Korea’s oldest celebration of film from the pennisula, The Daejong Film Awards, will hold its 51st ceremony on November the 21st at Seoul’s KBS Hall.

As is often the case at the Daejong – often referred to as The Grand Bell – Awards, there are a mixture of overtly obvious winners, strange nominations and even stranger exclusions. The star studded event is always a fascinating tribute to Korean cinema, typically due to the controversy that tends to arise as the popularity of certain films and filmmakers often tend to indicate winners, rather than quality.

This year the issue is again of particular importance. Arguably only two categories – Best Scenario (screenplay) and Best New Director – are competitive, with the latter even more significant as the nominations are debatably better than those in the Best Director category, while the films they have created completely outclass several put forth for Best Film. Furthermore, A Girl Next Door (도희야) only receives 2 nominations, quite shockingly snubbed for Best Actress for Bae Doo-na, Best Scenario and Best Cinematography, despite receiving international acclaim in each regard.

In terms of amount of nominations, The Attorney (변호인) comes out on top with 11 nods, while The Admiral: Roaring Currents (명량 -회오리바다) has 10 and A Hard Day (끝까지 간다) and The Pirates (해적: 바다로 간 산적) have 7 each, respectively.

Below are the list of categories and nominations for the 51st Daejong Awards, as well as who we at Hanguk Yeonghwa think should win, and who will most likely be victorious. Do you agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments below.

Best Film

The Admiral: Roaring Currents (명량 -회오리바다) – will probably win

The Attorney (변호인) – should win

A Hard Day (끝까지 간다)

Hope (소원)

Whistle Blower (제보자)

Best Director

Kang Hyeong-cheol (강형철) – Tazza 2: The Hidden Card (타짜-신의 손)

Kim Seong-hoon (김성훈) – A Hard Day (끝까지 간다) – should win

Kim Han-min (김한민) – The Admiral: Roaring Currents (명량-회오리바다) – will probably win

Lee Joon-ik (이준익) – Hope (소원)

Lim Soon-rye (임순례) – Whistle Blower (제보자)

Best Scenario (screenplay)

Dong Hee-seon (동희선), Hong Yoon-jeong (홍윤정), Sin Dong-ik (신동익) – Miss Granny (수상한 그녀)

Lee Do-yoon (이도윤) – Confession (aka Good Friends (좋은 친구들)

Lee Su-jin (이수진)  – Han Gong-ju (한공주)

Kim Seong-hoon (김성훈) – A Hard Day (끝까지 간다)

Yang Woo-seok (양우석), Yoon Hyeon-ho (윤현호) – The Attorney (변호인) – should win and will probably win

Best Actor

Choi Min-sik (최민식) – The Admiral: Roaring Currents (명량-회오리바다) – will probably win

Jeong Woo-seong (정우성) – The Divine Move (신의 한수)

Kang Dong-won (강동원) – KUNDO: Age of the Rampant (군도:민란의 시대)

Park Hae-il (박해일) – Whistle Blower (제보자)

Song Kang-ho (송강호) – The Attorney (변호인) – should win

 Best Actress

Cheon Woo-hee (천우희) – Han Gong-ju (한공주) – should win

Jeon Do-yeon (전도연) – Way Back Home (집으로 가는 길)

Shim Eun-kyoung (심은경) – Miss Granny (수상한 그녀) – will probably win

Son Ye-jin (손예진) – The Pirates (해적: 바다로 간 산적)

Um Ji-won (엄지원) – Hope (소원)

Best Supporting Actor

Lee Kyeong-yeong (이경영) – Whistle Blower (제보자)

Jo Jin-woong (조진웅) – A Hard Day (끝까지 간다)

Kim In-kwon (김인권) – The Divine Move (신의 한수)

Kwak Do-won (곽도원) – The Attorney (변호인) – should win and will probably win

Yoo Hae-jin (유해진) – The Pirates (해적: 바다로 간 산적)

Best Supporting Actress

Han Ye-ri (한예리) – Haemoo (aka Sea Fog (해무) – should win

Jo Yeo-jeong (조여정) – Obsessed (인간중독)

Kim Yeong-ae (김영애) – The Attorney (변호인) – will probably win

Ra Mi-ran (라미란) – Hope (소원)

Yoon Ji-hye (윤지혜) – KUNDO: Age of the Rampant (군도:민란의 시대)

Best New Director

Lee Do-yoon (이도윤) – Confession (aka Good Friends (좋은 친구들)

Lee Su-jin (이수진)  – Han Gong-ju (한공주)

Jeong Joo-ri (정주리) – A Girl at My Door (도희야) – should win

Shim Seong-bo (심성보) – Haemoo (aka Sea Fog) (해무) – will probably win

Yang Woo-seok (양우석) – The Attorney (변호인)

Best New Actor

Ahn Jae-hong (안재홍) – The King of Jokgu (족구왕)

Choi Jin-hyeok (최진혁) – The Divine Move (신의 한수)

Im Si Wan (임시완) – The Attorney (변호인)

Park Yoochun (박유천) – Haemoo (aka Sea Fog (해무) – should win and will probably win

Yeo Jin-goo (여진구) – Hwayi : A Monster Boy (화이 : 괴물을 삼킨 아이)

Best New Actress

Lee Honey (이하늬) – Tazza 2: The Hidden Card (타짜-신의 손)

Esom (이솜) – Scarlet Innocence (마담 뺑덕)

Lim Ji-yeon (임지연) – Obsessed (인간중독)

Kim Hyang-ki (김향기) – Elegant Lies (aka Thread of Lies (우아한 거짓말)

Kim Sae-ron (김새론) – A Girl at My Door (도희야) – should win and will probably win