With the growing popularity and increasing success of Korean cinema abroad, a number of Korean film festivals will be held in big cities all round the world in September.
"The requests from abroad for information about Korean films and the rental of films have jumped", said EJ Tae, marketing support manager for the Korean Film Council. "Embassies, cinemas and film clubs have contacted us about holding Korean film festivals".
In such festivals, audiences now want to see works by not only veteran directors such as Im Kwon-taek and Shin Sang-ok but also new films by young directors, Tae said.
Some of the film festivals are organized by Koreans residing abroad who wish to share their culture.
One such event is the 5th New York Film Festival, running from Sept. 1 through 11. Created by Media Bank, an organization of ethnic Korean students in New York, the festival will show a total of 15 films, including "The Big Swindle" and "The President's Barber".
The Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C. will hold the 2nd Korean Film Festival, showing a total of 13 Korean films from Sept. 9 - Oct. 20 at the Smithsonian Freer Gallery.
The opening film is the action film "Arahan" by director Ryoo Seung-wan. 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 during the festival.
In Frankfurt, a group of movie fans called "CoreAction" will hold a Korean film festival from Sept. 16 to 24.
In Berlin, a total of 32 Korean films will be shown as part of the annual event called Asia Pacific Week. Director Im's 20 representative works will be screened as well as films such as "Take Care of My Cat" and "Flower Island".
In Copenhagen, the Danish Film Institute is now holding a festival dedicated to director Kim Ki-duk. A total of 11 of Kim's films such as "Samaritan Girl" - "Samaria" and "3-Iron" are now being shown.
At Cathay Cinema in Singapore, a total of 10 local movies will be screened from Sept. 9-15 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and Singapore. "Running Boy" - "Marathon" and "My Beautiful Girl, Mari" will be shown.
English 
US$5 off (order min. US$5)
