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Korea Herald
29-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
EBS documentary events scheduled for late summer
Public broadcaster to hold K-Docs Festival and EIDF 2025 in August South Korea's public broadcaster EBS on Tuesday announced the return of its annual documentary-centered events that are open to the public. K-Docs Festival, which seeks to champion emerging Korean documentary filmmakers and introduce new local titles to a wider audience, is set to run from Aug. 20 to Aug. 22. Now in its fourth year, the event has adopted the title 'festival' for the first time, signaling a broader push to engage industry professionals and everyday viewers alike. 'This is our third year running the event. For Korean independent documentaries these days, it typically takes over three years on average to complete production and secure a theatrical release,' Hyung Gun, director of K-Docs, said during Tuesday's press conference. With some of the K-Docs award-winning projects now completed and being released, the festival is holding screenings so that the films can reach audiences, he explained. This year's edition will be anchored by core programs centering around the documentary screenings and domestic investor pitch sessions. Three selected K-Docs projects — "On the Wings of a Butterfly," "Horoomon" and "Whales And" — will be screened at venues in Myeong-dong, central Seoul, during the three-day festival. "On the Wings of a Butterfly" and "Horoomon" will be screened with English subtitles, but no subtitles will be available for "Whales And." Each film screening will be followed by a 40-minute Q&A session with the filmmakers and audience. Running in tandem is the domestic investor presentation, also held across Seoul. The pitch session retains its four established categories — K-Pitch Prime, K-Pitch Fresh, EBS Commissioning Pitch and Hi-Docs Pitch — with a combined support pool of 770 million won ($553,000). A total of 27 selected projects will receive production funding and prize money. Standout projects will also be given a shot at international exposure, with overseas pitching opportunities slated for November at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, the world's largest nonfiction film fest. During the same press conference, EBS also unveiled details of the 22nd EBS International Documentary Festival, South Korea's longest-running documentary showcase. This year's edition will run Aug. 25 to Aug. 31 across venues in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, and Seoul, featuring 62 documentaries from 35 countries. At the event, Kim Kwang-ho, executive committee chair of EIDF, outlined the overarching vision for this year's event. 'We curated the program with more experimental and multi-layered works, reflecting on how documentaries can capture the spirit of the times and offer new perspectives on society.' This year's lineup is organized by production region — Global, Asia and Korea — rather than by subject, a move designed to highlight the diversity and evolution of documentary filmmaking worldwide. According to EBS, EIDF 2025 is anchored in the central theme of 'Expanding the Boundaries of Documentary.' The broadcaster stressed the festival's newly launched category for documentaries titled 'Creative Documentary," which will spotlight innovative hybrid works that blend documentary with AI, animation and musicals. Ten documentaries from the official selection will be judged during the festival, with the top prize carrying a 10 million won cash award.
Korea Herald
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Jeonju film fest side events to enliven long holiday weekend
Talks, exhibitions and more for visitors over 4-day break The 26th Jeonju International Film Festival kicked off Wednesday with an opening ceremony at the Sori Arts Center in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province -- drawing film enthusiasts and industry professionals from around the world. Now in full swing, the 10-day festival continues through May 9 with a packed schedule of screenings and events designed to take advantage of the long holiday weekend. With South Korea enjoying a four-day break stretching from Saturday through Tuesday, the festival has lined up events that welcome cinephiles and casual visitors alike. Here's what's on offer beyond the screenings. Behind-the-scenes chats The festival's signature talk program, "Jeonju Talk! Talk!" features casual 40-minute discussions about filmmaking experiences at Once, Time Off, a stylish lounge-themed cafe in Jeonju's film district. Saturday kicks off with "Women Making History," where documentary "Horoomon" director Lee Il-ha joins Japanese Korean cast members Shin Su-gok and her mother Keiko to discuss female protagonists who drive social change. The day continues with actor-directors Ryu Hyun-kyung and Lee Hee-jun sharing insights on their creative roles, followed by a session with actors from "Gule-Gule" and "Hideaway." Sunday's lineup includes conversations with visual artists Lee Eun-hee and curator Kim Shin-jae, as well as a session with actors from "Home Behind Bars" and "Sua's Home" about their approach to character development. The documentary collective Pinks caps the day with reflections on their two-decade journey crafting films through a LGBTQ+ feminist lens. Vintage projector display A distinctive offering this weekend is "Photosynthesis Part 1," featuring filmmaker Lee Jang-wook. The program includes screenings of Lee's early experimental works and his latest productions, complemented by a special live performance where two 16-millimeter projectors create an immersive audiovisual experience. Screenings are set for Saturday and Monday mornings at Jeonju Digital Independent Cinema on Jeonju Movie Street, just off the shop-lined Gaeksa-gil in downtown Jeonju. Open-air conversations Located at the heart of Jeonju Movie Street, the festival's central stage in Ogeori Culture Square hosts "Talk in Spring," where visitors can meet filmmakers and actors in the open air while enjoying Jeonju's spring weather. Sunday's highlight includes the team behind "Tastefully Yours," the first TV drama series to be officially invited to the festival, featuring directors Park Dan-hee and Han Jun-hee, and a star-studded cast with Kang Ha-neul and Go Min-si. Films reimagined through design One of the festival's most distinctive traditions continues with "100 Films 100 Posters," an open exhibition that pairs 100 films with 100 graphic design teams. The event transforms venues throughout Jeonju into open-air galleries until May 9, with an extended run scheduled through May 31 at Subculture Center Jakdang, a multipurpose showroom located inside Jeonju's historic Nambu Market. This year adds a fresh twist with "Salon," a two-day event on Sunday and Monday that brings together industry experts at the venue to discuss how visual design shapes festival identity. Music meets cinema Meanwhile, live music is set to spice up the mood throughout the weekend. As part of the festival's "Jeonju Cinetour × Music" program, musicians including Jung Joon-il, Cheeze and Stella Jang will host screening-concert combinations where they perform live after showcasing films that have been major influences for them. The festival is also presenting the "2025 Joseon Pop Performance" from Friday to Monday, showcasing a fusion of traditional Korean music and K-pop at various venues throughout the city.
