The Journey to the Fest: Unforgettable Film Festival Experience in Jeonju, South Korea

Students participated in the Jeonju International Film Festival in South Korea for the first time. They attended screenings, festival activities, masterclass lectures, and exchanges with filmmakers and festival programmers from all over Asia.

21 June 2024

The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA), with the support of Create Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Film Development Fund and the co-organization with the Jeonju International Film Festival (JEONJU IFF), led a group of tertiary students from Hong Kong to Korea from May 1 to 8, 2024. This journey has created an unforgettable international film festival experience for Hong Kong students passionate for films and media culture.

Major Events included:

Screenings and Post-Screening Discussions with Filmmakers

Date: 1 to 5 May 2024

Participants watched over a dozen of films from different countries and of different genres, including the Festival Opening Film, films in the Competition Section and Premiere films. Most screenings were either followed by post-screening Q&A or opened with pre-screening stage greeting with filmmakers/actors.

Visit to Jeonju Hanok Village

Date: 30 April 2024

Participants explored the captivating Jeonju Hanok Village and the privately organized museum, Jeonju Nanjang, immersing themselves in the rich history and cultural heritage of South Korea, and gaining a profound understanding of Jeonju’s unique significance.

JEONJU IFF Opening Ceremony

Date: 1 May 2024

Venue: Sori Arts Center of Jeollabuk-do

Guests: MIYAKE Sho (Director), Deragh CAMPBELL (Director, Actress), João Pedro RODRIGUES (Director), YOO Ji-tae (Actor), Nele WOHLATZ (Berlinale FIPRESCI Prize Winner), HUR Jin-ho (Director), Giovanna FULVI (Senior Programmer, Toronto IFF), BYEON Woo-seok (Actor), JIN Goo (Actor), GONG Seung-yeon (Actress), LEE Yoo-mi (Actress), LEE Hee-joon (Actor), THONG Kay Wee (Programme Director, Singapore IFF) etc.

K-movie Night

Date: 2 May 2024

Venue: Wanpanbon Culture Center

Guests: MIYAKE Sho (Director), YOO Ji-tae (Actor), Jung Joon-ho (JEONJU IFF Director), Giovanna FULVI (Senior Programmer, Toronto IFF), THONG Kay Wee (Programme Director, Singapore IFF), JEON Hyejung (Director, London East Asia FF), etc.

Masterclass: TSAI Ming-Liang

Date: 3 May 2024

Venue: MEGABOX Jeonju Gaeksa

Guests: TSAI Ming Liang (Director)

Taiwan Cinema Night

Date: 3 May 2024

Venue: Jeonju Daesaseupcheong

Guests: TSAI Ming Liang (Director), LEE Kang-sheng (Actor), HUR Jin-ho (Director), LO Yi-Shan (Director), PENG Tzu-Hui (Director), WANG Ping-Wen (Director), etc

In conversation with the Filmmaker – HUR Jin-ho

Date: 3 May 2024

Venue: Coffee Roadview

Guest: HUR Jin-ho (Programmer of the Year, JEONJU IFF)

In conversation with Film Festival Programmers

Date: 4 May 2024

Venue: Coffee Roadview

Guests: Jongsuk Thomas NAM (Managing Director, NAFF of BIFAN), Thomas HONG (Advisor of JEONJU IFF; Producer)

In conversation with Filmmakers – TSAI Ming Liang and LEE Kang-sheng

Date: 5 May 2024

Venue: Soldam Jeonju

Guests: TSAI Ming Liang (Director) and LEE Kang-sheng (Actor), Claude WANG (Producer)

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