Members of the Korean community in Manila, K-film enthusiasts, and cultural advocates recently gathered together for the launch of the 2022 Korean Film Festival at SM Aura Premier. The festival then unreeled seven films in five SM Malls in Metro Manila, giving mallgoers a glimpse of Korean culture through movies.
A joint project of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines, and SM Cinema, this year’s festival featured Korean films in different genres such as action, drama, mystery, comedy, and romance.
The presence of two directors who flew in from Korea—director Hong Wonchan of the festival’s opening film, Deliver Us from Evil, as well as Lee Woo Jung (Snowball)—highlighted the first in cinema film fest after two years. No less than H.E. Korean Ambassador Kim Inchul led the opening ceremony held at SM Aura Premier Cinema.
During the Q&A with the media, Hong said that he was “overwhelmed that my film, Deliver Us from Evil, was chosen to be the opening film of the festival.” He added that this was the first time to join a Korean Film Festival after two years of the pandemic, and was happy to see his movie again on the big screen.
Lee, on the other hand, expressed that she was looking forward to collaborations with Filipino filmmakers and actors. “It’s my first visit here,” she said, “and Filipinos are very hospitable and friendly.”
Korea’s booming film industry represents their country’s open-mindedness, nationalism, and creativity in storytelling, acting, and technological prowess. Apart from Deliver Us From Evil and Snowball, the other films in the 2022 Korean Film Festival included action-drama film Escape from Mogadishu by Ryu Seung-Wan, drama films Miracle: Letters to the President by Lee Jang-Hoon and The Novelist’s Film by Hong Sang-Soo, drama-mystery The Day I Died: Unclosed Case by Park Jiwan, and comedy-romance film Perhaps Love by Jo Eun-Ji.
A total of seven films were screened simultaneously in five SM Malls including SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM City North EDSA, SM City Grand Central, and SM Southmall during the festival’s run.