Opening Film "Coming of Age" Kicks Off the Festival
81 Films Screened for Free Over 5 Days
Jeonnam Province announced that “Nando Film Festival Season 2 Gwangyang,” themed “Colored by Light and Steel,” will be held across Gwangyang City for five days from October 23 to 27, as the autumn sky over the southern region deepens.
This film festival, following the first season held in Suncheon in 2023, is the second edition and serves as the flagship local film festival of the southern region, touring all 22 cities and counties of Jeonnam every two years. Jeonnam Province and Gwangyang City are co-hosting the event, with the Jeonnam Film Commission organizing it.
The opening ceremony will take place at 5:40 p.m. on October 23 at Gwangyang Citizens’ Plaza & Outdoor Performance Hall. The event will begin with a red carpet for actors and directors, followed by an introduction to the festival by Executive Director Choi Soo-jong, welcoming remarks from Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok and Gwangyang Mayor Jung In-hwa, and a congratulatory speech from Jeonnam Provincial Council Chair Kim Tae-kyun.
Additionally, singer Jung Mi-jo, who recently remade IU’s “Adult” and captured the attention of Millennials & Gen Z, will give a celebratory performance. The opening film, “Coming of Age” directed by Jung Seung-oh, which spotlights aspects of Korean society through the theme of family, will also be screened.
On the second day, October 24, the “Container Special Theater” at Steinbeck Korea Gwangyang Port will screen “12.12: The Day,” a film that attracted over 10 million viewers. After the screening, director Kim Sung-soo and actors Lee Sung-min, Kim Sung-kyun, and Park Hoon will join a talk concert to share behind-the-scenes stories about the production process and filming locations in Gwangyang with the audience.
On the third day, October 25, at the same venue, four films directed by actors-turned-directors Ryu Hyun-kyung, Moon Hye-in, Lee Jung-hyun, and Jo Eun-ji will be screened. Some of the directors will appear on stage for a “Guest Visit (GV)” session, directly engaging with the audience to share their creative process, thoughts, and passion.
On October 26, the documentary “Pink Moon,” which focuses on the life and artistic world of Yoon Suk-nam, a trailblazing female Korean painter, will be screened at Jeonnam Provincial Museum of Art. This will be followed by a special lecture from critic Lee Yeon-sook, who has long critiqued popular culture and visual arts.
On the final day, October 27, the awards ceremony will be held at the Grand Performance Hall of Gwangyang Culture & Arts Center, and the French film “Fanfare” will be screened as the closing film, bringing the five-day journey of the Nando Film Festival to a grand finale.
Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok stated, “I hope the Nando Film Festival will develop into a new cultural festival where the cities and spaces of the southern region become a stage, blending local culture, industry, and the arts.” He added, “I look forward to this festival, which embodies the identity and charm of the southern region, establishing itself as the region’s leading festival that delivers inspiration and energy not only to filmmakers but also to residents and tourists alike.”
“Nando Film Festival Season 2 Gwangyang” will utilize eight screens across five venues, including Gwangyang Citizens’ Plaza & Outdoor Performance Hall, Steinbeck Korea Gwangyang Port, Jeonnam Provincial Museum of Art, CGV Gwangyang, and Gwangyang Culture & Arts Center, to offer free screenings of 81 films from 12 countries. Detailed schedules and the list of films can be found on the official Nando Film Festival website or through its official social media channels such as Instagram.
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