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Experience the Best of Korean film at ‘Korean Film Festival 2015’ in Malaysia
The Hallyu Wave has been credited with the influx of multiple forms of Korean cultural exports across the globe; and although K-pop and K-dramas have often been in the limelight, Korean films are also able to offer insight into the contemporary Korean culture.
In order for Malaysian film-goers to experience the vibrancy and unique cinematic experiences that the Korean film industry is able to offer, the Korean Film Festival 2015 is ready to bring Korean films center stage all across Malaysia!
Mr Seo Ki Won (left) and Minister Yoon Chang Yul at the press launch for the Korean Film Festival 2015
Organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, The Korean Film Festival 2015 will be held from 20 August to 23 August, where 10 films will be shown exclusively in 5 participating Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) outlets, namely:
- GSC Pavillion, Kuala Lumpur
- GSC 1 Utama, Petaling Jaya
- GSC Gurney Plaza, Penang
- GSC CityONE Megamall, Kuching, Sarawak
- GSC Suria Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
The 4-day film festival is a brilliant opportunity for fans of Korean film to enjoy a diverse selection of recent classics as well as award-winning movies, for free.
Minister Yoon Chang Yul speaking at the media launch of the Korean Film Festival 2015
A pre-event screening and press launch for members of the media was held on the 11th of August at GSC Signature, The Gardens Mid Valley, where Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea Minister Yoon Chang Yul, said:
On behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, I am delighted to announce that the Korean Film Festival is back to Malaysia. It gives me great pleasure in knowing that there are Korean film fans in Malaysia. Film can be used as a tool to form a stronger connection between Asian countries – especially for South Korea and Malaysia.
We hope to bring the cultures of Korea and Malaysia closer through this initiative and strengthen the ties between our two nations.
Returning from a 5-year hiatus from the previously held Korean Film Festival, Mr Seo Ki Won, Second Secretary of the Embassy revealed that he believed the film festival will be well-received among Malaysians, and he hopes to see that the Film Festival is able to grow and become an annual cinematic event in the country.
Mr Seo Ki Won (left) & Minister Yoon Chang Yul (right) answering questions from the media
On the criteria for choosing the featured line-up of films, which compromises various genres such as romantic comedies, animation films and thrillers, Mr Seo said: “We’ve selected the featured line-up of films based on critic reviews and audience responses back in South Korea, so there are box office hits as well as small hidden treasures for Malaysian audiences to enjoy.”
The list of 10 carefully- selected titles include:
- Thrillers: The Thieves ; Confession of Murder
- Romantic dramas: All About My Wife ; Marriage Blue
- Family drama : My Paparotti ; Duresori: The Voice of the East
- Historical film: The Front Line
- Comedy: Man On The Edge
- Animation: The King of Pigs , Green Days: Dinosaur and I
On what set 2015’s Korean Film Festival apart from its predecessor, it is a first when the films are presented in a digital format and are screened across 5 different locations simultaneously. Mr Seo also discussed the possibility of introducing Korean film premieres in Malaysia in the coming future. “If the films are well-received during this year’s Festival, we might extend the length of the Festival and the amount of films screened, to all around Malaysia for the next Festival.”
Mr Seo also expressed interest in bringing the director of All About My Wife, Min Kyu-Dong as well as his wife and fellow director Hong Ji-Young of Marriage Blue for the official launch of the Film Festival. He hopes too that in coming years, the Festival will be able to expand to a much greater scale and that there will be opportunities for the actors of the films to grace the launch of the Film Festival too.
Image Credit : Wikipedia.org
Members of the media present were also treated to an exclusive screening of the award-winning romantic comedy, All About My Wife (내 아내의 모든 것), staring Im Soo-Jung, Lee Sun-Kyun and Ryu Seung-Ryong after the press launch. It tells the story of how Doo-Hyun (played by Lee Sun-Kyun) seeks a Casanova’s (Ryu Seung-Ryong) help to seduce his wife, Jung- In (Im Soo-Jung) in order for him to find a reason to catalyst his divorce. The film is also a remake of the Argentinean film, Un novio para mi mujer.
The film’s list of accolades include Best Actress (2012 Blue Dragon Film Awards, 2012 Women in Film Korea Awards) for Im Soo-Jung, and Best Supporting Actor (2012 Blue Dragon Film Awards, 2013 KOFRA Film Awards) for Ryu Seung-Ryong.
All of the film screenings will be free, and are based on complimentary passes which can be redeemed via The Korean Film Festival’s official website, GSC , My Maxis Mobile App, The Star and Harian Metro while stocks last. Redemption of the tickets are valid from the 20th to 23th of August.
For full details of the movies as well as the available film schedule, log on to www.koreanfilmfestival.com.my and www.gsc.com.my to learn more!
Special thanks to Impact Communications for the media invite and pictures!
Event covered by Clarissa Loi
Editing by Adrian Cheng
