Themes

Trick or Treat

 - In the lead up to Halloween we take a look at the recent hit film "Possessed" which screened at Sydney Film Festival and which presents a fresh intelligent look at a long loved genre. We then follow this up with an all time classic K-horror pic "Memento Mori", one of the original crazy high school girls pics that emerged from Asia. Come and be shocked and thrilled as the bloody spills at Trick or Treat! 

Australia Korea Year of Friendship

 - The Australia Korea Year of Friendship isnt quite over yet, and just as we have our closing performance of the year we are focusing on this special annivesary in Cinema on the Park. First up is a film that looks at a Korean adoptee who has grown up in Australia, "A Blind River" is another KAFA production in the same vein as "End of Animal". Then we have the moving documentary "Intangible Asset No. 82", directed by Australian Emma Franz. The subject of the film Simon Barker will be performing at pARTy on the park on November 23rd, so before he wows you with his talents come and witness his story as he ventures to Korea to find enigmatic Korean shaman Kim Seok-chul. Dont forget to see Simon Barker perform at "pARTY on the park" on November 23rd. 

SPECIAL GUEST - Nov 10th: "Intangible Asset No. 82", skype Q&A with Emma Franz, Director of Intangible Asset No. 82
 

Animated Adventures

 - An often overlooked aspect of Korean cinema, Animation is an important element of modern korean cinema that we are very happy to focus on. "My Beautiful Girl, Mari" was a critical hit and is considered a classic of Korean cinema, winning Best Feature Film at the 26th Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France. We follow that up with the unique "Life is Cool", directed by Choi-ik Hwan who was inspired by Richard Linklaters "Waking Life" and "A Scanner Darkly". The films visual effects were created by DNA the same team behind "The Animatrix". 

SPECIAL GUEST - Nov 17th: "My Beautiful Girl, Mari", presented by Deborah Szapiro, Co-Director of the UTS: Sydney International Animation Festival 
 

Controversial Classics

 - Two important films in the history of Korean film, that are mesmerising to watch today and at their time of release sent shockwaves through the industry. Considered the most controversial film in the history of Korean cinema, "Madame Freedom" is a sexual melodrama that was not afraid to show what other films at the time dared not to. We follow this up with the pinacle of Korean realist cinema, Obaltan or "The Aimless Bullet", which is an extraordinary visual representation of the times, a must watch for true Korean film buffs!  

SPECIAL GUEST - Dec 1st: "Madame Freedom", presented by Richard Gray, Editor of The Reel Bits
 

SPECIAL GUEST - Dec 8th: "The Aimless Bullet", presented by Russell Edwards, Film Critic for Variety
 

Migrant Matters

- An increasing presence in Korean society (similar to Australia) is the diversity of cultures due to the influx of migrants. Both films in this section give serious and ligharted perspectives of this issue. We begin with the romantic comedy drama "Bandhobi" about a migrant worker from Bangladesh struggling to find work, and his relationship with a rebellious teenage girl sturggling to find her place in the world. The film stars Mahhub Alam Pollob, a documentary filmmaker who is Festival Director of the Migrant Film Festival in korea. Our final screening of the year is the comedy hit "He's on Duty" which sees a Korean man struggling to find work pose as a Bhutanese immigrant. The film will teach those learning Korean some sayings they probably should not learn, as it presents a lighthearted but heartwarming look at racism in the workplace. Come along for our final screening of the year and closing party!