Incheon's Diaspora Film Festival adds screening venue
Asia's only film fest dedicated to migration stories receives record number of submissions
The Diaspora Film Festival, Asia's only film festival dedicated to migrant narratives, will unspool its 13th edition from May 16-20 across multiple historic venues in Incheon.
The festival received a record number of submissions this year, with 790 entries competing for selection in the official program, which will screen 60-70 features and shorts across multiple genres throughout the five-day event.
Organized by Incheon City and the Incheon Film Commission, the festival is adding a new venue this year. Along with Ae-kwan Theater — Korea's oldest standing movie theatre — and the multipurpose Incheon Art Platform, this year's festival will expand to Mirim Theater.
Incheon's connection to diaspora narratives runs deep. In 1902, it witnessed Korea's first official emigration when 121 Korean citizens embarked for Hawaii from its harbor -- a historical moment that established the port city as a symbolic gateway for cultural exchange.
"The unprecedented number of submissions this year reflects growing global interest in diaspora storytelling," says Yoon Do-young, director of Incheon City's Culture and Sports Bureau. "By expanding into cherished local venues like Mirim Theater, we're not only improving accessibility but also fostering synergy with Incheon's independent film scene."
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