Korean cinema takes centre stage in Cairo from September 10 to 13 as Korean Movie Nights celebrates its 10th edition.
Organised by the Korean Cultural Centre (KCC) in Egypt, the anniversary programme will take place at Zamalek Cinema, followed by a special screening on September 14 at Founders Spaces in Downtown Cairo.
The programme features seven Korean films covering comedy, drama, historical drama and adventure. The selection includes My Daughter Is a Zombie, It’s Okay!, The King’s Warden, Firefighters, Pretty Crazy, Colony and The Land of Morning Calm.
Three Korean filmmakers will attend the event, presenting their films and taking part in post-screening discussions with Egyptian audiences, filmmakers and industry professionals.
Director Pil Gam-sung will present My Daughter Is a Zombie, a comedy that explores family relationships, emotional bonds and resilience through an unusual storyline. Pil made his feature-film debut with the 2021 action thriller Hostage: Missing Celebrity and later directed the TVING series A Bloody Lucky Day.
Kim Hye-young will introduce It’s Okay!, her feature directorial debut, which examines everyday struggles, relationships and moments of happiness. Kim began her career as an assistant director before co-directing Be Melodramatic and later directing the series Unicorn.
Director Park Ri-woong will present The Land of Morning Calm. This 2024 drama won international acclaim, including the Golden Cyclo Award at the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema.
The anniversary programme will also include a professional forum, “Storytelling in the Korean Film Industry”, on September 11 at Founders Spaces. Running from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., the session will bring Korean and Egyptian filmmakers and cinema professionals together to discuss storytelling approaches, creative practices and developments within Korea’s film industry.
The discussion will be moderated by filmmaker, writer and educator Ally Sunhee Han, whose work includes international co-production, film-industry networks, film technology and initiatives supporting emerging Asian filmmakers.
Over the past decade, Korean Movie Nights has developed beyond a film-screening programme into a platform for cultural and professional exchange. Previous editions have expanded beyond Cairo to cities including Alexandria and Hurghada, while incorporating wider Korean cultural activities.
The 10th edition marks a decade of using cinema to introduce Egyptian audiences to Korean culture and contemporary society while creating direct connections between creative professionals in both countries.
As the programme enters its second decade, the KCC is strengthening its role as a bridge between the Korean and Egyptian film communities, using cinema to encourage dialogue, collaboration and greater cultural understanding.
