On Tuesday night, a screening of the funny fantasy film Jeon Woo Chi (전우치) kicked off this year’s Korean Film Festival, now on its fourth year in the Philippines. The premiere was held at Cinema 4 of Megamall, where the Manila leg of the Festival (from September 18 to 23) will be hosted. The Festival will also be held in SM City Baguio from September 26 to 30, and in SM City Cebu from October 3 to 7.

This year’s theme is “Family Time”, as the line-up of films is a celebration of the family. Family values are a bit part of both Korean and Filipino culture, so this year’s Festival should provide for an interesting viewing experience for the general public, and not just the increasing number of fans who have been caught in the phenomenon of the current Korean wave sweeping the country.

The films to be screened are Jeon Woo Chi (전우치), Spellbound (오싹한연애), Bunt (날아라 허동구), A Barefoot Dream (맨발의 꿈), Late Blossom (그대를 사랑합니다), Arahan (아라한 장풍 대작전) and Highway Star (복면달호).

“Spellbound”, directed by Hwang In Ho

Spellbound is an unusual mix of horror and romance, and focuses on the love story between road magician Jo-goo and the muse for his overnight success, Yu-ri. Yu-ri is haunted by ghosts and Jo-goo, who falls in love with her, has to rise above his fears to save the two of them. The film’s director, Hwang In Ho, visited the Philippines recently to participate in a panel in the Hallyu forum held on September 14 in Makati. (Screenings: SM Megamall – Sept. 19 – 7.30pm | SM Megamall – Sept. 22 – 7.30pm | SM Baguio – Sept. 26 – 7.30pm | SM Baguio – Sept. 28 – 8.00pm | SM Baguio – Sept. 30 – 5.30pm | SM Cebu – Oct. 05 – 2.00pm | SM Cebu – Oct. 06 – 7.30pm)

Jeon Woo Chi, starring Kang Dong Won

The Festival’s premiere film Jeon Woo Chi (which incidentally also stars Kang Dong Won who played a lead role in last year’s Festival’s premiere film) tells the story of the eponymous playful apprentice who gets imprisoned in a scroll, having been wrongfully accused for murder. He is freed 500 years later as a last resort to bring back the order into the world. (Screenings: SM Megamall – Sept. 18 – 7.15pm | SM Megamall – Sept. 21 – 1.30pm | SM Megamall – Sept. 23 – 7.30pm | SM Baguio – Sept. 27 – 8.20pm | SM Baguio – Sept. 29 – 4.00pm | SM Cebu – Oct. 4 – 8.00pm | SM Cebu – Oct. 6 – 4.00pm)

“Bunt”

Bunt deals with the mentally-challenged Dong-ku who suddenly finds himself without ‘use’ upon the arrival of water purifiers. In an attempt to use his only capabilty, Dong-ku finds himself joining the baseball team. (Screenings: SM Megamall – Sept. 19 – 1.30pm | SM Megamall – Sept. 21 – 4.30pm | SM Megamall – Sept. 23 – 12.00pm | SM Baguio – Sept. 27 – 4.00pm | SM Cebu – Oct. 5 – 4.30pm | SM Cebu – Oct. 7 – 2.00pm)

“A Barefoot Dream”

The sports drama A Barefoot Dream is a story of a former soccer prospect who heads to his dreams, the International Youth Soccer Championship, albeit with numerous almost-failures of detours. (Screenings: SM Megamall – Sept. 20 – 1.00pm | SM Megamall – Sept. 21 – 7.30pm | SM Baguio – Sept. 28 – 2.30pm | SM Baguio – Sept. 30 – 12.30pm | SM Cebu – Oct. 4 – 5.00pm | SM Cebu – Oct. 6 – 12.00pm)

“Late Blossom”

Also in the list is the drama Late Blossom, a heartwarming film on the lives of the two couples living not far apart from each other. It follows the two couples’ respective struggles on life and love. (Screenings: SM Megamall – Sept. 20 – 4.30pm | SM Megamall – Sept. 22 – 12.00pm | SM Baguio – Sept. 29 – 7.30pm | SM Cebu – Oct. 5 – 8.00pm)

“Arahan”

Arahan follows the story of the honest yet clumsy rookie policeman Sang-hwan and the martial arts specialist Eui Jin. Together they fight the evil Heuk-woon whose greed wreaks havoc to mankind. (Screenings: SM Megamall – Sept. 20 – 7.30pm | SM Megamall – Sept. 22 – 4.30pm | SM Baguio – Sept. 28 – 5.00pm | SM Baguio – Sept. 30 – 8.00pm | SM Cebu – Oct. 4 – 2.00pm | SM Cebu – Oct. 7 – 4.30pm)

“Highway Star”

Capping off the list is the musical-comedy Highway Star which tells the story of Dal-Ho and his dream. Dal-Ho wants to become a famous rock singer, but was forced to play trot to make ends meet. He later gets the chance to release an album but belatedly realized that he has to sing trot instead of rock n’ roll. His shame drives him to hide his face but his voice and his mysteriousness catapult him to unprecedented success. (Screenings: SM Megamall – Sept. 19 – 4.30pm | SM Megamall – Sept. 23 – 4.30pm | SM Baguio – Sept. 27 – 11.30am | SM Baguio – Sept. 29 – 1.00pm | SM Cebu – Oct. 7 – 8.00pm)

The throng of guests at the 2012 Korean Film Festival premiere on 18 September at Cinema 4, SM Megamall

Admission is free and is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, please visit the KCC homepage at koreanculture.ph, or email the Center at info@koreanculture.ph. Schedules of screenings are subject to change without prior notice.