BERLIN – The “Korea Independent Film Festival” in Berlin will open its doors for 11 days from October 25th to November 4th at the Babylon Art Cinema on Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz in Berlin. This year, the film festival will take place for the eighth time, initiated by the Korean Cultural Center in 2017. Over the years, it has evolved into an important cultural event, gaining popularity and bringing independent Korean films closer to interested audiences.
At this year’s festival, 10 films will be presented: “A Lonely Island in the Distant Sea” by Mi-young Kim, “A Wild Roomer” by Jeong-hong Lee, “Ms. Apocalypse” as well as “An Old Lady” by Sun-ae Lim, “FAQ” by Da-min Kim, “Will you please stop, please” by Eun-yeong Kim, “The Boys Who Cried Wolf” by Jin-hwang Kim, “Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV” by Amanda Kim, “Poetry on Land” by Dawoon Jung, and “A Man Who Heals the City” by Hyeonji Kim.
The festival will open with “A Lonely Island in the Distant Sea” by Mi-young Kim. The film is about Youn-chul, who has lost his direction in life, his daughter Jina, who is still searching for her own path, and Young-ji, Youn-chul’s lover. Characterized by a calm atmosphere, the film captures the evolving relationships between the three protagonists. After the screening, director Mi-young Kim and lead actor Jong-hwan Park will provide the audience with further insights into the work on the opening day.
“A Wild Roomer” has been praised by critics for its characters with strong personalities and its thrilling twists. It tells the story of the carpenter Kihong, who discovers that the roof of his car has been damaged, and sets out to find the culprit. Although the protagonist initially seems strange and his behavior is difficult to decipher, it quickly becomes apparent that there is a lovable core behind this enigmatic facade. And in the end, one asks oneself: Who is behaving oddly here?
Debut films such as “An Old Lady” and “Ms. Apocalypse” by Sun-ae Lim are also shown. While “An Old Lady” addresses the difficult subject of sexual assault on an older woman, “Ms. Apocalypse” focuses on the relationship between two women. Ostracized from society because of their appearance and disability, they now support each other on their way back to life.
“FAQ” and “Will you please stop, please” are surprisingly brilliant and humorous films that illuminate different perspectives in an absurd but charming way. In “FAQ,” we learn about the world from the perspective of childlike innocence, while “Will you please stop, please” brings us closer to the viewpoint of office workers. Both films invite us to see the world in a humorous way through new eyes.
This year, “Korea Independent” will feature three documentaries. “Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV” is a film about the pioneer of video art, Nam June Paik. “Poetry on Land” addresses the philosophy of the first-generation Korean landscape architect Youngsun Jung, who was awarded the Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award, the highest honor in landscape architecture worldwide. “A Man Who Heals the City” introduces Jangha Kim, who practices the Buddhist concept of “Mu-Ju-Sang-Bo-Si” (the state of being free from the desire for recognition).
In the special category “Retrospective,” older Korean independent films are brought back from the past and presented to the audience. This year, actor Jong-hwan Park will come to Berlin, who is not only the main actor in this year’s opening film but also played the leading role in “The Boys Who Cried Wolf” in 2016. The festival offers a special opportunity to experience the actor, known as the ‘face of Korean independent cinema,’ in both a past and a current role.