Attendees walked the Opening Night red carpet at The 1st Los Angeles Korean Film Festival (LAKFF) on September 24, 2026, held at Harmony Gold Preview House in Hollywood.
Opening Night viewers gathered at Harmony Gold Preview House in Hollywood during The 1st Los Angeles Korean Film Festival (LAKFF) on September 24, 2026.
The three-day festival attracted around 2,200 total audience visits, uniting Korean filmmakers with Hollywood talent.
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Film is more than just entertainment. It is an art that connects different cultures and people.”— Haedon Lee, Director, KCCLALOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, October 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The first-ever Los Angeles Korean Film Festival (LAKFF), which highlighted a wide array of cinematic trends and emerging voices from Korea, wrapped up its three-day program running September 24 through 26. Organized and presented by the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (led by Director Haedon Lee), the festival drew roughly 2,200 attendees across the event and featured 19 films in total—among them Korean independent and arthouse works, genre pieces, shorts from up-and-coming directors, and projects incorporating AI technology—giving local audiences and filmmakers a look at the full range and artistic richness of Korean cinema.
Staged under the theme “New Waves, New Voices,” the festival took place at Harmony Gold Preview House on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood and at the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles. The 334-seat venue was completely full for the Opening Night, and numerous major screenings and Q&A sessions throughout the three days sold out ahead of time, underscoring once more the strong enthusiasm among local viewers.
The Opening Night red carpet featured Korean directors and actors such as Kim Jee-woon, Yoo Ji-tae, as well as Director Yoon Ga-eun and actress Seo Su-bin from the opening film The World of Love. Additionally, LA-based filmmakers—including Director Maggie Kang of the Netflix animated feature KPop Demon Hunters—and actors Kevin Woo, Ji-young Yoo, and Alicia Hannah-Kim attended the event, highlighting active cross-industry collaboration between Korea and the United States through Korean cinema.
At the Opening Night, actor Yoo Ji-tae remarked, “I am happy to have the opportunity to share the potential of Korean cinema and the direction in which it can develop.” Director Maggie Kang stressed the ongoing importance of festivals like this one, stating, “It is very meaningful that an event celebrating Korean cinema is being held in LA, the city where films are made,” as worldwide interest in Korean storytelling and cinema continues to grow.
Presenting the Full Spectrum of Korean Cinema
Director Yoon Ga-eun’s The World of Love, which served as the opening film, was chosen for the Platform section of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and earned the FIPRESCI Award at the Warsaw International Film Festival. Following the screening, Director Yoon Ga-eun and actress Seo Su-bin took part in a Q&A with the audience, delving into the movie’s themes and creative process. Director Yoon described the LA screening as “feeling like I was inside the heart of cinema,” and engaged the crowd in a lively discussion about the violence and wounds depicted in the film, as well as life after enduring such experiences.
The “Spotlight” segment, focusing on the work of Director Kim Jee-woon and actor Yoo Ji-tae, showcased notable films such as A Tale of Two Sisters and One Fine Spring Day, giving attendees the chance to meet the director and actor directly. Following the September 25 screening of One Fine Spring Day, actor Yoo Ji-tae conversed with the audience; after the September 26 closing-day screening of A Tale of Two Sisters, Director Kim Jee-woon led a thoughtful discussion on how Korean themes and narratives connect with global audiences through genre cinema.
Throughout the festival, programs highlighting new directions in Korean cinema continued. The Fin, an official selection of the 78th Locarno International Film Festival, had its North American premiere, with Director Park Se-young and actor Go Woo present to discuss the film with viewers.
The “Next Scene” section featured seven award-winning titles from the 2026 Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival. Among these, Directors Wi Eun-kyung and Son Gwang-min of My Aunt—which took home honors including Best Film and Best Actor—joined a Q&A and showcased the imaginative worlds of Korean shorts and emerging filmmakers.
The “AI & Cinema” program presented the Korean-produced AI short films Sigumun and Fragment of Falling, and explored how AI technology advances are reshaping filmmaking, the creative landscape, and the role of artists. Director Jeon Ye-rin, co-director of Sigumun, participated remotely from Korea, while Hollywood screenwriter, producer, and AI content strategist Matt Allen, along with LA-based producer, director, and VFX supervisor Erick Geisler, served as panelists, offering varied viewpoints grounded in their own creative work.
“It Was Great to Experience a Variety of Korean Films”
Local festivalgoers expressed strong appreciation for the chance to see not only popular Korean movies but also independent, arthouse, and experimental works all in one setting, alongside their enthusiasm for Korean cinema.
One attendee noted, “It was a very good opportunity to experience a variety of Korean cinema in one place, beyond major Korean films that are usually more accessible,” adding, “I hope such meaningful programs will continue in the future.”
Speaking at the Opening Night, Director Haedon Lee of the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles said, “Film is more than just entertainment. It is an art that connects different cultures and people,” explaining the festival’s purpose and significance in bringing diverse Korean films and creators to audiences in LA.
Building on the strong local audience interest and the exchanges between the Korean and LA film industries seen during the inaugural event, the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles intends to keep introducing a variety of Korean films and filmmakers to LA audiences and to deepen ties with the U.S. film industry.
The festival was organized in partnership with the Korean Film Council (Chairman Han Sang-jun), the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival, the King Sejong Institute Foundation U.S. Office (Director Han Kwang-hyun), and KALH. Programmer Kim Young-woo handled the programming for all films shown at the festival. Urban Creator Inc. acted as the festival’s management agency.
Yunjun Cho
Urban Creator Inc
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