Opportunity to Watch the Early Works of Major Korean Directors

The 24th JEONJU International Film Festival Hosts a Special Section for the 40th Anniversary of the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA)!

- To host the Focus: KAFA40

- Opportunity to watch short films of Korean directors such as Jang Junhwan, Min Kyudong·Kim Taeyong, and Yi Okseop in their rookie days

- 40 short films are classified into seven curation themes—beginnings of Korea’s top actors, debuts of master filmmakers, family, love, and youth, etc.

The JEONJU International Film Festival (JEONJU IFF, Festival Co-Director Min Sungwook and Jung Junho) collaborates with the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) to host the Focus: KAFA40.

The KAFA, an educational institution specializing in film established by the Korean Film Council, opened in 1984 and celebrates its 40th year this year. It is famous as an institution that has produced more than 700 many distinguished talents working in film including representative Korean film directors such as Bong Joon-ho, Hur Jinho, Jang Junhwan, and Choi Dong-hoon. This year, in celebration of its 40th anniversary, KAFA is preparing various programs under the slogan ‘KAFA Never Stop Moving!’ and the first project is the Focus: KAFA40 at the 24th JEONJU IFF.

This special section is expected to be a great opportunity to watch short films by Korean directors such as Jang Junhwan, Min Kyudong, Kim Taeyong, and Yi Okseop in their rookie days. The JEONJU IFF Programmer Moon Seok commented, “We want to look back on the history of the Korean Academy of Film Arts and estimate the general trend in the Korean film industry through film screenings and program events that encompass various generations.”

Focus: KAFA40 at the 24th JEONJU IFF presents 40 short films by directors produced by the Korean Academy of Film Arts to the audience. These 40 short films are grouped under seven themes—The President's Last Bang: The Beginnings of Korea’s Top Actors, Family Ties: Films on Family Relationships and Generations, Asako in Ruby Shoes: Films on Love, Bleak Night: Films on Social Issues, A Midsummer's Fantasia: Films That Break the Norms of Imagination, The Host: The Beginnings of Master Filmmakers, and No Manners: Films on Wild Youths. It is noteworthy that the seven themes were named after being inspired by the representative works of directors from KAFA.

Furthermore, it is also significant that the Focus: KAFA40 enabled all the active creators in the Korean film industry after graduating from KAFA to meet in one place. The JEONJU IFF plans to serve as a bridge between filmmakers and audiences of various generations by hosting program events for these creators and audiences to communicate, and publishing program notes for the Focus: KAFA40 written by KAFA students on the JEONJU IFF website. The 24th JEONJU IFF, where the Focus: KAFA40 will be staged, is held at Jeonju Film Street for ten days from Thursday, April 27 to Saturday, May 6, 2023.