Director Jeong Isak's 'Minari' Emerges as Oscar Dark Horse

Following the Sundance Film Festival Grand Prize, Youn Yuh-jung Wins Best Supporting Actress at the Sunset Circle Awards

Director Lee Isaac Chung's film "Minari" is emerging as a dark horse for next year's Academy Awards in the United States. After winning the top prize at the Sundance Film Festival, the largest independent film festival in the U.S., it also received the Best Supporting Actress award at the Sunset Circle Awards.

Distributor Pan Cinema announced on the 2nd that actress Youn Yuh-jung, who starred in "Minari," won the Best Supporting Actress award at the Sunset Circle Awards. This achievement was made by surpassing strong contenders such as Amy Adams from "Hillbilly Elegy," Amanda Seyfried from "Mank," Zazie Beetz from "Nine Days," and Olivia Colman from "The Father."

The Sunset Circle Awards are newly established awards by the Sunset Film Critics Circle, an association composed of Hollywood journalists. "Minari" was also named among the "TOP FILMS" selected by them. It stood shoulder to shoulder with films like "Promising Young Woman," which was chosen as the Best Film, as well as "Mank," "Nomadland," and "The Father."

"Minari" is also receiving praise from local media. Hollywood entertainment outlets Variety and The Hollywood Reporter mentioned the film as a major contender for next year's Oscars in categories such as Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. Lead actors Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, and Youn Yuh-jung were also cited as acting award candidates. Another Hollywood publication, Vanity Fair, selected "Minari" as one of the top ten films of the year.

"Minari" is a drama about a Korean-American family who immigrated to Arkansas in the 1980s. Produced by Plan B, which led "Moonlight" and "12 Years a Slave" to Academy Award wins for Best Picture, and distributed in North America by A24, known for steering Oscar races for films like "Moonlight," "Room," "Lady Bird," "The Lobster," and "The Florida Project."