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The 18th Korean Film Festival will be held at the Corvin Cinema in Budapest from October 10 to 17 with audience meetings, award-winning works, blockbusters, premieres and various accompanying events.
This year, the audience will be able to see 29 South Korean premiere films at the week-long festival, with screenings accompanied by Hungarian and English subtitles - the organizers read in a statement sent to MTI on Wednesday. This time, thematic sections will also help you navigate the selection, and one of the pillars of the program is the 80th anniversary of Korea's national liberation, in honor of which films will be screened that focus on historical remembrance.
The festival will open with the historical drama Harbin, which tells the story of the independence movement and "Korean Spring" activist Ahn Jung-gun, starring Hyon Bin, who is well-known to Hungarian viewers. The closing film will be a blockbuster, the sequel to the 14th Korean Film Festival-winning Secret Agent.
The best of the Korean cinema program at the 18th Korean Film Festival in Budapest
The organizers have selected the best of the current Korean cinema program for the festival's Fresh section, and the selection guides viewers from the effects of technology to the labyrinth of human emotions. The Night explores the dark tensions of city nights, while The Omniscient Reader: Prophecy ventures on the border between imagination and reality. The tense crime novel Spicli explores the dilemmas of betrayal and survival, and The Love Virus presents the impact of global epidemics and the power of human solidarity. Those who prefer a lighter atmosphere will find the entertaining romantic comedy The Devil on My Doorstep, Mysterious Melody explores the intertwining of music and secrets, while Normal Family offers a glimpse into the world of family bonds and generational conflicts.
In the Faces section, viewers will be able to get to know the outstanding talents of the Korean film world this year. The program will present the works of three promising directors - Sim Hyeongjun, Oh Chungmin and Kangyu Karam - and viewers will be able to meet them in person on the CineTalk program after the screenings.
The Firstborn Son (directed by Oh Chungmin) is a sensitive family story that unfolds the tensions between the past and the present within the walls of an old house. The Pure (created by Sim Hyeongjun) dissects the issues of memory, loss and purification with its poetic visual world, while capturing inexpressible emotions with lyrical power. Sweet Home (directed by Kangju Karam) is a fresh-sounding film that depicts the everyday life of the city, the joys and difficulties of living together, with subtle humor and human intimacy.
National Emotions, Excellent Award-Winning Films
The Focus section focuses on Korean national liberation. Films from different eras and genres recall the struggle for freedom, paying tribute to the 80th anniversary. Remember! is an exciting thriller that tells the story of revenge and the power of memory: an elderly man confronts the shadows of his past. Resistance: Yu Gwan-sun is a poignant historical drama that brings to life the heroic yet tragic chapters of the protest against the Japanese occupation. The organizers are preparing two films for fans of the classics: Shake Off Your Chains! with the film "Freedom", which presented the contrast between the desire for freedom and oppression in the 1970s, and the film "Long Live Freedom!", which is considered a historical milestone as the first Korean feature film of liberation.
The Extra block features award-winning works from the festival's official partner and sponsor, the Jeonju International Film Festival. The program is special because four short films are shown consecutively in one evening, providing an insight into the world of the new generation of Korean creators. Winter Light is a sensitive mood film about passing away and the beauty hidden in silence, while The Camera captures the lightness of summer and the self-searching of young people. 3670 examines the limits of human endurance with a unique perspective, and I Still Love You is a lyrical confession about love and the fragility of our relationships.
The Bonus section features a selection by the Hungarian organizers of the 15-year-old Korean Film Club, showcasing the diversity of Korean film. The tense action film Hostage Star is about the kidnapping of a popular actor, where the line between fiction and reality becomes increasingly blurred. The film Because I Hate Korea focuses on the dilemmas of a young woman moving abroad and her ambivalent relationship with her homeland, addressing generational issues familiar to many. Moving the Grave tells a satirical story about a family reunion, where arguments over a funeral bring to the surface deeper conflicts and secrets.
So, what do you think about trying out a Korean movie or two? Tickets for the screenings of the 18th Korean Film Festival can be purchased via the ticket sales system of Corvin Cinema. You can find out more about the festival here.
Source: MTI.hu
