New York – August 31st, 2009 – The Wagner/Cuban Companies' Magnolia Pictures announced today that it has acquired North American rights to Bong Joon-Ho’s MOTHER, which debuted at Cannes in Un Certain Regard earlier this year to stellar reviews. Gearing up for a Bong Joon-ho retrospective, Magnolia has also acquired BARKING DOGS NEVER BITE, Bong’s 2000 debut which was previously unreleased stateside. Magnolia had a big hit in 2007 with Bong’s THE HOST, and is excited to be the American home for the filmmaker, one of the most dynamic and exciting on the world stage today.

MOTHER is a unique thriller about a mother’s primal love for her son. It stars Kim Hye-ja (in what critics are calling one of the best performances of the year) as a mother who throws herself body and soul into proving the innocence of her son who she believes to be wrongly accused of murder. The Korean selection for this year’s Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, MOTHER continues its prestigious run on the festival circuit this fall—it is an official selection in both the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. Magnolia plans on releasing the film theatrically sometime early next year.

BARKING DOGS NEVER BITE is a dark comedy about an out-of-work college professor who is driven mad by the sound of barking dogs in his apartment building, eventually resorting to kidnapping them. Never released stateside, Bong’s directorial debut is a must-see for fans as it has hints of things to come with his later works, especially THE HOST.

“We are thrilled to be in the Bong Joon-Ho business again, and to be doing our first deal with CJ Entertainment,” said Magnolia Senior Vice President Tom Quinn . “MOTHER is one of the best films of the year from one of the world’s most versatile, exciting directors, and BARKING DOGS makes a great addition to our growing library. We want to be releasing Bong’s films as long as he keeps making them.”

“I'm very thrilled that Magnolia will be distributing MOTHER to the wider audience in North America ,” said Bong. “Having previously worked with Magnolia on THE HOST, I am well aware of their love and passion for film. I hope MOTHER can once again fuel up the interest of North American audiences in Korean cinema.”

‘We are very excited to find a passionate partner like Magnolia, who successfully launched THE HOST in North America and has a real understanding of Bong’s films,” said Senior Vice President Kini S. Kim for CJ Entertainment. “With Magnolia distributing both MOTHER, and BARKING DOGS NEVER BITE, we know his unique, fun and exciting filmmaking will reach wider audiences.”