The film “Late Fame” premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in August of last year. This compelling story centers on a poet whose tranquil later years are disrupted when his long-forgotten work is rediscovered by a group of young, enthusiastic admirers.
The Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) will showcase a diverse selection of 237 films, including 140 international titles, marking an increase of 13 films compared to the previous year.
JIFF received a total of 421 film submissions from 70 countries for its international competition section, which is open to filmmakers who have directed fewer than three feature films.
Ten films are competing in the Korean competition section, including four documentaries. Highlights include Ko Sung-hyun’s “Living Through the Same Season,” Choi Su-bin’s “Early Spring,” and Yoo So-young’s “Water Deer.” Organizers emphasized the prominence of Korean documentaries this year, noting their wide range of topics and innovative cinematic styles.
A special program will honor the legacy of the late actor Ahn Sung-ki, who passed away in December, by screening some of his lesser-known, yet significant works. Another section will spotlight seven independent and arthouse films from Hong Kong, spanning the 1960s to the present, offering a glimpse into often-overlooked cinematic gems.
JIFF will conclude with Kim Hyun-ji’s “Namtaeryeong,” a film following farmers who journey to Seoul on tractors to protest and demand the impeachment of then President Yoon Suk Yeol in December 2024.
The “J Special: Programmer of the Year” section, now in its sixth year, will showcase the selections of filmmaker Byun Young-joo. She has curated a program of five films, including David Lean’s 1962 epic, “Lawrence of Arabia,” Shinsuke Ogawa’s 1966 documentary, “The Sea of Youth,” and her own 2012 mystery thriller, “Helpless.”
The 26th Jeonju International Film Festival begins on April 29th and continues through May 8th in Jeonju, a city located approximately 190 kilometers south of Seoul.
