Jung Joon-ho (third from left), co-chair of the Jeonju International Film Festival's executive committee, on April 1 speaks at a news conference for announcing the event's lineup at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul’s Yongsan District. (Lee Jung-woo)
By Xu Aiying
Video = Official YouTube account of Jeonju International Film Festival
A news conference for this year's Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) was held on April 1, a month ahead of the event's opening, to announce the lineup of works including the opening and closing movies as well as those in each section.
Running from April 30 to May 9, JIFF will screen 224 films -- 98 domestic and 126 from 56 countries -- with 80 to make their world premieres at the festival.
The opening work is "Kontinental '25" directed by Radu Jude from Romania. It won in February the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay at the Berlin International Film Festival, using a new method of being entirely shot on a smartphone.
The closing movie is "In the Land of Machines" by Kim Okyong from Korea. This documentary takes an in-depth look at the lives of three Nepalese migrant workers in Korea under the Employment Permit System.
This is a scene from "Summer's Camera," which is in the Korean Competition section of this year's Jeonju International Film Festival. (JIFF)
The special section "Again, Towards Democracy" will reflect on the value of democracy through six documentaries on political situations in countries that have experienced or are facing a democratic crisis.
Singer-actor Lee Jung-hyun is this year's J Special: Programmer of the Year, which allows her to select the films to screen for this section based on his or her cinematic perspectives and taste. She will introduce three films she appeared in as well as "Night Fishing" and "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" by Park Chan-wook (Korea), "Nobody Knows" by Hirokazu Kore-dea (Japan) and "The Child" by Belgian brother Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.
Singer-actor Lee Jung-hyun, who is JIFF's 2025 J Special: Programmar of This Year, on April 1 poses for a photo at a news conference for the festival at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul's Yongsan District. (Lee Jung-woo)
"The Jeonju International Film Festival has solidified its status as a major film festival representing Asia and a valuable platform for creative filmmakers from around the world to communicate with audiences and showcase their artistic worlds," said Jeonju Mayor Woo Beom-ki, who is chair of JIFF's organizing committee. "We will keep listening to the opinions of our audience to produce a richer and more meaningful film festival."
xuaiy@korea.kr
