Between October 25 and 31, 2019, the 12th Korean Film Festival took place in Budapest, Debrecen, Pécs and Szeged. This year held a very special meaning for the Korean people. In addition to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Hungary and the Republic of Korea, we also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of Korean film.

Our opening film could not have been other than the Cannes grand prize winner ‘Livers’. In the Faces section we selected some of Bong Joon-ho’s significant works. In the Focus section, we focused on the last 30 years of Korean history, which wasn’t the least bit boring. In the Extra block we selected some of the most outstanding works of all of 100 years of Korean cinema.

In 2019, for the first time, we also handed out an audience award at the closing screening. The newly formed volunteer group, the KFF Family, was a great help to us in regards to the implementation of the voting and the hosting of the festival.

In 2018, the 11th annual Korean Film Festival welcomed audiences with 32 films in 4 cities. In addition to the latest blockbusters, award-winning independent and short films that rarely reach Hungary were also screened. The guest of honour this year was director E J-yong, whose latest contemplative erotic drama, ‘A Murderous Woman’, strikes an unusually harsh note of social criticism.

The festival began with the film adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s mystical short story by director Lee Chang-dong, ‘‘The Lighters’ at Urania cinema, and was expanded withfour permanent sections and a re-branded image.

The Fresh section featured the latest Korean blockbusters and focused primarily on Korean cinematic trends. The section,also shown in rural cinemas participating in the festival, presented the latest and most popular Korean films in a wide range of genres – from Lee Yong-seung’s comedy ‘Room 7’ to Min Kyu-dong’s drama ‘Women’s Fates’.

The Faces selection presented one of Korea’s most influential filmmakers, E J-yong, whose four cult films Hungarian audiences were already somewhat familiar with.

The Focus section focuses on a special theme each year. In2018, it showcased short films from the Korea Academy of Film Arts (KAFA). Entries selected by Hungarian film professionals were included in the Extra section.The chosen scholar of the year was Teréz Vincze, assistant professor of the Department of Film Studies at ELTE. The program block ‘Silent Dream’ included four independent films achieving great festival and audience success.

The Korean Cultural Center hosted the 10th annual Korean Film Festival between October 25 and 29, 2017. After the ceremonial opening at the Uránia National Film Theater ofBudapest, the entire festival selection could be viewed at the Sugár Cinema, the selection of films focusing on special female characters, including Kim Kiduk’s ‘Pietá’, was hosted by Premier Kultcafé. These masterpieces of Korean film occupied the Apolló Cinema in Debrecen, the House of Civil Communities in Pécs, and the Belvárosi Cinema in Szeged for two days each.

The festival’s slogan was “Daebak!” i.e. „heck!”, „yes!” „fantastic!”. 26 films were introduced, along with several accompanying programs. The opening film of the festival, which the audience could see at the Urania National Film Theater, was ‘The Taxi Driver’, an Oscar nominated South Korean film. . At Sugár Cinema, screenings began with the highly successful film ‘Suspicion’. The selection also included films such as ‘Cadet Detectives’, ‘The Admiral’, ‘Busan Express’ and ‘The Assassin’. In addition, the program included family films, romantic comedies, large-scale historical dramas and modern social epics. A spotlight of the event was a special concert by a former member of “The Kim Sisters” after the screenings.