Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook Take the Stage… Jecheon International Music Film Festival Screens a Record 189 Films

A gathering of masters returns, bigger than ever

'22nd Jecheon International Music Film Festival' (JIMFF), the only music film festival in Asia, announced its dazzling return with record-high screenings and an overwhelming roster of guests. Running from Sept. 3 to 8 next month, the festival aims to go beyond a simple celebration and showcase the very essence of a total art form where film and music come together.

The Jecheon International Music Film Festival Executive Committee held an official press conference in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 6th and unveiled its main blueprint for this year. Director 'Jang Hang-jun', who serves as executive committee chair, said, "This year, along with screening '189 films', the most of any year, a variety of performance programs will welcome audiences," adding his strong confidence in a high-quality festival.

Above all, what draws attention is the joint appearance of two masters who lead the Korean film industry: directors 'Bong Joon-ho' and 'Park Chan-wook'. They are expected to stand side by side at the opening ceremony, further elevating the festival’s stature. The chair said, "I deeply appreciate the two colleagues I respect not only for their artistic merit but also for their humanity for agreeing wholeheartedly to take part." In addition, prominent figures spanning the cultural world, including writer 'Jeong Seo-kyung', writer 'Kim Eun-hee', profiler 'Kwon Il-yong', actor 'Jeon Mi-do', and anchor 'Seok-hee Son', will join the audience programming in large numbers, adding intellectual richness.

Melodies that color the city, with bold moves and a wider screen

This year’s opening film was selected as 'Kongo Boy' by director and musician Lafi Kiki Pari Alara, who hails from Congo. Also invited in the Cannes International Film Festival’s 'A Certain Regard' section, the work captures the story of a boy who searches for his identity amid a harsh setting shaped by war and migration. Program director Jin Jo-yeong said, "Even inside a brutal African civil war, it depicts the process by which music becomes the driving force for tomorrow with a lively touch—an excellent piece."

The festival trailer is also unconventional. In the video directed by Kim Cho-hee, 'Jang Hang-jun', the executive committee chair, and writer 'Kim Eun-hee' appear in person, sparking attention. The imaginative opening, in which actor Kang Mal-geum holds a large straw to her back and speaks with writer Kim, delivers the festival’s signature originality and upbeat energy to the fullest.

Innovation in the spaces stands out, too. Rather than sticking to the limited venues of the past, the festival turns the entire Jecheon city center into a massive stage for celebrations. The main screening venue, Jecheon Culture Theater (formerly Mega Box), will expand dramatically from the existing four auditoriums to seven. The opening ceremony and the flagship performance 'One Summer Night with K-pop Season 2' will take place in the summer plaza in front of the Jecheon Arts Hall. A new late-night screening program for film lovers, 'Nocturn Special', is also being introduced, with plans to carry the heat of midsummer night through the entire night.

A face that leads romance, previewing the magical nights of Jecheon

Actor 'Ahn Jae-hong', who combines an unmistakable sense of humanity with solid acting skills, has been appointed as the festival’s official promotional ambassador, 'JIM FACE'. He said, "Just the name Jecheon International Music Film Festival brings romance to mind," adding, "This year, the days and nights of Jecheon will offer magical moments to everyone who loves film and music," raising expectations.

The 22nd Jecheon International Music Film Festival is equipped with a once-in-a-generation scale and well-grounded programming. With screens and melodies crossing in the middle of the city, the festival is drawing attention for the catharsis of late summer it is expected to deliver to audiences, helping them leave with memories they will not forget.