Cool weather brings a flurry of film festivals to Seoul

Despite the cold weather, a series of film festivals are ready to warm the hearts of movie fans in Korea. 

Korea.net would like to recommend some of the most notable of these events. (left: A scene from "Nativity," from Seoul International Family Film Festival)

The 4th Seoul International Family Film Festival runs from October 27 until November 2, and features films for all ages. Organized around the theme of "Family, When It's Love," this festival, features 126 films, including 3-D movies, from 32 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Finland. 

The films are categorized by age, including Cine Jockey and Generation Children for the younger set, and Generation Teenager and Generation Adult targeting those with more mature tastes.  Be sure and check out their "Masterpiece," "Special: Fantastic Czeck!" and "Focus: Shocking Family" selections for a special treat. 

Catch one of the family-friendly flicks at the CGV Songpa, Garden Five and other movie theaters in Songpa district. Tickets to the opening and closing films cost 10,000 won, while admission for other films varies from 3-10,000 won depending on age and film. For more information, please click here to visit their homepage (Korean, English). (right: "Once Upon a Crime")

The 8th Asiana International Short Film Festival has played an active part in the distribution and promotion of local short films. The festival will show 86 films from 31 countries from Nov. 4 to 9 at Cine Cube in Gwanghwamun.  The opening films will be “Once Upon a Crime,” a black and white courtroom drama crossed with a fairytale from the US and “Penicillin,” about a meningitis epidemic in Africa from Germany.  

A scene from "A Trip to the Heart Warming Country of Korea," from the Asiana International Short Film Festival

There will also be showings of David Lynch’s "Lady Blue Shanghai," "Present" by Kim Ji-woon, and Ridley Scott's "Thunder Perfect Storm."  Tickets are 5-7,000 won, and more information about the festival can be found in English and Korean on their homepage.

If you’re really short on time, check out the Seoul International Extreme-Short Film Festival on Nov. 5-14. All the films showcased by the festival are less than three minutes long, many made with cell phone or digital cameras. 

Catch them at venues including the CGV Guro and CGV Shindorim, subway line two, and Daum internet portal. Clickhere to visit its homepage (Korean, English) for more information.

A scene from "City Paradise," an award-winning film from the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival of France

Film and architecture buffs can attend to both interests at the Seoul International Architecture Film Festival from Nov. 11 to 17. Organized by the Korea Institute of Registered Architects, the festival will be held at Art House Momo at Ewha Woman's University. 

The festival is designed to show the history and cultural value of world architecture, to revalue the achievements of Korean modern architecture and to introduce passionate architects through movies.  The films include Im Kwon- taek's "Chihwaseon," Sam Wainwright's "Citizen Architect," and "The Fountainhead" by King Vidor. Tickets are 5,000 won.  More information can be found on the festival’s homepage(Korean only). (right: "Citizen Architect")

All these festivals are being sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.