The London Korean Film Festival 2009

Organised by: The Korean Cultural Centre UK, The Korea Creative Content Agency, The Barbican Centre, The BFI
Sponsored by: The Korea Tourism Organization, Asiana Airlines
Hosted by: The Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism
Web: http://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/
Date: 1st – 18th November 2009 (18 days in total)
London Barbican Centre: 5th – 12th November
London BFI: 1st – 14th November
Manchester Cornerhouse: 7th – 9th November
Nottingham Broadway Cinema: 16th – 18th November

Hosted by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organised jointly by the Korean Culture Centre UK and the Korea Creative Content Agency, the London Korean Film Festival enters its 4th year. The Festival will run for 18 days from the 1st to 18th November, touring 3 cities – London, Manchester and Nottingham – and has invited Korea’s 3 most eminent directors – Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho and Yang Ik-june to attend.

The London Korean Film Festival 2009 will screen 25 feature films and 4 animations, 34 screenings in total. In London, audiences will be invited to the prestigious Barbican Centre and the British Film Institute. The Barbican Centre boasts a variety of programmes: the Opening Gala with Director Park Chan-wook, Q & As, Animation Day and a Retrospective: Yu Hyun-mok including a lecture by Daniel Martin. Jury prize winner at Cannes this year, Park Chan-wook’s new feature ‘Thirst’ gets an exclusive Director’s Cut and introduction by the Director himself at the Opening Gala, chaired by BFI critic Tony Rayns. To commemorate one of three leading directors of Korea's 'Golden Age' (1959-70) and a pioneer of realist cinema, three of Director Yu Hyun-mok’s films chosen with the recommendation of the Korean Film Archive will be shown as well as a short talk on Director Yu’s life and works. The Animation Day comprises of 3 animations fit for all the family and a workshop with fun activities for the children.

For the first time, the London BFI is the platform for a Retrospective on a Korean director, Bong Joon-ho, whereby ten of his films from Blockbuster hits, short films and small-scale projects from his early career will be shown. On the last day, Tony Rayns will chair the ‘Conversation with Director Bong Joon-ho’ after the screening of his latest film, ‘Mother’. With the advantage of his expertise on Asian cinema, Tony Rayns will also be giving a master class on Director Bong’s works.

In addition, the Korean Film Festival will also tour to 2 other regional cities so that a wider audience can enjoy the best of Korean cinema. Following on from Oxford and Warwick in 2007 and Liverpool in 2008 this year, Manchester and Nottingham will be screening 3 films - ‘Mother’ and ‘Dream’ by Kim Ki-duk and ‘Breathless’ by Director Yang Ik-june. Manchester’s Cornerhouse will also have a Q & A with Director Yang on the 6th November chaired by Liverpool Festival Director Kate Taylor. At the Broadway Cinema in Nottingham, Director Bong will be present for a Q & A.