Entrance of REAG Belas Artes with a promotional poster for the 14th Korean Film Festival 

On Thursday, June 12, the Korean Cultural Center in Brazil opened the 14th Korean Film Festival with a special screening of The Age of Shadows (Miljeong) at REAG Belas Artes in São Paulo. The event featured a packed house, a warm reception with Brazilian and Korean snacks, and a post-screening Q&A session with the renowned director Kim Jee-woon.

From left to right: Consul general Chae Jin-weon, director Kim Jee-won, KCC Brazil director Kim Cheol Hong 

The festival’s opening ceremony welcomed key cultural figures, including São Paulo’s Secretary of Culture José Antonio Totó Parente, Korean Consul General Chae Jin-won, KCC Brazil Director Kim Cheol Hong, and Spcine President Lyara Oliveira, who joined the audience in celebrating the start of the festival.

The Age of Shadows, starring top Korean actors Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, and Gong Yoo, is set in the 1920s and follows a group of Korean resistance fighters on a mission to smuggle explosives to sabotage the Japanese military. A conflicted Japanese officer of Korean descent finds himself torn between duty and conscience. The powerful historical thriller captivated the audience and sparked thoughtful questions during the discussion with the director.

Director Kim Jee-won and Korean-Portuguese interpreter Gabi Yoon answering questions from the public.

The opening night set the tone for the rest of the festival, which runs through June 19 and features 22 films—15 feature films and 7 shorts. The 14th edition of the festival is co-organized by the Korean Cultural Center in Brazil and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, with support from Pandora Filmes, Belas Artes Group, and the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).

Bringing together cinematic excellence and cultural dialogue, the Korean Film Festival continues to strengthen ties between Korea and Brazil through the power of film.