An upcoming annual film festival will shed light on the lives of women in Africa, who are comparatively unknown to people here.
The 8th Women's Film Festival in Seoul (WFFIS), from April 6 to 14 at the Artreon Theater in Shinchon, northern Seoul, will screen a range of films to offer a chance to help improve the understanding of the current issues women face.
"Moviegoers may find some of our programs too radical about feminist issues, but there are also soft films that deal with general issues about women", said Lim Sung-min, the festival's head programmer.
"We hope the festival is not regarded as just a one time event. We hope the experience through the event can help audiences better understand women and their lives", Lim said.
The festival opens with the documentary "Sisters in Law" by director Kim Longinotto. It revolves around a female judge, prosecutor and lawyer in Cameroon, who try to punish those who assault and discriminate against women in their society.
The festival has eight main sections with rich programs including 97 movies from 33 countries.
The sections are New Currents, African Cinema, Feminist Documentary Pioneers, Thousand Voices, Focus on Marleen Gorris, Feminist Film and Video Activism, Korean Cinema in Focus; Women, People and Korean New Wave; Asian Short Film and Video Competition; and the 4th Documentary Ock Rang Awards.
In the New Currents section, 32 movies by renowned female directors such as Doris Dorrie, Barbara Hammer and Chantal Akerman will be shown, and in African Cinema, 13 films from nine countries on the African continent will be shown.
In Feminist Documentary Pioneers, classic documentary films from the 1950s and 60s which were produced in culture-based feminist movement Newsreel Movement will be shown. In the retrospective section, four works by Marleen Gorris of the Netherlands will be screened.
Other events include two-part forums at Ehwa Womans University on April 10 on the issues of women's re-productivity from a women's point of view.
The festival also holds talk sessions with local actresses, Shim Hae-jin and Pang Eun-jin, and directors Kyung-soon and Lee Hye-ran, former winners of the Ock Rang Awards, under the title of Cafe Femme on April 8, 9 and 11.
A discussion session titled 'Talk to Her' will also invite famous directors such as Doris Dorrie on April 9 and Fanta Regina Nacro and Anne G. Mungai on April 10.
The opening ceremony begins at 6 p.m., April 6, at the Artreon Theater. Most films will be shown with English subtitles or in English with Korean subtitles. The screening schedule is available on the WFFIS' Web site ( Open the link ). Tickets can be purchased via the Internet or at the box office.
By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
The following are five films to screen at this year's Women's Film Festival in Seoul that programmer Lim Sung-min says you shouldn't miss. (The schedule is subject to change.)
Unveiled (2005)
Directed by Angelina Maccarone. The film is about an Iranian woman. She tries to defect to Germany due to her homosexuality, which is strongly forbidden in her country. At 2 p.m. on April 9 and 12.
Good Girl (2005)
Directed by Sophie Fillieres. Is a marriage something that you can be just happy about? The film tells a story of the ironical yet common experience that many women get really nervous ahead of their wedding despite marrying a soul mate with a bright future. At 12 a.m. on April 8 and 2 p.m. on April 11.
The Night of Truth (2004)
Directed by Fanta Regina Nacro. The film looks at the dark history and political problems raised from brutal conflicts between tribes in Africa from a women's point of view. At 3:30 p.m. on April 9, 8 p.m. on April 11 and 11 a.m. on April 13.
Janie's Janie (1971)
Directed by Geri Ashur, Peter Barton. This was a textbook-like movie for feminists. The film shows the life of an independent woman with children after she goes through a divorce. At 2 p.m on April 7 and 5 p.m. on April 11.
Leila Khaled Hijacker (2005)
Directed by Lina Makboul. The documentary interviews the female hijacker Leila Khaled 35 years after she participated in the real event as a pro-Palestinian activist. At 9 p.m. on April 7, 10:30 a.m. on April 10 and 6 p.m. on April 11.
The Seventh Women's Film Festival in Seoul
When: April 6 through 14
Where: Artreon theater, near Sinchon station on subway line 2
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