People around the world enjoy Korean film festivals in September

With the growing popularity and increasing success of Korean cinema abroad, a number of Korean films will be screened in varied film festivals all round the world especially in September.

The Korean Film Council reported that Korean films are screened not only in international film festivals but Korean film festivals, which exclusively show Korean films, in several places. Some of the film festivals are organized by Koreans residing abroad who wish to share their culture.

One such event is New York Korean Film Festival ( Open the link ). Now in its 5th year, New York Korean Film Festival presents 15 of the latest and most exciting titles in contemporaryKorean cinema, including 'The Big Swindle' and 'The President's Barber'. The festival runs from September 2 to September 6 at The Lighthouse Theatre (www.lighthouse.org) in Manhattan, and from September 7 to September 11 at BAM Rose Cinemas ( Open the link ) in Brooklyn.

From September 3 through 16, retrospective of the work of director Kim Ki-duk is held in Copenhagen by the Danish Film Institute, which proves the popularity of Kim throughout Europe. A total of 11 of Kim's films such as 'Samaritan Girl' - 'Samaria' and '3-Iron' are shown.

At Cathay Cinema in Singapore, a total of 10 local movies, such as 'Running Boy' - 'Marathon' and 'My Beautiful Girl, Mari', are screened from September 8 to 15 in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and Singapore.

Meanwhile, the Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C. will hold the 2nd Korean Film Festival, showing a total of 15 Korean films from September 9 through October 20 at the Smithsonian Freer Gallery. The opening film is the action film 'Arahan' by director Ryoo Seung-wan, and other films showing during the festival include 'Spying Cam' and 'Someone Special'. Director Shin Sang-ok will participate in a question-and-answer session with audiences dealing with his early works such as 'Deaf Samyongi' and 'Mother and a Guest', also to be shown on this occasion.

In Frankfurt Germany, a group of movie fans called "CoreAction" will hold a Korean film festival from September 16 to 24. They will present the latest local films such as 'Sympathy for Lady Vengeance', 'Save the Green Planet', and 'Woman is the Future of Man' as well as classic films such as director Im Kwon-taek's 'Aje Aje Bara Aje' and 'Mandala'. The increase in volume is mainly attributes to the fact that it is the Year of Korean Culture, besides; Korea is the Guest of Honor of Frankfurt Book Fair (Frankfurter Buchmesse) in Germany.

In Berlin, a total of 32 Korean films will be shown as part of the annual event called 'Asia Pacific Week' taking place at Arsenal Kinematek. Large scale of retrospective of some 20 works of director Im Kwon-taek as well as other recent 32 Korean films, including 'Take Care of My Cat' and 'Flower Island', will be screened.

The Source : Koreacontent News Team