BFI announce programme for Echoes in Time: Korean Films of the Golden Age and New Cinema

The BFI announce the complete programme for Echoes in Time: Korean Films of the Golden Age and New Cinema, a major new season running from 28 October – 31 December at BFI Southbank.

Programmed by Young Jin Eric Choi and Goran Topalovic, the season focuses on two groundbreaking periods in Korean cinema, when huge technical, stylistic and thematic innovations took place: the Golden Age of the 1960s, and the New Korean Cinema movement (1996-2003). Both periods gave birth to wide-ranging and seminal works, successfully combining genre thrills with arthouse sensibilities. This landmark season, which features many titles rarely screened in the UK, was prepared in collaboration with the Korean Film Archive (KOFA), which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Featured in the programme are 12 digital restorations and 5 digital remasters supervised by KOFA, as well as unique 35mm prints from its archival collection. The season is also presented in partnership with the Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) and the Korean Film Council. The KCCUK hosts the annual London Korean Film Festival, which returns for its 19th edition from 1 – 13 November when the BFI’s major season will also feature two special strands programmed by the Festival and curated by Anton Bitel and Eunji Lee.

Although South Korean cinema didn’t break out into the global mainstream until the Cannes and Oscar® success of PARASITE (and on the small screen with SQUID GAME), it had been producing remarkable films for decades despite unique historic and socio-economic challenges. This BFI season will serve as a perfect entry point and introduction for audiences to the rich legacy of Korean cinema, with programmers Young Jin Eric Choi and Goran Topalovic introducing many films in person at BFI Southbank. Titles screening in late October and November will include AIMLESS BULLET (Yu Hyun-mok, 1961), A WOMAN JUDGE (Hong Eun-won, 1961), THE MARINES WHO NEVER RETURNED (Lee Man-hee, 1963), NOWHERE TO HIDE (Lee Myung-se, 1999), THE CONTACT (Chang Yoon-hyun, 1997), JOINT SECURITY AREA (Park Chan-wook, 2000), and SAVE THE GREEN PLANET! (Jang Joon-hwan, 2003), with a screening on 30 October followed by Q&A with director Jang Joon-hwan. Titles screening in December will include THE COACHMAN (Kang Dae-jin, 1961), GORYEOJANG (Kim Ki-young, 1963), THE SEASHORE VILLAGE (Kim Soo-yong, 1965), THE DAY A PIG FELL INTO THE WELL (Hong Sangsoo, 1996), PEPPERMINT CANDY (Lee Chang-dong, 1999), BARKING DOGS NEVER BITE (Bong Joon-ho, 2000), OLDBOY (Park Chan-wook, 2003) and UNTOLD SCANDAL (E J-young, 2003).

From new releases and independents to special strands, the London Korean Film Festival is the largest Korean film festival outside of Korea and to complement the BFI’s ECHOES IN TIME season, the Festival will present two strands of films at BFI Southbank – Women’s Voices, showcasing 15 years of Korean female directors, and Cinema Now, celebrating contemporary voices in Korean cinema. This special programme, curated by Anton Bitel and Eunji Lee, will include numerous introductions and Q&As, as well as the Women’s Voices Forum on 11 November when directors Kim Hye-young (IT’S OKAY!) and Kim Da-min (FAQ) will be in conversation with Professor Jinhee Choi. Both IT’S OKAY! (Kim Hye-young, 2023) and FAQ (Kim Da-min, 2023) will also screen during the programme, followed by Q&As with their respective directors. Other titles playing will include SISTERS ON THE ROAD (Boo Ji-young, 2008), A GIRL AT MY DOOR (Jung July, 2014), THE TRUTH BENEATH (Lee Kyoung-mi, 2015), CONCERNING MY DAUGHTER (Lee Mi-rang, 2023), FOLLOWING (Kim Se-hwi, 2023), MOTHER’S KINGDOM (Lee Sang-hak, 2023) and THE TENANTS (Yoon Eun-Kyung, 2023).