▲ This poster of the 14th Seoul International Pride Film Festival is provided by the organizers on Nov. 6, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul International Pride Film Festival, a celebration of queer cinema, is set to open on the 7th, screening 104 films from 30 countries, the festival’s organizing committee announced on the 6th. 

 

This year marks the festival’s 14th edition and its evolution into an international film festival since 2019, with competitive categories including "Best New Director," "Queer Film Critic Award," "Korean Short Film Competition," and "Best Performance in a Korean Short."

 

The opening film, Everything Will Be OK by director Ray Yeung, follows the story of an aging lesbian couple in Hong Kong, exploring themes of identity, family, and the challenges of growing older as a sexual minority. The film was awarded the Teddy Award for Best Feature at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival. 

 

Festival programmer Kim Seung-hwan noted that the film addresses same-sex marriage, a central issue in the LGBTQ+ rights movement in Asia, with precision and sensitivity.

 

The festival will also present a special "Ray Yeung Masterclass," offering an in-depth look at Yeung’s work and artistic vision. In the "Korea Pride Section," eight new Korean films will premiere, including Kim Jun-hyung's Introduction to Anthropology and Choi So-ra’s Boiling.

A special retrospective of Hong Kong queer cinema will feature celebrated works by Wong Kar-wai (Happy Together) and Chen Kaige (Farewell My Concubine), along with Green Night starring Fan Bingbing and South Korean actor Lee Ju-young. 

 

The closing film, Blue and Bright by South Korean director Lee Song-hee-il, delves into the coming-of-age experiences of two young men.

 

The festival will run until the 13th at the CGV Myeongdong Station Cine Library.

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