It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to this year’s Korean Film Festival in Singapore, a wonderful celebration of the vibrant and ever-growing bond between our two nations. Over the years, we have witnessed your enthusiasm and love for Korean culture. Your passion is the heartbeat of this festival, driving us to bring you even more compelling stories from Korea.

This year, our festival revolves around the theme Circle of Life. As life itself is a series of interconnected experiences, so too is this festival a gathering of stories that connect us all. We are particularly proud to open the festival with <A Bee and a Silkworm>, an award-winning film selected in cooperation with the Seoul International Eco Film Festival. Through this film, we hope to spark meaningful conversations about our shared responsibility to protect our planet, a value deeply embraced by both Korea and Singapore.

Beyond this remarkable opening film, we have curated a special selection of short films that continue the dialogue on sustainability, alongside a diverse lineup of films ranging from thought-provoking dramas to light-hearted comedies. The films presented here are more than just stories on a screen; they are windows into the culture, values, and dreams that unite us all.

Such a festival could not be possible without the dedication and hard work of many. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Singapore Film Society (SFS) and its partners, whose tireless efforts have made this event possible. Your dedication and support have been instrumental in making this festival a grand success.

Thank you once again for your continued support, and may your love for Korean cinema continue to flourish through this festival and beyond.

Please, sit back, enjoy the films, and let the Circle of Life unfold before your eyes.

Thank you and 감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida).

HONG Jin-Wook
Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Singapore

I am delighted, once again, to welcome one and all to our Korean Film Festival in Singapore.

Many film festivals focus on raising general awareness of the cinema output from lesser-known countries in this industry. In contrast, of course, Korea is not only world-renowned for high-quality media content, but also admired everywhere for the phenomenal commercial as well as artistic success of the popular Korean Wave in audio-visual popular entertainment.

What this means for any film festival comprising Korean productions is a beautiful curatorial canvas on which to select and showcase an incredible variety and depth of Korean movie genres, themes, talents, and messages. We are thrilled, this year, to open with A BEE AND A SILKWORM, as part of our collaboration with the Seoul International Eco Film Festival. Our programme also includes Korean Noir, Korean Auteur, and family-centric films with intimately moving and universally resounding narratives. And, of course, some of the newest releases. It will be nothing short of a feast for Singaporean audiences.

Cinematic collaboration has a long-tail effect beyond consumer enjoyment and public awareness. Last year, we opened with AJOOMMA, directed by Singapore’s He Shuming. This year, the Busan International Film Festival has chosen Eric Khoo’s latest work, SPIRIT WORLD, as closing film. I am confident that more bridges and deeper friendships will continue to be built between Korea and Singapore, as industry practitioners and policymakers continuously meet with and cross-pollinate each other’s ethos and practices.

Have a wonderful time at our Korean Film Festival 2024!

KENNETH TAN
Chairman
Singapore Film Society