Renowned British film critic Tony Rayns, champion of Korean cinema, dies at 78

Tony Rayns, a distinguished British film critic and a steadfast supporter of Korean cinema, passed away on the 8th at the age of 78. His death was mourned by film industry figures worldwide through social media tributes.

The Korean Film Council acknowledged Rayns as a "trusted companion of Korean cinema," vowing to "forever remember the late critic's deep affection and dedication to the Korean film industry." The cause of death has not been officially disclosed.

Born in 1948, Rayns was a prominent critic and writer who contributed to publications like Britain's 'Sight & Sound' from the 1970s. He was instrumental in introducing East Asian cinema to Western audiences. From 1988 to 2006, he led the 'Dragons and Tigers' section, focusing on Asian cinema, at the Vancouver International Film Festival. In the 1980s, he also presented films and biographies of Chinese directors on British television and translated subtitles for films from Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Rayns held a particular fondness for Korean films. According to a profile on the Busan International Film Festival's website, he first visited Korea in 1988 and subsequently championed emerging Korean directors abroad. He also contributed to establishing the Busan International Film Festival in 1996. Reflecting on the festival in a 2012 interview with the Korean Film Council, he noted the "immense thirst for cinema" across Korea. In 2016, he publicly criticized government interference in the festival, stating that its growth had been hampered by sudden censorship of a specific film, which was unacceptable to the festival organizers.

Rayns also shared a special connection with director Bong Joon-ho. He was among the first to recognize Bong's talent when his 1994 short film 'The Memorable Murder' was invited to the Vancouver and Hong Kong International Film Festivals. Rayns continued to promote Bong's work internationally, interviewing him for 'Sight & Sound' in 2004 about the film 'Memories of Murder'.