This week, Seoul is hosting a film festival centered around the theme of food.
It's the 5th Seoul International Food Film Festival,... and there will be plenty of culinary delights that visitors can try, while they enjoy the films.
Lee Min-sun reports. A festival satisfying all the senses... kicks off this Friday in Seoul.
The Seoul International Food Film Festival runs for 6 days at Seoul Namsan Gukakdang and the Daehan Cinema in Chungmuro. First held in 2015, the festival aims to explore various aspects of life and culture from around the world through the familiar media of food and film. The organizers also hope to raise awareness of sustainable and healthy eating.
There'll be total of 67 feature films and shorts from around the world along with plenty of things to do on the sidelines like cooking and tasting events and guest speakers. It's meant to be a relaxing experience.
This year's opening film is 'Food Fighter' by Australian director Dan Goldberg. It's a documentary about the environmental problems caused when food goes to waste while some people in Australia struggle to get enough to eat every day. The screening will be followed by a special reception called Australian Night, to celebrate the country's food, film, lifestyle and culture.
And to mark the 100th anniversary of Korean film, they'll be showing some classic Korean films about food or related issues from the 1950s to the 1990s. It will be a chance to explore and understand the changes in Korean society and culture.
The signature program is the so-called dining cinema where audiences can watch movies and enjoy the food they feature. A total of 8 dining cinema programs are offered, serving Australian barbeque, French cuisine, Spanish and Korean dishes along with beer, wine or Korean liquor. Because there are a limited number of seats for these programs, those interested should make a reservation at the festival's website. Tickets for the dining cinema range from 15,000 to 30,000 won which is about 12 to 25 U.S. dollars.
Film directors, critics and chefs will also give talks after the movie screenings, discussing various aspects of food, culture, healthy eating and sustainability. And there are also free outdoor screenings at Namsangol Hanok Village that show short documentaries and animated films.
Lee Min-sun Arirang News.