Three of Four Korean Films Invited to 76th Berlin International Film Festival Connected to KOFIC Programs

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC, Chairman Han Sang-joon) has seen its support and education initiatives validated on the international stage. Of the four Korean films invited to the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, opening February 12, three are directly connected to KOFIC programs—demonstrating how policy-driven support translates into international festival selections. KOFIC will also conduct programs in Berlin to advance Korean cinema's global presence and international collaboration.

Jung Ji-young's new feature My Name, invited to the Festival's Forum section, received support through KOFIC's 2025 Mid-Budget Korean Film Production Support program. Launched in 2025 to revitalize a contracted investment and production environment, this initiative identifies mid-budget projects that balance commercial appeal with artistic merit. My Name holds special significance as the first supported project to complete production and secure an international festival invitation. The 2026 program has expanded to 20 billion won (approximately $14 million USD), drawing 334 submissions that underscore strong industry interest.

Filmmakers trained at the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA, Principal Cho Geun-sik)—established by KOFIC in 1984 for professional film education—continue to make their mark internationally. En Route To, competing in Generation 14plus, is the graduation project of KAFA Feature Course 18th cohort research student Yoo Jae-in. This marks the first time a KAFA work has been invited to this competition section, validating the academy's long-established educational system on the international stage.

Speedy!, competing in the Generation Kplus Short Film Competition, was produced by Jeon Woo-hyuk, a KAFA Producing major graduate (39th cohort) and participant in the 1st Korea-France Film Academy. Director Oh Ji-in also participated in the program's 2nd cohort, confirming that global educational programs enhance emerging creators' international competitiveness. Launched in 2023, the Korea-France Film Academy—a collaboration between KOFIC and France's National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC)—brings together Korean and French emerging filmmakers to co-develop feature projects through education, seminars, festival and market participation, and pitching sessions.

KOFIC will also deploy various programs at the Berlin International Film Festival and European Film Market (EFM) to build a foundation for Korean cinema's global collaboration. From February 12-19, throughout the market period, KOFIC will operate the Korean Film Promotion Booth at Martin-Gropius-Bau Hall 23, the main EFM venue. The booth will support small and medium-sized Korean sales companies' international distribution, promote Berlin-selected Korean films, and serve as a networking hub for international film industry professionals.

The KO-PICK Showcase in Berlinale, designed to strengthen emerging producers' global co-production competitiveness, runs February 14-17. KOFIC will support three Korean emerging producers' participation in the Berlin Co-Production Market, and the "Spotlight On: Korea" event will showcase their co-production projects through pitch presentations. On February 16, in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Centre in Germany, KOFIC will host the "K-MOVIE Connect: Berlin" networking event to celebrate Korean films' achievements at the festival and facilitate exchanges between festival officials and domestic and international film professionals.

Chairman Han Sang-joon stated, "This year's Berlin invitations demonstrate that KOFIC's education, production support, and international collaboration programs are yielding tangible results in the field. We expect this invitation to mark the beginning of Korean cinema's diverse achievements on the international stage throughout the year." He added, "We will continue to focus on strengthening the sustainability of Korean cinema's creative ecosystem and global co-production competitiveness."