Korean Film Festival comes to Toowoomba with free screenings

A celebrated Korean film festival has finally expanded beyond capital cities, bringing award-winning movies to regional Queensland during this year's Carnival of Flowers.

About Family is one of the films coming to Toowoomba through the Korean Film Festival in Australia, as part of their initiative to bring Korean culture to regional areas.

In its 16th year, an acclaimed film festival is finally bringing the excitement of Korean cinema to Queensland, as part of a free-screening program bringing culture and award-winning films to regional areas.

Korean film culture has made its way into the limelight in recent years after Parasite became the first foreign film to win Best Picture at the Oscars, and this year the Korean Film Festival in Australia (KOFFIA) is coming to Toowoomba.

Hear Me Our Summer is one of the films coming to Toowoomba through the Korean Film Festival in Australia, as part of their initiative to bring Korean culture to regional areas.

Korean Film Festival programmer Francis Lee said growing up he remembers learning about other cultures through film and he hopes Toowoomba audiences can immerse themselves in Korean culture through this festival.

“People who watch Korean films once, will find themselves wanting to watch more and more,” he said.

Having lived in Australia for 15 years, Mr Lee said he knows how media can play a role in introducing people to different cultures.

“I’ve been living in Australia for 15 years now but there are still cultural differences,” he said.

“So I want audiences to find out what kind of cultural differences there are between Australia and Korea.”

The Toowoomba Regional Council has been involved in several cross-cultural projects to support the local Korean community, including cultural exchange programs.

The Noisy Mansion is one of the films coming to Toowoomba through the Korean Film Festival in Australia, as part of their initiative to bring Korean culture to regional areas.

Living away from Korea, Mr Lee said it is important when little pieces of home are brought to Australia, and it can support Korean expatriate communities.

“Koreans and Korean-Australians living in regional (areas), they will be so pleased to see Korean films on their screens,” he said.

“I hope to see all Australian residents, no matter if they are Australian or Korean, come out and see these films.”

The regional Touring Program will bring four award-winning Korean films to six regional locations across the country.

KOFFIA will be hosted at Strand Cinema in Toowoomba on September 14 during the Carnival of Flowers.

Find more information about the Festival at koffia.com.au.