Korean director Im Kwon-taek, 69, described by Der Spiegel as the "godfather of Korean film," became the first Asian filmmaker to received the Honorary Golden Bear at a ceremony held yesterday, Feb. 12, at the 55th Berlin Film Festival.
Im shared the honor with Spanish (though born in Peru) actor-director-writer Fernando Fernán Gómez (right), 83, winner of six Spanish Film Academy Goya Awards (one of them as best actor for his tour de force in the title role of José Luis Garci's 1998 drama The Grandfather) and two best actor Silver Bears at the Berlinale (for El Anacoreta / The Anchorite in 1977 and Stico in 1985).
Among the previous recipients of the Honorary Golden Bear are Sophia Loren, Elia Kazan, Jeanne Moreau, and Oliver Stone.
I remember Gomez in The Godfather. A good movie. Very touching story about a grandfather and his two granddaughters, one of whom is illegitimate. A very beautiful film.