'2023 International Peace Film Festival' Opens... Over 30 Films from 12 Countries

On the 24th, Opening Film 'Mandela: A Long Journey to Freedom'
Theme 'Light of Hope, Peace Together'... 'Coexistence·Human Rights'
11th Kim Daejung Nobel Peace Film Award Grand Prize 'Ahn Sungki'

Under the theme of 'Light of Hope, Together for Peace,' the '2023 International Peace Film Festival' will grandly open on the 24th at the KEPCO KDN Bitgaram Hall in the Gwangju-Jeonnam Joint Innovation City.

Marking its 11th edition this year, the festival will showcase over 30 diverse films from 12 countries, including the opening and closing films, until the 26th. The opening performance will feature singer Shin Hyung-won, known for 'Firefly' and 'Tuh'.

On the same day as the opening ceremony, the '11th Kim Dae-jung Nobel Peace Film Award ceremony' will also be held. The grand prize winner of the film award was selected as the national actor Ahn Sung-ki (Chairman of the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation).

Opening film of the '2023 International Peace Film Festival' ＜Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom＞. [Photo by IPFF Organizing Committee]

Chairman Ahn Sung-ki began as a child actor and has exemplarily pursued his acting career for 65 years. Having appeared in over 100 films, he has paralleled the development history of Korean cinema and laid the foundation for the promotion of Korean films. Actor Ahn Sung-ki is widely known as a true national actor actively engaged in social contribution activities such as UNICEF campaigns.

Baek Hak-soon (Chairman of the Kim Dae-jung Academic Institute) and the head juror stated, "The selection of this year's Kim Dae-jung Nobel Peace Film Award commemorates President Kim Dae-jung, who laid the cornerstone for the promotion of Korean cinema and created a global Korean Wave boom, and aims to inherit his spirit of peace," explaining the reason for the selection.

He added, "We chose an actor who has made great contributions to the development of Korean cinema and steadfastly walks the path of a model national actor. The award to Chairman Ahn Sung-ki is even more meaningful as it coincides with the upcoming 100th anniversary of Kim Dae-jung's birth early next year."

'100th Anniversary of DJ's Birth'... Actor 'Ahn Sung-ki' Receives Kim Dae-jung Nobel Peace Film Award

This award continues the legacy of President Kim Dae-jung's special love for culture and arts and his focused nurturing of the cultural and artistic fields. It is given to works, directors, or filmmakers who have contributed to the peaceful coexistence of humanity and the advancement of human rights. This year, Chairman Ahn Sung-ki was selected.

Previous recipients include world-renowned Iranian master director Jafar Panahi, China's representative 4th generation director Xie Fei, French master Laurent Cantet, Korean directors Jeong Ji-young, Kim Dong-won, and Chu Sang-mi, former Busan International Film Festival organizing committee chairman Kim Dong-ho, Japanese director Naomi Kawase, and British world-renowned master Ken Loach.

'2023 International Peace Film Festival' poster. [Photo by IPFF Organizing Committee]

Opening Film ... Closing Film

The opening film depicts the life of former South African President Nelson Mandela, from his childhood and resistance against apartheid policies, through 27 years of imprisonment, to his rise as president of South Africa.

It is based on the autobiography of President Nelson Mandela, translated into Korean by President Kim Dae-jung. The selection background reflects President Kim Dae-jung's life of democratic peace and Mandela's journey fighting against racial discrimination and seeking peace beyond ideology.

For us, it offers significant insights and soulful resonance in stopping wars such as 'Russia vs Ukraine' and 'Israel vs Hamas' and creating a peaceful world.

The closing film is . This film features the legendary film composer Ennio Morricone himself sharing behind-the-scenes stories of masterpieces like , , and , along with insights from global artists such as Quentin Tarantino, Wong Kar-wai, and Clint Eastwood.

The Festival is Divided into Three Sections... 'Humanity's Peaceful Coexistence and Advancement of Human Rights'

'Kim Dae-jung: Action for Peace' section screens works remembering Kim Dae-jung's life and struggles, including Studio Jilpung's animated toon , director Kim Jin-hong's , and director Park Bong-nam's , portraying the fierce path toward democracy and unification.

'World Cinema' section features Cannes Film Festival winners such as the Dardenne brothers' and Asghar Farhadi's , recipient of the Cannes Jury Prize.

'Humanity Vision' section includes , winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, , recipient of the Cannes Jury Prize, and the documentary capturing the passionate theatrical activities of Sewol ferry victims' mothers aiming to heal the wounds of the Sewol tragedy.

'Special Screening' will present , starring Ahn Sung-ki, the recipient of the 11th Kim Dae-jung Nobel Peace Film Award, and actor Park Joong-hoon, who will attend as an invited guest to brighten the event.

'2023 International Peace Film Festival' 11th Kim Dae-jung Nobel Peace Film Award Grand Prize An Sung-ki
Photo by IPFF Organizing Committee

Seo Kwon-hee, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee, said, "The interest of filmmakers and citizens visiting our region to illuminate the festival will make the event richer and more substantial."

Meanwhile, the 2023 International Peace Film Festival (Organizing Chairman Yoo In-hak) will begin with an opening ceremony at 6:30 PM on the 24th at KEPCO KDN Bitgaram Hall in Naju, Jeonnam, and continue until the 26th, screening warm and happy films on the silver screen at CGV in the Gwangju-Jeonnam Joint Innovation City and Naju area in early winter.