Cinema Fest, a selection of films that blend artistic excellence with widespread appeal and engage diverse audiences from all generations, will showcase seven films this year.

To begin with, Grand Maison Paris delves into the glamorous world of fine dining, with Korean actor Ok Taec-yeon joining Japanese actor Kimura Takuya. It is a film version of the earlier TBS series La Grande Maison Tokyo. Directed by Ugana Kenichi, the emerging cult filmmaker of Japan, The Gesuidouz, his latest work, follows the band Gesuidouz on their chaotic journey to a rural village in Japan to create the ultimate punk song, filled with captivating and distinctive performances from its talented cast. Chinese director Li Yang's Escape from the 21st Century offers a whimsical and outrageous adventure on a planet 3,000 light years from Earth, with a fast-paced narrative that unfolds through special effects, animation, and other creative techniques. Carson Lund's Eephus captures the last match of two recreational baseball teams at Soldiers Field, a baseball park in a small New England town, before it is demolished. Rather than romanticizing the players' bittersweet emotions at their final game, the film quietly observes them, subtly eliciting a sense of nostalgia.

In Klaudia Reynicke's Queens, a family drama set against the backdrop of an economic crisis in Peru, Elena, a mother, wants to move to the United States with her two daughters for a new life, and Carlos, her ex-husband, must give his consent for the move. Having spent her childhood in Peru, the director takes the audience back to 1992 Peru, poignantly illustrating a family that finds strength on the brink of collapse. The Mother and the Bear, directed by Chinese-Canadian filmmaker Johnny Ma, also presents a deeply moving family story. When her daughter in Winnipeg, Canada, slips into a coma following an accident, the mother travels from Korea to this unfamiliar land. The film portrays the heartwarming journey of the mother as she immerses herself in the Korean community in Winnipeg. Kim Ho-jung's performance in the lead role adds considerable depth to the film. The Way We Talk, a film by Hong Kong director Adam Wong, follows the lives of three individuals who are part of the Deaf community. Living with hearing loss, they work hard to lead fulfilling adult lives, constantly facing societal prejudices. Even though they occasionally hurt one another, the unfolding of their genuine friendship offers a thoughtful reflection on the meaning of living together. (Chun Jinsu)