Ma Dong-seok to Attend Berlin Film Festival for 'Crime City 4'

Special Gala Invitation "Action and Comedy Full of Energy"
Jung Yu-mi's Animation 'Circle' Joins Short Film Competition

The action series "Crime City 4," starring Ma Dong-seok, has been officially invited to the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, which opens on the 15th of next month (local time). On the 15th, the Berlin Film Festival Secretariat announced "Crime City 4" as one of the Special Gala section invitees. Praising it as the latest installment of a successful Korean action series, they introduced, "Don Lee (Ma Dong-seok's English name) plays detective Ma Seok-do, a cop with a strong fist."

"Crime City 4" tells the story of detective Ma Seok-do taking down an online illegal gambling crime syndicate. Actors Kim Mu-yeol and Lee Dong-hwi play key figures leading the crime, facing off against Ma Dong-seok. The director's chair is held by Heo Myung-haeng, who participated as a martial arts director up to the third installment.

The invited Special Gala section showcases films that broadly resonate with the public. It generally focuses on both artistic quality and entertainment value. "Crime City 4" was listed alongside the queer action film "Love Lies Bleeding," in which actress Kristen Stewart plays the lover of a female bodybuilder. The Secretariat explained, "Both films revolve around the concept of physical strength."

Mark Peranson, a programmer involved in the selection, said, "'Crime City 4' is attractive for its lively blend of action and comedy," adding, "The Berlin Film Festival is the most effective venue to showcase it." Distributors ABO Entertainment and Plus M Entertainment plan to target the global market based on international interest. The scheduled release is in the first half of this year.

Meanwhile, director Jung Yu-mi's animation "Circle" was invited to the short film competition section. Director Jung previously submitted works to the Berlin Film Festival in 2010 ("Math Exam"), 2013 ("Playing Love"), and 2022 ("House of Existence"). "Reviving Voices," which contains interviews with Koreans during the Japanese colonial period, will be screened in the Forum Special section. The feature competition section invitees, competing for the top Golden Bear award, will be announced on the 22nd.