‘2026 ACC Big Door Cinema’ Wraps Up to Cheers from More Than 3,000 Attendees, Bringing an Urban Cinema Picnic to Autumn Nights

The 2026 ACC Big Door Cinema, a signature outdoor film festival hosted by the National Asian Culture Center (ACC), under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and organized by the National Asian Culture Center Foundation (ACCF), drew more than 3,000 attendees and wrapped up on October 31 to great acclaim.

Now in its 10th year, Big Door Cinema expanded significantly beyond its traditional film-screening format, becoming a “one-stop cultural festival” featuring an opening performance, a guest Q&A, a film industry forum and a reception. Three classics that helped usher in the renaissance of Korean cinema—〈200 Pounds Beauty〉 (2006), 〈The Contact〉 (1997) and 〈Shiri〉 (1999)—were selected for screening. The festival drew tremendous interest even before it began: shortly after advance ticket sales opened, all 3,000-plus seats sold out. Audience members brought picnic mats, blankets and snacks, filling the ACC Theater 1 Big Door outdoor stage and savoring the romance of an autumn night.

A stellar lineup of guests over the three days helped turn up the festival heat. On opening night, the 29th, mixed-gender band The Ade’s Anda Eun gave a mellow opening performance of film soundtracks. Then Ju Jin-mo, a star of 〈200 Pounds Beauty〉, which marked its 20th anniversary since release, took the stage to greet the audience and shared how moved he was to see the film again for the first time in 20 years. Lead actress Kim A-jung also sent a special message of thanks to the audience in a video interview.

After the screening of 〈The Contact〉 on the second day, director Chang Yoon-hyun, actor Kim Tae-woo and Myung Films CEO Shim Jae-myung, who appeared as a surprise guest, took the stage and shared a range of behind-the-scenes stories about the production, with journalist Lee Hwa-jung moderating. At the final day’s screening of 〈Shiri〉, Korea’s first blockbuster, director Kang Je-gyu, celebrating his 30th anniversary as a filmmaker, and actor Lee Jong-hyuk, who made his debut in the film, delighted the audience with stories about the passion and behind-the-scenes moments surrounding its release 27 years ago, earning a standing ovation.

The Big Door Film Forum: Director’s Cut to Producing, held during the festival at the National Asian Culture Center’s International Conference Hall, also drew enthusiastic participation from film professionals and young people. Following a keynote by Lee Eun, CEO of Myung Films and chair of the Korean Film Producers Association, director Kang Je-gyu, CEO Shim Jae-myung and Won Dong-yeon, CEO of Realize Pictures, joined as panelists. They looked back on 30 years of the Korean film industry and held an in-depth discussion on future strategies in the OTT era.

Kim Myeong-gyu, president of the ACC Foundation, said, “We will develop this festival beyond a place to watch movies into a cultural space where people meet, and a film festival where the audience takes center stage.” Cine de Epée CEO Kim Ju-hee, who served as the festival’s executive producer, also expressed her gratitude, saying, “I was deeply moved by the passion of the audience members who stayed to watch films despite the rain and cold.” ACC Big Door Cinema is set to return next fall with an even more diverse program.

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