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Korean cinema celebrates 100th year anniversary

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Caption: Poster for the committee specially formed by the Korean Film Council to promote the 100th anniversary of the Korean film industry. Courtesy of KOFIC
Caption: Poster for the committee specially formed by the Korean Film Council to promote the 100th anniversary of the Korean film industry. Courtesy of KOFIC

By Lee Gyu-lee

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) released an official trailer summarizing the 100 years of the Korean film industry, Monday, as this year marks the centennial of Korean cinema's birth.

In celebration of this anniversary, the council announced plans in April to organize a series of promotions and festivals throughout the year with a specially formed committee under the name "Korean Film 100 Years."

The trailer starts in black and white with the sound of an old film projector running, featuring the voice of veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki, the committee's public relations head. As the screen zooms in behind actress Kim Tae-ri, it widens and changes to color to reflect the development of filmmaking technology.

"We have passed through 100 years of the past towards the next 100 years of the future," Ahn narrates in the clip.

The history of Korean cinema began in 1919 with the very first domestic film "The Righteous Revenge," directed by Kim Do-san. This kino-drama was a mixture of theatrical play and film in which actors performed against a backdrop of projected motion pictures.

It was screened for the first time at Danseongsa Theater in central Seoul on Oct. 27, 1919, which is now considered the birthdate of Korean film.

Beginning with the Jeonju International Film Festival in May, the committee has been holding variously themed special screenings and exhibitions at international film festivals in Korea.

The second special screenings are being shown at the 23rd Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, which started June 27 and runs to July 7. The program "A Crazy Chronicle of Korean Genre Cinema" will look back on the roots of Korean films by exploring various genres to find a distinctive style and perspective. Twelve horror and sci-fi movies ― from the mid-1900s to early 2000s ― have been selected for the screening.

Special exhibitions and screenings will continue to take place at four more film festivals ― the 15th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival and 21st Seoul International Women's Film Festival in August, the 11th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in September, and the 24th Busan International Film Festival in October.

The committee is planning to organize special programs abroad as well.

With the help of the Korean Cultural Center New York, the committee has been presenting a special program at the 18th edition of the New York Asian Film Festival, which runs from June 28 to July 14. The program consists of two Korean films, "Another Child" (2019) by Kim Yoon-seok, and "Maggie" (2018) by Yi Ok-seop.

On top of New York, several screening programs for Korean films will be held throughout the world including Russia, China, Colombia and Germany.

Aside from the screenings at film festivals, the committee will run several other projects, including academic seminars to discuss the agenda for the future of Korean cinema.

A three-day conference, running from Oct. 23 to 25, will see film scholars and experts from around the world offer mentoring programs and workshops on the aesthetics and methodologies that shaped Korean cinema.

Another goal of the committee is to show long-lost Korean films, including "Late Autumn" by director Lee Man-hee and "Arirang" by Na Woon-gyu, after digitally restoring them.

The grand finale of the celebration will be held on Oct. 26 and 27 at Gwanghwamun Plaza. This will include musical performances, exhibitions and a re-enactment of a movie production for visitors to understand the Korean film industry and meet key figures.

About 100 days prior to the finale, the committee will release 100 100-second long videos, produced by 100 Korean content producers, on YouTube. These 100 videos will be released one per day until the finale.


Lee Gyu-lee gyulee@koreatimes.co.kr


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