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The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) made headways in 2012, as they have always done. The council was busy visiting various film festivals and markets overseas to promote Korean films and their sales to foreign markets. In March, they launched the Korean Film Center, the composite Korean film promotion center, at the Hong Kong International Film &TV Market (FILMART). A total of 11 Korean sales companies and technical service firms took part and had meetings and business talks.

In April, KOFIC opened its Chinese film business center in Beijing. For co-producing projects with China, there are varied programs from offering office space and living spaces as well as mentoring, doctoring and business meetings with local professionals and experts. The Korean Film Council also joined the second Beijing International Film Festival to host an event to support Korea-China co-productions.

In May, the Council went to the 65th Cannes Film Festival and co-hosted the Korean Film Night with the Busan International Film Festival. At this hugely successful event, there were some 540 film professionals from around the world and journalists including the Minister of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as well as the mayor of the city of Busan.

In June, KOFIC participated in the Association of Film Commissioners International’s AFCI Locations 2012 and supported promoting film locations with the Seoul Film Commission, Jeon Ju Film Commission, Jeonnam Film Commission as well as Jeju Film Commission. The Korean Film Council received a high level of attention after introducing their location incentives, the only policy of its kind amongst Asian countries.

In August, the Council held a Korean Film Festival in China to celebrate the 20th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties with China. The festival’s PR ambassadors, Korean actor LEE Je-hoon and Chinese actress Tang Wei,  congratulated the festival and the tie between the two countries.

September was definitely the month of Pieta. The Council not only supported the film at the 69th Venice International Film Festival itself but also held a welcome-home party after the film scooped up the Golden Lion.

In October, the KOFIC hosted Korean Film Night at the 17th Busan International Film Festival. The KOFIC director KIM Eui-suk said “Pieta's Golden Lion brought a bright light to the Korean film scene in 2012. Now it’s our time to help Korean films gain more global competitiveness and meet more overseas moviegoers,” receiving big applause from 600 local and international participants. The 25th Tokyo International Film Festival followed next, KOFIC supported promotion activities of Korean films. In Los Angeles in the U.S., the Council hosted “Ko-production In LA” and carried out over 90 business matching meetings.

In November, KOFIC kicked off activities in South America by signing a film cooperation MOU with Argentina. Through the special screenings of up-and-coming Korean directors, eight Korean films gained much attention there. At the Ventana Sur market, the Council and seven sales companies held a Korean film night reception where South American film professionals showed a deep interest in Korean films.

In December, KOFIC held a Korean directors’ showcase in Beijing, China and introduced major Korean directors to the Chinese film industry. Five directors, KWAK Kyung-taek, KIM Sang-jin, KIM Sung-soo, KIM Tae-yong and CHANG Yoon-hyun as well as four directors of cinematography KIM Wu-hyeong, KIM Hyeong-gu, JIN Young-hwan and CHOI Hyun-gi attended the event which raised the level of interest in Korean cinema on the part of Chinese film professionals.