Welcoming Words
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Korean Film Festival of Canada, I am proud to welcome you all to the 8th and largest edition of the festival yet!
This year, we continue to offer a banquet of wonderful films entirely online. This allows film lovers in Montréal, across Canada, in Korea and around the world to enjoy them simultaneously throughout the month of October.
The 2021 edition of the festival is the second one featuring the works of women filmmakers under the theme: Narratives Beyond Borders: Women’s Perspectives in the Korean Cinema (1959-2021, Series II)
We are proud of the offering of 42 feature and short films as well as documentaries made by Korean and Canadian women of Korean origin. This year we have widened our selection to include films by and about women from other communities, including First Nations and reflecting the universality of women’s concerns and conditions. This is strengthened by the range of presentations in the collection of Art Talks, short video essays by filmmakers reflecting on their work and the art and challenges of cinema and filmmaking.
We encourage you to take advantage of this marvelous program prepared for us by festival founder and Director Mi-Jeong Lee and her team.
Enjoy the feast!
Marie Boti
Board of Directors at Korean Film Festival Canada
Co-Founder of Multi-Monde Film & Distribution
Film Director
Bonjour à tous et à toutes.
It is my pleasure to announce the start of the 8th Korean Film Festival Canada!
Korean movies of late have drawn the enthusiastic attention of Canadians and the international community. Just last month, Korean director Hong Eui-jeong's debut feature Voice of Silence was named Best Film at the 25th Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, with the film's star, Yoo Ah-in, named Best Actor. Considering the acclaim for Director Hong's film, it is a happy coincidence that this year's theme for the Korean Film Festival Canada returns once more to the topic of women in cinema with: "Narratives Beyond Borders: Women’s Perspectives in Korean Cinema (1959-2021, Series II)".
I believe that the festival is an excellent opportunity for all Canadians to learn about Korean culture, tradition, and art through the selected features.
I would like to thank the dedicated team of the Korean Film Festival Canada for your hard work in co-organizing this festival with the Korean Consulate in Montreal. I hope the festival continues to grow in its role as an outstanding venue to promote Korean culture in Canada.
Merci beaucoup! Enjoy the show!
KIM, Sangdo
Consul General and Ambassador
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea on the Council
of ICAO
Artists and their collaborators have played a vital role throughout the pandemic: their creations offered hope, helped maintain connections, and pointed to a brighter future.
As we move forward, we need the arts more than ever—to inspire us and bring us together as we envision a better world for all. Strong support for a resilient, inclusive, and accessible arts sector benefits society in all its diversity.
The Canada Council for the Arts is a proud supporter of Korean Film Festival Canada and its contributions to our shared work to bring the arts to life.
Simon Brault, O.C., O.Q.
Director and CEO Canada Council for the Arts
Even if the world is suffering from a major pandemic, like a lighthouse, the 8th edition of the Korean Film Festival Canada is still looking out for hope by discovering new movies and arts, and this festival begins today! As the interest towards Korea’s artistic cultures are increasing, I hope this will be a historical moment for the world to learn further about Korean cinema and its unique characteristics and attractive points, beyond the walls of the West and the East, through the windows of the world.
HAN, Ok-Hee
Director of The Hole (1973) and Colour of Korea (1976)
The pioneer of Korean experimental women filmmakers, the founder
of Kaidu in 1974
Congratulations on the launch of the 8th Korean Film Festival Canada!
In this time of pandemic when it is even difficult to leave home, I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to meet audiences across the ocean through this film festival.
In a near future, I hope we can get together and talk about films in person.
YOON, Ga-Eun
Director of The House of Us 우리집 (2019)
Dear Filmgoers,
I am the Director of the Korean Film Archive (KOFA), JOO, Jin Sook. Congratulations on the opening of the 8th Korean Film Festival Canada! Special thanks to the festival's Director Mi-Jeong Lee and the festival team for cultivating Korean films and cultures in the course of this hard time with COVID-19 around the world.
