A Chance to Witness ‘Hallyu’ from 1960s Berlinale
Korean Film Council (KOFIC, Chairman: KIM Sae-hoon) organized a special event in commemoration of the relationship between Berlin International Film Festival and the Korean film industry. Korean film was first invited to Berlin in the 60s. Starting with
KANG Dae-jin’s 1961 film
A Coachman and
SHIN Sang-ok’s
To the Death in 1962, Korean films won the Silver Bear back to back, bringing recognition to the films from Korea. However, “Most film industry professionals attending Berlin believe that Korean films have only come into the spotlight recently,” said Korean Cultural Center in Berlin’s LEE Jung-il. This is one of the reasons why the Korean Cultural Center and KOFIC organized the special poster exhibition of past Korean films invited to Berlin this year.
On the second day of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival, the 2nd floor of the Korean Cultural Center in Berlin was filled with 20 or so film posters from old to new. The exhibition included the poster of A Coachman,
IM Kwon-taek’s 1986 film
Kilsodeum which went to Berlin’s competition, the winner of 2004 Best Director Prize
Samaritan Girl, by
KIM Ki-duk, the winner of 2007 Alfred Bauer,
PARK Chan-wook’s
I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK,
HONG Sangsoo’s 2013 film
Nobody’s Daughter Haewon, as well as this year’s five invited films including
Ode to My Father in panorama,
Revivre in Critics’ Week were hung up together. On the other side of the space, the directors who attended Berlin in the past had their profile photos printed in black and white. The exhibition was accompanied by Korean traditional snacks for the viewers to enjoy.
The Korean Cultural Center in Berlin is also the very space that is used every year during the Berlin International Film Festival to hold the Korean Film Night reception where KOFIC introduces Korean films to international industry delegates. On the 9th of February, with a retro theme, the reception is planning to play music from the 70s to the 90s with different kinds of Korean traditional food. Some market screenings of smaller Korean films also take place in the building.
Korean Film Council’s Woody KIM said, “the event is a chance to look at the footprint of Korean films at Berlin International Film Festival…I hope this year’s Korean Film Night will be able to shine a new light on Korean films to the festival guests and the international industry delegates.”
The exhibition which glances at the history of Korean films at Berlin International Film festival will be open until Saturday February 28th. On the festival’s closing weekend, the center will be open from 10am to 7pm. After the festival closes on the 15th, the exhibition will be available during the weekdays from 12:30pm.