After two years since the pandemic started, the Korean Film Festival in the Philippines is finally back with a live screening on the big screen!
The Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines remarkably hosted the 2022 Korean Film Festival opening ceremony on August 10 at SM Aura Premier in Taguig.
The opening ceremony began with a press media conference graced by Director Hong Won Chan of Deliver Us From Evil and Director Lee Woo Jung of Snowball.
When asked what they feel right now as the 2022 Korean Film Festival is finally starting on August 11, Director Hong answered,
“First of all, thank you so much for inviting us, actually after releasing the movie [Deliver Us From Evil] due to the pandemic this is my first time joining a Korean [Film] Fest that’s why I’m very happy right now.”
Director Lee Woo Jung also seconded,
“I am very excited because before due to the pandemic I wasn’t able to meet my audience but right now I am able to see the audience and what will be their reactions after watching it [Snowball].”
Since Korean films and dramas have been popular internationally.
They were asked if it is part of their mindset to ensure that international audiences appreciate their creations. In a way, it is also part of sharing their culture abroad.
Director Hong Won Chan answered,
“For me, Korean movie is really popular internationally. Actually, we are not focused to get the international audience or how they can watch it all over the world. But as a director and writer, I want to show the culture related to Korea. At the same time, we are eager to show Korean content and know how the audience accepts it.”
On Collaborating With Filipino Film Industry
When asked if they have seen any Filipino films and if they are open to collaborating with Filipino filmmakers, Director Hong said,
“Actually, this is my first visit to the Philippines so for now, I haven’t watched any Filipino movies. We are so open if there is an opportunity given to me.”
Additionally,
“And since I filmed in Bangkok for three months so I was able to work with Thailand actors and actresses so for now I will be studying Filipino movies and actors and actresses and since my film Deliver Us From Evil was shot in Bangkok for three months if there is an opportunity why not I will accept it.”
In collaboration with Filipino filmmakers, Director Lee Woo Jung said,
“Because this is my first time in the Philippines for me my character is I just work alone so I haven’t worked with someone or done a collaboration. But if ever there is an opportunity why not? Also, now that I have been here in the Philippines, when I go back to Korea I will study Filipino movies and also Filipino actors and actresses.”
On How They Make Their Films
When asked how Netflix or other streaming services have affected the way they make films, Director Hong simply responded,
“Actually, it was not affected because of Netflix or other platforms that we have now, because of that we got strength like we have more movie series. There are people who go to the cinemas to watch so it does not really affect us in a negative way.”
The Korean film industry is active, thriving, and compelling. kdramadiary did not miss the opportunity to ask the esteemed directors about what the secrets or strategies in making their films remarkable and stand out amongst films of the same genre.
Director Hong Won Chan answered,
“We are also actually curious why Korean movie is so popular. At the same time we are not focused internationally, we just want to focus on Korean movies for the Korean audience or the Korean market first because the market itself is competitive.”
Director Lee Woo Jung also answered,
“This is my first movie, Snowball, so I was not specific to my genre but I want to work on a genre which I have not done yet.”
Moreover, Director Hong added,
“Before there was no specific genre that existed in Korea. Before we were imitating American movies and we were influenced by that, so that’s where we took a concept that could also be used in Korean movies, so that’s where they created the genre.”
Considering Director Lee Woo Jung’s first movie, she relayed how it was working with Bang Min Ah of Girl’s Day,
“One of the lead girls is Bang Min Ah she’s a former member of Girl’s Day a girl group in Korea. So, she was very punctual for an actress because she was already trained when she was young in her girl group that’s why it was so fun shooting with her.”
Because of Netflix’s Squid Game, the popularity of Lee Jung Jae eventually rose, when asked how does it feel working with Lee Jung Jae, Director Hong simply answered,
“I was already told that this question will be asked, so before Lee Jung Jae is already popular in Korea even though he was not popular internationally he was popular in Korea. But now after Squid Game was released, he was really well known in other countries. If you will watch my film [Deliver Us From Evil] you will see Lee Jung Jae’s tough character that you haven’t seen in Squid Game. You can see how different his character is and a different side of Lee Jung Jae.
Director Hong also quipped an inside tip of how Lee Jung Jae is a very gentle actor.
Wrapping up the press media conference with a question about their experiences. They were asked about the best lessons they can share for aspiring filmmakers or the next generation of filmmakers?
Director Lee Woo Jung shyly answered,
“Because my movie is still new and I’m still new as a filmmaker so it seems embarrassing for me to say something for the new filmmakers. But before if I will say this to myself, I woul say – “stay strong” because this world [industry] is not easy.”
Lastly, Director Hong Won Chan said,
“Just do what you want if want to do something do it because the other directors they are doing what they actually want that’s why we have Parasite and Squid Game.”
Live Screening of the Opening Film Deliver Us From Evil
Part of the 2022 Korean Film Festival opening ceremony was the public screening of its opening film Deliver Us From Evil directed by Hong Won Chan.
The SM Aura Cinema 2 was packed with selected audiences and esteemed respected guests starting with the Korean Ambassador to the Philippines, Ambassador Kim Inchul, followed by Director Hong Won Chan, Director Lee Woo Jung, Programmer Kim Young Oh, Outgoing Chairman of Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Ms. Liza Diño, NCCA Chairman Rene Escalante, and Professor Bruno Lodrick of DLSU Department of Communication.
The presence of UP Film Institute was also acknowledged followed by the Japan Foundation and Metropolitan Museum.
The live screening began with a welcoming speech from the Director of the Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines, Ms. Im Young A.
Second, a congratulatory speech from the OIC and Executive Director of the Film Development Council of the Philippines Mr. David Fabros
Furthermore, after the live screening of Deliver Us From Evil, there was a short question and answer session for Director Hong Won Chan.
Starting with the question about what he feels that his film was the first to screen at the 2022 Korean Film Festival,
“First of all, thank you so much that you enjoyed the film actually even me I didn’t watch my film in Korea especially on the big screen because of the pandemic that’s why I’m so happy that my film was picked and I’m so happy that I was able to watch it.”
When asked what was his inspiration for doing this film, Director Hong answered,
“I really can’t choose where I was inspired because there’s a lot to choose from especially during the shooting because originally, I was just a scriptwriter and I don’t direct at all. That’s why when I started directing this was the story or that I have written and come up with.”
Lastly, he finished the session by sharing the struggles that he faced when shooting in Bangkok for three months,
“Actually, I regretted that we went to Bangkok because I had a hard time shooting it specifically because there are different colors represented in every country, and in my movie, there are Korea, Japan, and then Thailand so I wanted to show the different colors of each country.”
The opening ceremony was a success and it would not be possible without the help of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Korean Film Council, Korean Tourism Organization Manila Office, SM Cinema, and of course Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
KCC Philippines Announces 7 Acclaimed Films To Watch At “2022 Korean Film Festival”
Event Covered by: KDRAMADIARY Team | Photos: Felicity Anne Marababol for KDRAMADIARY | KCC Philippines
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