2024 Korean Film Festival highlights the spirit of friendship

The value of friendship was greatly emphasized through several film pieces from 2019 to 2024 in this year’s 2024 Korean Film Festival of the Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines.

In the opening ceremony held on Thursday night at SM Aura, South Korean Embassy Consul General Sang Seung Man said that the featured films for the year intend to delve into the spirit of friendship that can unite even nations.

“This year's Korean Film Festival goes beyond film screenings, offering a diverse range of programs that provide deeper insight into the film industry of both Korea and the Philippines… As we celebrate this milestone of friendship through film, we hope you enjoy the screenings and reflect on the powerful connections that unite us all,” he said.

Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) internal director Marian Torre commended the event and highlighted the role of the FDCP in helping deliver Korean films to the Filipino audience.

“The success of the annual festival is a testament to the richness and vibrancy of Korean cinema, which has captivated audiences around the globe, especially in the Philippines, with its unique narratives and artistic vision,” said Torre.

With the celebration of the 75th year of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Philippines, the FDCP continues to be a steadfast partner of South Korea in elevating Asian cinema and Asian films to extraordinary heights and showcasing it to the global stage,” she added.

2023 film Smugglers, which told a story of friendship between two women involved in a smuggling scheme at a rural village in the 1970s, was first shown out of five different films offered in the festivals.

“This breaking story of survivor and resilience highlights how trust and friendship can flourish even in different circumstances, making it a perfect opening for our festival as we celebrate the bond that unites us across cultures,” said Sang.

The 2024 Korean Film Festival, titled “Chingu Kita!” falls in time with the celebration of the Philippines and South Korea’s 75 years of diplomatic relations.

“This year's theme, friendship, resonates deeply as we commemorate 75 years of shared history and cultural connections between our two nations… Whether it's a heartwarming comedy of ‘Love Reset’, a moving bond with ‘Inseparable Bros”’, looking back on childhood friendship with ‘Picnic’, or a moving story on family bond in ‘Our Season’, these films remind us of the universal values we all share, trust, loyalty, and companionship,” added the Consul General.

All five films of the 2024 Korean Film Festival will be screened for free at SM Mall of Asia, SM City Baguio, SM Seaside City Cebu, and SM City Davao.

A talk by Korea Culture & Tourism Institute's Contents Research Bureau Director Lee Yun Kyung and visual effects company West World’s CEO Son Seung-Hyun will also happen on selected dates. —LDF, GMA Integrated News