By Honorary Reporter Sebastian Nadilo from Argentina
Photos = Sebastian Nadilo

Korea this month will host eight film festivals. Starting things off are two indie events, one in Gangneung, Gangwon-do Province, and the other in Incheon. Then Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, hosts Asia's biggest film-and-music festival. Afterwards, Seoul hosts a festival for new media, another for web series and a third for documentaries. Ending the month are an event in Daegu for indie productions and another in Seoul for female filmmakers. 

This article will introduce four of the eight events.

Jeongdongjin Independent Film Festival
To run from Aug. 5-7 outside of at Jeongdong Elementary School in the village of Jeongdongjin-ri in Gangneung, Gangwon-do Province, the 24th Jeongdongjin Independent Film Festival celebrates indie filmmakers. Started in 1999, this event focuses on alternative cinema that breaks boundaries and features Q&As with directors and actors whose films are screened at the festival. The event's official website (http://jiff.kr) is mostly in Korean.

Incheon Independent Film Festival
Slated for Aug. 11-14, the 10th Incheon Independent Film Festival (https://in-film.kr/) will mark its first decade at Memories Theatre Mirim. Organized by the Incheon Independent Film Association, this event showcases indie filmmakers and hidden cinematic gems that are often overshadowed by big-budget blockbusters. The website is in Korean.

Jecheon International Music & Film Festival
In Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, the 18th Jecheon International Music and Film Festival (www.jimff.org) will celebrate both cinema and music. Running from Aug. 11-16, this is the largest event of its kind in Asia. The website is in both Korean and English and the screening venues include Megabox Jecheon, CGV Jecheon and Jecheon City Cultural Center.

The festival also features OST Market, the world's first market for film scores, and 140 films dealing with music from 39 countries. 

Seoul International ALT Cinema and Media Festival
The first of three movie-related events in Seoul this month is the 22nd Seoul International ALT Cinema and Media Festival (www.nemaf.net), a film and art exhibition running from Aug. 18-26. The movies will be screened at Megabox Hongik University and Seoul Art Cinema and the exhibitions at Seoul Art Space Seogyo and Media Art Gallery at Underdog Museum. This event offers a great opportunity to discover new media art, documentaries and experimental films.

The festival's ambassador this year is actor Kang Mal-geum, who had a cameo role in last year's Netflix smash series "Squid Game." The website is in both Korean and English.

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.