Jungnang District to Host Mangwoo Starlight Film Festival

Mangwoo Starlight Film Festival
A Gathering of Stories and Stars
Free Screenings, Citizen Films, and Cultural Experiences at Mangwoo Historical and Cultural Park
Yang Ikjoon Retrospective: Just Watching
Exploring the Power of Korean Independent Cinema
Special Screenings, Director Talks, and Audience Discussions at Arirang Cine Center
Junggye On Village Festival "Pumda"
A Community Celebration for All Generations
Performances, Hands-On Activities, and Local Programs at Junggye On Village Center

[Asia Economy, Reporter Park Jongil] Jungnang District (District Mayor Ryu Gyeonggi) will host the "Mangwoo Starlight Film Festival" at Mangwoo Historical and Cultural Park from September 2 to 4, where visitors can encounter a variety of people and stories.

The released festival poster depicts famous figures resting in the park, such as Yu Gwansun, Han Yongun, and Bang Jeonghwan, as shining stars in the night sky, and captures the scene of many people gathering to enjoy the festival's opening together.

This film festival will showcase a total of 22 films, all free of charge, including one feature film, five short omnibus films, and 16 works produced by local residents through the Citizen Film Academy, in addition to works by professional directors.

The opening ceremony will take place at 7:00 p.m. on September 2, featuring a celebratory performance by a sand animation artist. The opening film is a production supported by the Mangwoo Starlight Film Festival, with participation from film directors Yoon Jaeho, Shinsuke Fujimoto, Lee Sangwoo, Lee Jehan, and Kim Seojin.

During the festival, visitors can enjoy films created collaboratively by Jungnang residents and directors, as well as films with diverse stories such as "Archi's Song, Jeong Taechun." Notably, among the screenings is a short film focused on the genius poet Park Inhwan, who is laid to rest in Mangwoo Historical and Cultural Park, drawing special attention.

In addition to films, the district has also prepared various side events for visitors to enjoy, including a flea market, special effects makeup, and face painting experience booths.

On the outdoor stage during the festival, performances by the 1318 Youth Imagination Factory and the group Jin Woochul will add to the festive atmosphere. There will also be a film music lecture by music director Kim Inyoung, known for producing music for dramas such as "Reply 1997" and "Reply 1994," as well as an abstract painting experience using acrylic paints and backdrop techniques, providing a variety of cultural experiences.

Ryu Gyeonggi, Mayor of Jungnang District, stated, “The Mangwoo Starlight Film Festival, being held for the first time this year, is especially meaningful as residents can not only enjoy culture as consumers but also participate in its creation as producers. We will continue to offer diverse programs so that residents can enjoy valuable cultural experiences.”

Seongbuk District (District Mayor Lee Seungro) and Arirang Cine Center will hold "Yang Ikjoon Retrospective: Just Watching" at Arirang Indie Wave in Arirang Cine Center from August 26 to 28.

Arirang Cine Center, established in 2004 as the nation’s first public cinema, was created to promote and commemorate Seongbuk District as the filming location of the historic national film "Arirang" by Chunsa Na Woonkyu.

Out of its three theaters, one is operated exclusively as an independent film theater (Arirang Indie Wave). It screens low-budget and diverse independent films that are rarely shown in mainstream cinemas, catering to a wide range of citizen interests and serving as an incubator for nurturing local talent in visual culture.

This "Yang Ikjoon Retrospective: Just Watching" aims to examine the present and future of independent film within the rapidly changing film industry ecosystem during the COVID-19 pandemic, through Yang Ikjoon, a director and actor representing Korean independent cinema.

Audiences can watch "Breathless," which is credited with laying the foundation for Korean independent film, as well as eight short films by Yang Ikjoon. Additionally, films in which he lent his voice, such as Yeon Sangho’s "The King of Pigs" and "The Fake," as well as Zhang Lu’s "A Quiet Dream" and Kim Yanghee’s "The Poet and the Boy," will be screened. On August 26 and 27, open audience discussions will be held, featuring not only Yang Ikjoon but also actors Kim Kkotbi, Lee Hwan, Heo Junseok, Son Minjun, Jang Wooyeon, producer Cho Younggak, and Cine21 journalist Kim Somi.

Lee Seungro, Mayor of Seongbuk District, stated, “It is very meaningful to hold a special retrospective for director and actor Yang Ikjoon, who demonstrates the strength of Korean independent cinema, at Arirang Cine Center-the nation’s first public cinema established to promote Seongbuk District as the filming location of ‘Arirang,’ a film that ushered in the golden age of Joseon cinema from the periphery of Japanese film. I ask for your continued interest and support for aspiring talents in the field of visual culture who dream of becoming the next Na Woonkyu or Yang Ikjoon.”

For more detailed information about the "Yang Ikjoon Retrospective: Just Watching," please visit the Arirang Cine Center website.

Nowon District (District Mayor Oh Seungrok) will hold the Junggye On Village Festival "Pumda" on Saturday, August 27, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., an event for residents of all ages from infants to seniors.

This event, to be held at the Junggye On Village Center, aims to foster community by facilitating neighborly encounters and to promote the various facilities housed in the center, as well as the district’s customized programs for each stage of life.

The main stage of the festival will be the auditorium on the second floor. The main program will begin at 4:00 p.m. with a Nanta performance by the Nowon District Folk Art Troupe, followed by a kalimba performance and choir by children who use the Ai-Hyu Center within Junggye On Village Center, and a dance performance by the professional B-boy team "A Run Crew," representing Nowon.

In addition to the auditorium, a variety of side events for residents will be held throughout the center, from the first to the fourth floor. Programs and performances for each facility are designed so that all generations, from infants to seniors, can enjoy and participate.

On the first floor, at Eoulmaru, cookies made by youth-run stores and various foods prepared by the Junggye 4-dong Residents’ Council will be sold. On the outdoor stage on the first floor, youth club busking performances will take place from 4:30 to 5:00 p.m., further enhancing the festival atmosphere.

In the small library on the first floor, there will be a fan-making craft experience, while in the shared childcare room, parents can make flower petal candle holders and children can participate in a fire truck craft activity. The shared childcare playroom, which is usually closed on Saturdays, will be open from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on this day only.

On one side of the second-floor auditorium, experience booths will be set up for making masks and phone straps, leather key rings, coffee drip bags, and air fresheners. Anyone can participate by paying a small materials fee. In the community room, a puppet show planned and performed by residents will be staged twice (at 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.), providing enjoyable entertainment.

On the third floor, which houses facilities for seniors and youth, there will be booths promoting counseling and welfare programs for seniors, as well as quiz, board game, and coding program experiences for youth, providing a variety of activities for all.

Finally, on the fourth floor, a special kiosk experience zone for seniors will be operated. The Seniors’ Youth Caf? will offer an espresso ink wash painting experience open to all ages, and a screening of the classic silent film "Modern Times." The Seniors’ Billiards Club will open its billiards room to non-members on the day of the event, allowing anyone to enjoy billiards.

The Junggye On Village Center, which opened in February this year, is a multi-cultural complex with a total area of 2,989 square meters, spanning from one basement level to four floors above ground. It houses ten facilities representing the district’s life-cycle programs, including the Ai-Hyu Center, Youth Hideout, and Senior Employment Support Center, and plays a central role in building resident networks.

Oh Seungrok, Mayor of Nowon District, stated, “The Junggye On Village Center is a community vitality hub for all generations, from infants to seniors. I hope that this festival will encourage more residents to use the center and participate in various community activities.”