Jangsu Mountain Village Film Festival: 33 films break through from 201 countries, with ‘Viet Nam Bodhisattva’ in the spotlight

Festival set for next month’s 8-11, with opening films selected from 2,159 entries

A message of solidarity launched from the margins draws attention from 201 countries

Jangsu County in North Jeolla province will host the 5th Jangsu Mountain Village Film Festival from next month’s 8 through 11 at the Kkokdu Puppet Theater and around Hannuri Cinema.

The central theme of this year’s festival is “Borders and Expansion.” Only 33 films earned the chance to meet audiences after emerging from fierce competition among 2,159 entries submitted by 201 countries. The films confront the structural suffering faced by marginalized people while also taking an in-depth look at the human dignity that enables people to overcome it and the warm solidarity shared across generations.

Two films have been selected to open the festival. They are director Kim Geun-ho’s “Viet Nam Bodhisattva,” a distinctive occult comedy about the stories of young people from Korean and Vietnamese multicultural families, and director Heo Ga-young’s “First Summer,” which captures the agency and emotions of older women with a delicate eye.

The “Jangsu Mountain Village Film Festival” is more than a cultural event. Drawing on the Daedong philosophy of Jeong Yeo-rip, a revolutionary thinker of the Joseon era, it projects the weighty values of equality and coexistence onto the screen.

Jangsu County Executive Choi Hoon-sik stressed that this year’s festival would break down regional boundaries and serve as a platform for expanding the cultural horizons of communication with the world. He also said the festival would share the diverse lives and community values of people around the globe and grow into a true celebration that brings local residents and filmmakers together.