 45.6 billion won prize. While most survival shows feature situations where individuals are pitted against unwanted circumstances, the case is very different for Squid Game. The players are unaware of the deadly cost of losing at first, but things change with each game. With the participants playing childhood games to stay alive and win, you won’t be able to stop watching as they face unknown obstacles. Don’t let the childhood games fool you, this series is gritty and shows the dark side of human nature in a most entertaining way.

2) Sweet Home
Sweet Home is a great series to watch if you enjoy engaging characters and intriguing developments. The story centers around troubled teen Cha Hyun-su (Song Kang) and his apartment neighbors when humans suddenly turn into savage monsters. Wreaking havoc everywhere, the strange phenomenon changes life as they know it. The type of monsters humans transform into depends on their deepest desires which means a variety of different monsters for viewers to enjoy. With monsters lurking everywhere, the apartment residents remain trapped and fight to survive as well as to hold on to their humanity.

Image Courtesy of Netflix

Supergroup PANTHEPACK, featuring Jackson Wang, Karencici, ICE and J.Sheon, releases their debut project, 'The Pack' today, on all streaming platforms and launches pre-orders for physical copies. The 10-track album includes PANTHEPACK’s previously released hit singles, “DNA,” “Transmit,” and “BUZZ". The accompanying music video for "BUZZ" has amassed over 6.5 MILLION views in a week.From the energetic party anthem “Pull Up,” to the lyrically driven “Shanghai Dream,” the sonically diverse album introduces PANTHEPACK’s unique voice and perspective to the world. Seamlessly integrating each member’s own sound and personality, 'The Pack' embodies the group's artistry and dedication in taking Chinese-produced music to the international stage. 

Jackson Wang, Karencici, ICE and J.Sheon

The eclectic crew, fuelled by the special chemistry between Jackson, Karencici, ICE and J.Sheon, are all hands-on in the creative process, including songwriting and production. For the newly released “BUZZ” music video, Jackson took on the roles of director, writer, actor and editor. Equally ambitious and dedicated to pushing new boundaries, the members of PANTHEPACK serve up a power-packed sensory-filled, musical experience on their debut album. With a steady roll-out of back-to-back records, PANTHEPACK has built a colourful trajectory towards 'The Pack', and their journey has only just begun.

Stream 'The Pack' here: panthepack.lnk.to/ThePack