The KFFC has always greatly contributed in spreading knowledge on Korean identity and arts on the world level. For this reason, Canada and Korea could be united through the “arts” and grow together. In particular, the 8th Korean Film Festival Canada reinterprets Korean films under the theme of "Women's perspectives in Korean cinema" and introduces them to the audience. Recently, gender problems and conflicts have become an issue in Korea. I think the Korean classical films that will be screened in this year's festival will provide an opportunity to look back on the history of conflict between men and women.
This year is the first year of partnership between the KOFA and the KFFC. I hope that the Korean Film Festival will continue to serve as a cornerstone for the Canadian Korean Film Festival to promote Korean culture and arts around the world, including Canada. Once again, congratulations on the opening of the 8th Korean Film Festival Canada and I sincerely hope that this event will serve as an opportunity to promote active cultural exchanges between Korea and Canada.
JOO, Jin Sook
Director of Korean Film Archive (KOFA)
Michelle Chawla
Director General, Strategy, Public Affairs and Arts Engagement
Canada Council for the Arts
Congratulations on the 8th edition of the Korean Film Festival Canada, and thank you for your endeavours and passions in fostering Korean films!
When Guy Sorman came to Korea in the late 1990s, the French civilization critic remarked that Korea had an uncertain image in the international society and that culture was the driving force of a country. Now, over 20 years later, Korean pop culture and movies have attracted worldwide attention and play a major role in promoting Korea. However, before these achievements, Korean cinema had a pre-existing history, and the films presented to the audience by this film festival are part of Korea’s long film history.
When I was invited to the Montreal Film Festival in 2002, I remember enjoying the cultural atmosphere of Montreal with the help of Korean students. I look forward to seeing you in person in Montreal when this era of untact is over. I wish you all the best!
BAE, Chang-Ho
Director of Whale Hunting (1984)
OH, Jung Hae
Main Actress of Sopyonje (1993)
Directed by IM, Kwon Taek
Greetings from Jeonju, Korea!
It is great to e-meet you all, the Korean Film Festival Canada and the audience who expect to meet Korean films despite the COVID-19 pandemic. I am Joondong Lee, the festival director of JEONJU International Film Festival.
Our 22nd JEONJU International Film Festival wrapped up successfully with our sincere audience by thoroughly preparing for quarantine. The films from 48 countries were screened, and a total of 84 Korean films were introduced. Also, more than 13,000 audiences visited JEONJU IFF. This year’s JEONJU IFF, in particular, presented a special section on female independent filmmakers under the theme of IAM INDEPENDENT. This year’s Korean Film Festival Canada will also screen the films in the theme of Women’s Perspective in Korean Film: Narratives Beyond Borders. There will be a point of interaction between the audiences in Jeonju and Canada.
Despite these pandemic situations, the film must go on and we should keep creating discourse on film as well. Along with the Korean Film Festival Canada, JEONJU IFF will continue to meet films, filmmakers and audiences. I look forward to the day when Canadian audiences can visit Jeonju, Korea. I, on behalf of all members of JEONJU IFF, support the Korean Film Festival Canada from afar.
LEE, Joon-dong
Executive director of the Jeonju International Film Festival
Producer of NOWFILM Co., Ltd.
Bernard Bernier
Director of Centre d’études asiatiques of Université de Montréal (CETASE)
Greetings!
I am KIM, Hyun-Seok, the director of I Can Speak. Congratulations on the launch of the 8th Korean Film Festival Canada! It is an honor for me to have my film screened there. I remember that I had a great time visiting the Canadian audience 3 years ago when <I can Speak> was invited as the opening film of the Korean Film Festival in Ottawa. If it wasn't for the pandemic, I could have met the beautiful Canadian autumn and the sophisticated Canadian audience again, but it is such a shame. Writing from far away Korea, I wish you a safe and successful film festival.
