[VOD & News] Actress Jang Young-nam wins Best Actress Award at Irvine.

Actress Jang Young-nam during a photoshoot with TenAsia English. [Park Jin-soo/TenAsia]

[VOD & News] Actress Jang Young-nam wins Best Actress Award at Irvine.

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Korean actress Jang Young-nam has won the Best Actress Award for her performance in “Azooma” at the Irvine International Film Festival beating out six other candidates in the section.

The film centers around a mother who turns into a vigilante after justice is not served to the paedophile who sexually abused her 10-year-old daughter.

“Azooma” was invited to the competition section at the festival, held from January 17 until 21, competing for awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Cinematographer as well as Best Actress.

 The film, directed by veteran producer-turned-director Lee Ji-seung who also produced blockbusters such as “Haeundae” and “Sex is Zero” had its world premiere at last year’s Busan International Film Festival where Jang Young-nam received the Best Actress Award from the Directors’ Guild of Korea.

Jang, who was unable to attend the festival in Irvine due to filming commitments, told TenAsia English, “All the honor of getting this award should go to director Lee Ji-seung for giving me such a fantastic role. I want the audiences abroad to always remember me as a fierce Korean “azooma.” This is such an honor.”

Director Lee, who attended the festival in Irvine spoke to TenAsia English said, “This is incredible. It’s great that overseas audiences and critics are moved by a film that is so very Korean.”

The film has been getting rave reviews from critics with Variety’s Maggie Lee commenting that it is “inflammatory in depicting the characters` uphill battle against corrupt, male-dominated systems.”

“Azooma” has also been invited to the Beloit International Film Festival which will be held from February 14.