Good news if you live in London, are a fan of Korean cinema, and one of the growing number of film patrons who want to see more women at work in the global film industry. The London Korean Film Festival will meet all three of your needs. If you live outside of London but really like those other two features of this year's festival, you'll find a way to get there.
The full lineup for the festival will be announced next week. The festival has announced their Opening Gala and in keeping with one of their mandates this year, to focus on women in the film industry, they have chosen Lee Kyoung-mi's new thriller The Truth Beneath (비밀은 없다) to open the fest.
11th London Korean Film Festival First Announcement:European Premiere of The Truth Beneath to Open Festival+ Special Focus on Women DirectorsFollowing on from last year’s 10th Anniversary celebrations, the London Korean Film Festival (LKFF) is proud to embark on a second decade of introducing the finest Korean cinema to UK audiences.This year the LKFF runs from November 3 – 17 in London before embarking on a tour of the UK, bringing highlights from the programme to Glasgow, Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham and Belfast. Directors and stars will be in attendance at screenings and special events throughout the festival as we shine our spotlight on what continues to be one of the most exciting national cinemas in the world.For this year’s Opening Gala the festival is pleased to unveil the European Premiere of director Lee Kyoung-mi’s powerful thriller The Truth Beneath. Actress Son Ye-jin (The Pirates, A Moment to Remember) gives her finest performance to date in the role of Yeon-hong, wife of politician Jong-chan (Kim Ju-hyuk – Yourself and Yours) who’s about to embark on the biggest campaign of his career. Joined by their daughter, Min-jin, the trio appears to be a picture-perfect family until their world is shattered when young Min-jin goes missing. Infuriated by her husband’s decision to continue campaigning throughout the crisis, Yeon-hong embarks on a crusade of her own to find the truth beneath her daughter’s disappearance, uncovering a network of secrets and lies as she digs ever deeper.One of the most talked about topics over the past year has been the under-representation of certain groups within the global film industry. This conversation has played out across international film festivals, awards ceremonies, and media. With this in mind, and with a new vision for a new decade, the LKFF is looking towards the future as we proudly present a special strand entitled The Lives of Korean Women through the Eyes of Women Directors, showcasing fiction features from a feminine point of view. The Opening Film’s director, Lee Kyoung-mi, is spearheading this women’s movement by coming to the festival in person with The Truth Beneath (2016), plus we’ll be showing her highly acclaimed, Park Chan-Wook produced debut Crush and Blush (2008). Reaching as far back as 1955 we’ll present the first ever film from a female director in South Korea, Park Nam-ok’s portrayal of the hardships faced by women post-war, The Widow. It’s been nearly 20-years since Korean cinema first started to take the world by storm and our eclectic programme shines a light on the work of women filmmakers over this period, including the significantly all-female cast (star Bae Doona included) of Take Care of My Cat (2001) and Yim Soon-rye’s hit drama about the South Korean women’s handball team, Forever the Moment (2008). Yim, a leading female director in the Korean New Wave, will be appearing at the festival to talk about her work. Lee Hyun-ju’s new indie lesbian drama Our Love Story (2015) brings us up to date with a topical modern love story. All these and many more are waiting to be discovered in Special Focus: The Lives of Korean Women through the Eyes of Women DirectorsIt’s been a truly fantastic year for Korean cinema and the LKFF is proud to present an exciting programme, which covers the length and breadth of the industry. From the biggest summer blockbusters to the surprise indie hits, from stimulating documentaries to absorbing dramas, no stone is left unturned as we continue to explore this continually compelling national cinema. Full programme to be announced September 22.