KIM, Hyun-Seok
Director of I Can Speak 아이캔스피크 (2017)
Dear staff and audience of Korean Film Festival Canada, warm greetings from the three-women team of The Good Woman of Sichuan. We are truly honoured to present our film at KFFC this year next to so many admirable and dynamic works. We feel closely connected to KFFC’s vision that fearlessly expands cross-geographical imaginations. With our film, we are thrilled to be sharing our volatile existences across places, and to be connecting with you in this voyage. I hope you enjoy the film. Thank you sincerely to the team of KFFC for including us in this beautifully programmed event.
Sabrina Zhao
Director of The Good Woman from Sichuan (2021)
KIM, Kangmin
Director of KKUM (2020)
I'm honored to be a part of the 2021 Korean Film Festival Canada. My film, "An Uninterrupted View of the Sea" tells the story of my great-grandfather and his experiences living in the US as a Japanese immigrant during World War II. It also explores how this history has shaped my perspective on my own identity as an Asian American today. I'm excited to screen it alongside so many other films that showcase women's perspectives, especially those of Asian women, from all over the world. The KFFC creates a meeting point of many different stories, one that I'm glad I'm a part of.
Mika Yatsuhashi
Director of An Uninterrupted View of the Sea (2020)
Congratulations on the successful hosting of the 8th Korean Film Festival Canada (KFFC).
With the globalization of the Korean wave, the interest in Korean language and culture is rapidly increasing in Canada as well. In the future, I hope that the King Sejong Institute of Montreal, under the auspices of the Quebec Korean Folklore Foundation, and the KFFC will cooperate to bring Montreal as a base for Korean culture and art in the northeastern part of America.
I would like to thank everyone who participated in the preparation of the film festival despite the difficult circumstances of COVID-19.
김영권/Alex Kim
퀘벡한민족재단 설립자 겸 이사장
Founder & President of FCCCQ
Being part of the Montreal film community for over 25 years and a recent member of ELAN’s board and its communications committee, I understand the importance of keeping our cultural connections and artistic identities alive and thriving. It’s an honor for ELAN, with the assistance of our Quebec-Relations project, to support the continued rise of the Korean film industry here, in Quebec, and worldwide. We are honored to partner once again with the exceptional KFFC, who continues to shine a light and give meaningful exposure to outstanding talent and to the power of brilliant storytelling. ELAN wishes to thank all the KFFC organizers, participants, and volunteers who, with their unwavering commitment through these difficult times, have given us the gift of the 8th edition of this exceptional festival.
Wishing everyone a successful and exciting festival!
Victoria Sanchez
Board member / Communications Committee
English Language Arts Network-Québec (ELAN)
Roxanne Sayegh
Co-director of Cinéma Public
Aude Renaud-Lorrain
Co-director of Cinéma Public
8 Years has a nice ring to it!
8 Years Celebrating the Korean Film Festival Canada.
8 Years in existence is a Miracle in itself – knowing the blood, sweat and tears that goes towards organizing a Festival, and keeping it alive without loosing sight of its Mission.
KFFC is one Festival with so many facets, it is exceedingly difficult not find the one that appeals to you the most: Women's Perspective in The Korean Film: Narratives Beyond Borders (1950-2021, Series II). ART-Talks is a hybrid form of conferences co-organized with the Asian Arts Publication Lab, and the International Film Section of "Side-by-Side
Rich and diverse Program! I hope you will make KFFC 2021 your date. Back to the Theaters --- sit back and enjoy the Silver Screen! Congratulations on 8 Years of giving joy to your Audience and beyond!
Cinematically Yours,
Georges N. Chamchoum
Program & Executive Director of the Asian World Film Festival, Los Angeles
As co-presidents of MECA (Mcgill Koreans’ Cultural and Educational Association), it is our pleasure to extend a warm welcome to KFFC (Korean Film Festival Canada)’s 8th ART-talk. We have heard that KFFC has opened an Emergent Section this year for people to express their thoughts on Korean movies to the general public. We are grateful for your selection of MECA as a way to connect university students to KFFC, and we hope this event could provide them with an opportunity to explore Korean films produced by female Korean film directors.
Bon cinéma!
