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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Korean Film Festival presents exhibitions, talks and screenings in PH

Korean Film Festival presents exhibitions, talks and screenings in PH

Published Sep 4, 2025 07:58 am
(Top) "Concrete Utopia" and (bottom photo, from left) Metropolitan Museum of Manila Senior Curator Ian Gines, Korean production designer Han Ah Reum, Film Development Council of the Philippines Chair Jose Javier Reyes, producer RuBi, Korean Film Council Researcher Park Hee Seong, and Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines Director Kim Myeongjin (KOFIC, KCC)
(Top) "Concrete Utopia" and (bottom photo, from left) Metropolitan Museum of Manila Senior Curator Ian Gines, Korean production designer Han Ah Reum, Film Development Council of the Philippines Chair Jose Javier Reyes, producer RuBi, Korean Film Council Researcher Park Hee Seong, and Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines Director Kim Myeongjin (KOFIC, KCC)

The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines opened the 2025 Korean Film Festival with the launch of “Production Design: Scene Architects Build On-Screen Worlds” at the KCC. 

This year, the festival expanded its scope with a comprehensive program that featured an exhibition, an expert talk show, the awarding of the Student Short Film Competition, and nationwide film screenings. 

KCC also joined the TINGIN: Southeast Asian Film Festival that will run from Sept. 26 and  27 as the guest country.

Exhibition 

Co-presented with the Korean Federation of Film Archives (KOFA) and supported by the “Touring K-Arts” program of the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), the exhibition’s opening program welcomed members of the Philippine film community, including Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chair Jose Javier Reyes, Metropolitan Museum of Manila Senior Curator Ian Gines, Korean production designer Han Ah Reum, Korean Film Council (KOFIC) researcher Park Hee Seong, and producer Seo Ji Yoon.

Running until Nov. 21, the exhibition sheds light on the craft of production design through the works of renowned Korean designers Ryu Seong Hee, Jo Hwa Seong, and Han Ah Reum. 

Film exhibition (KCC)
Film exhibition (KCC)
Film exhibition (KCC)
Film exhibition (KCC)

Among the highlights are Ryu’s “The Handmaiden” and “Decision to Leave” (which earned her the Vulcan Award at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival), Jo’s “Hansan: Rising Dragon,” and Director Han’s “Kill Boksoon” and “Kingmaker.”

The exhibition recreated the memorable sand pile from the final scene of “Decision to Leave” as its introductory set piece and features storyboards, set plans, concept art, and graphic design materials. 

A three-channel video gallery further immerses audiences in signature scenes from the featured films.

“Korean filmmakers do not settle for ‘good enough’—they consistently push boundaries. I am delighted that an exhibition spotlighting Korea’s leading production designers is being held in the Philippines,” said Reyes. 

The opening program also included a talk with production designer Han Ah Reum and producer RuBi on the art direction of “Kill Boksoon” and “Kingmaker,” with KOFIC researcher Park Hee Seong sharing insights on Korean film industry policies.

As the first exhibition in the Philippines devoted to Korean production design, “Scene Architects Build On-Screen Worlds” offers the public an appreciation of the artistic vision behind Korean cinema. 

It is open to visitors on the fifth floor of KCC from Mondays to Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Korea-Philippines Film Talk and Student Short Film Awards

Last Aug. 27, KCC held the awarding ceremony of the Student Short Film Competition and Talkback Session with Korean and Filipino film experts at Cine Adarna at the University of the Philippines Film Institute (UPFI).

The competition, held from April to June under the theme “Korea in the Philippines,” named a team from Cebu Normal University as winners. They will fly to Busan for the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) this month.

The Talkback Session featured production designer Han Ah Reum, researcher Park Hee Seong, producer RuBi, Filipino production designer Eero Francisco, and FDCP’s Rachelle Villaluna. 

Philippines and South Korea film experts during the Talkback Session (KCC)
Philippines and South Korea film experts during the Talkback Session (KCC)
Winners of the Student Short Film Competition (KCC)
Winners of the Student Short Film Competition (KCC)

Discussions focused on the evolving landscape of Korean and Philippine cinema. Han emphasized “the ability to analyze a screenplay” as a core skill, while Francisco encouraged young creatives to “pursue projects that genuinely inspire them.” 

Park and Villaluna underscored the shared priority of nurturing new talent and fostering exchange between the two countries. The program concluded with a screening of “Kingmaker,” designed by Director Han.

Nationwide Screenings

From Aug. 29 to 31, KCC brought Korean cinema to audiences in Metro Manila, Davao, and Iloilo through SM Cinemas. 

Featured titles included “Concrete Utopia,” “I, the Executioner,” and “Kingmaker”—all tied to the works of the exhibition’s featured designers: “I, the Executioner” and “Kingmaker” by Han and “Concrete Utopia” by Jo.

“This festival was more than a series of screenings—it was a shared celebration where we watched, talked, and participated together. We will continue to create opportunities for Korea and the Philippines to connect through culture and grow together,” said KCC Director Kim Myeongjin.  

Guest Country at TINGIN

For the last stop of the 2025 Korean Film Festival, Korea takes the spotlight as guest country and the opening film at the TINGIN: Southeast Asian Film Festival hosted by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) with the theme, “Women’s Ways of Seeing.”

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