The 2024 Florence Korea Film Festival
March 21 – 30: KOREA FILM FESTIVAL.
Florence’s Korea Film Festival is returning for its 22nd edition. Events will take place at venues across town, with screenings at Cinema La Compagnia (via Cavour 50/r), an exhibition at Palazzo Medici Riccardi (via de’ Ginori, 14), masterclasses in addition to a grand finale concert at Teatro Verdi (via Ghibellina, 99).
The Korea Film Festival serves as an artistic celebration of the relationship between Korea and Italy. The festival program offers several screenings every day, with more than 25 different films and over 40 shorts over 10 days. All showings will be in Korean, with both English and Italian subtitles.
Notable entries include the hit “Cobweb” a 2023 horror film, and a series of 1960s movies, focusing on an important decade in the Korean movie scene. Individual Info on all the screenings, including synopses, and cast information can be found in the event’s online booklet.
In addition to films, the festival includes a museum exhibition on webtoons, and several masterclasses with famous Korean actors, writers, and filmmakers, concluding with a concert from one of Koreas greatest soundtrack composers.
Admission is available at various price levels, ensuring the events are accessible to visitors with many different budgets.
Festival Ticket Pricing
- Festival pass (including access to all masterclasses and screenings): €65 (€35 for those under 25)
- Individual afternoon screenings: €5
- Individual evening screenings: €7
- Day pass for all afternoon and evening screenings: €14
- Day pass for Shorts screenings: €4
- Masterclasses: €5-15
For more detailed pricing information and to buy tickets: https://koreafilmfest.com/en/
Free Opening Ceremony
The Korea Film Fest will open at La Compagnia Cinema on Thursday, 21 at 8 pm with a ceremony featuring two special guest presenters from the world of Korean film. The first notable guest is Song Kang-ho, one of the most acclaimed Korean actors who performed in the famous film “Parasite” and 40 other Korean films. The other presenter, Kim Jee-Woon, is an eclectic director of several films featured at the festival. Together, Kim and Song will introduce the Italian premier of “Concrete Utopia,” a new thriller directed by Um Tae-Hwa, who will also be present.
“Concrete Utopia” tells the story of an earthquake that devastates Seoul, leaving only the imperial palace standing. This once peaceful and luxurious residence becomes the battleground of the post- disaster fight for survival.
Closing Ceremony
Another notable guest attending the festival is Jung Jae-il, a musician who wrote the soundtracks for both “Parasite” and “Squid Game,” two of the most globally popular works of Korean film. Jung Jae-il will be performing the closing concert for the festival on March 31 at 8 pm at Teatro Verdi. Tickets for the performance cost €15 full price, and reduced-price tickets are available for €10. Tickets can be purchased here.
The legendary composer will also be hosting a masterclass discussing composition for cinema on Friday, March 29 at 11 am. The class only costs €5, offering an affordable once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Korean cinema and music fans.
Several other notable figures of Korean Cinema will attend screenings and masterclasses throughout the week, information on these valuable opportunities is available at https://koreafilmfest.com/en/
Webtoon Wonderland
From March 22-29, the Palazzo Medici Riccardi will host a show that explores the world of digital comics and video, open daily from 11 am – 1 pm and 2 pm – 7 pm. Webtoons have been popular for years but have recently seen a surge of interest as several popular digital comics have been adapted into movies or TV shows. The exhibition, which has free admission, is made possible by a collaboration with Chungkang University, a Korean university that specializes in cultural trades such as arts, fashion, film, gaming, and animation.
The Florence Korean Film Festival gives a valuable opportunity for residents and visitors of Florence to become immersed in Korean culture through cinema and events, as well as interact with some of the most important people in Korean film industry right now. (Amaya Gallay)
