'Parasite' actor Song Kang-Ho to be honoured with Locarno Excellence Award
Director Bong Joon-ho and actor Song Kang-ho pose with Palme d'Or award at Cannes and the official poster of 'Parasite'.
South Korean actor Song Kang-Ho will be honored at the 2019 Locarno International Film Festival with the excellence award for lifetime achievement.Song will be the first Asian actor to receive the award.
Song`s longtime collaborator, Korean director Bong Joon-ho will confer the award to him on August 12. Song started his debut with 1996 release drama `The Day a Pig Fell into the Well` but it was `Joint Security Area` (2000) that got him international recognition.
Song is best known for the 2003 action crime drama `Memories of Murder` helmed by Bong.He has become Bong`s go-to star, appearing in hit monster movie `The Host` (2006), English-language sci-fi feature `Snowpiercer` (2013) and, most recently, in the director`s Palme d`Or winner `Parasite`.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bong described Song as "like a mixture of Al Pacino, Joaquin Phoenix and Michael Shannon," which gives an idea of the actor`s range.
Following the award ceremony, Locarno will hold a midnight screening of `Memories of Murder` at the festival`s Piazza Grande in honour of Song.
The 72nd Locarno International Film Festival will begin on August 7 and will culminate on August 17.
