Guests attend the Opening Night red carpet at The 1st Los Angeles Korean Film Festival (LAKFF), September 24, 2026, at Harmony Gold Preview House in Hollywood.
Opening Night audiences at Harmony Gold Preview House in Hollywood during The 1st Los Angeles Korean Film Festival (LAKFF), September 24, 2026.
The three-day festival drew approximately 2,200 cumulative audience visits, bringing Korean filmmakers and Hollywood talent together.
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 inaugural Los Angeles Korean Film Festival (LAKFF), an event showcasing a wide array of trends and emerging talent within Korean cinema, has wrapped up its successful three-day program running from September 24 through 26. Organized and hosted by the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (led by Director Haedon Lee), the festival drew an estimated 2,200 attendees across its duration and featured 19 films in total. This lineup comprised Korean independent and arthouse films, genre pieces, short works from up-and-coming directors, and projects utilizing artificial intelligence, giving both local audiences and filmmakers a comprehensive look at the breadth and artistic richness of Korean cinema.
Presented under the banner “New Waves, New Voices,” the festival was held at the Harmony Gold Preview House on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood as well as the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles. The Opening Night filled the 334-seat venue, and numerous major screenings and Q&A sessions throughout the three days reached their capacity in advance, underscoring once again the strong enthusiasm among local viewers.
The Opening Night red carpet drew Korean filmmakers and actors such as Director Kim Jee-woon, actor Yoo Ji-tae, and Director Yoon Ga-eun alongside actress Seo Su-bin, star of the opening film The World of Love. Additionally, LA-based filmmakers like Director Maggie Kang, known for the Netflix animated feature KPop Demon Hunters, and actors Kevin Woo, Ji-young Yoo, and Alicia Hannah-Kim participated, highlighting active collaboration between the Korean and American film industries via Korean cinema.
Speaking 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 need for events like this, stating, “It is very meaningful that an event celebrating Korean cinema is being held in LA, the city where films are made,” as worldwide fascination with Korean cinema and storytelling continues to grow.
Showcasing the Full Range of Korean Cinema
The opening film, Director Yoon Ga-eun’s The World of Love, was previously invited to 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 film’s central themes and creative process. Director Yoon described the LA screening as “feeling like I was inside the heart of cinema,” and engaged in a lively discussion with attendees regarding 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, featured representative films including A Tale of Two Sisters and One Fine Spring Day, along with chances for the audience to interact directly with both the director and actor. Following the September 25 screening of One Fine Spring Day, actor Yoo Ji-tae spoke with the crowd, while Director Kim Jee-woon, after the September 26 closing-day screening of A Tale of Two Sisters, held a rich and reflective discussion on how Korean themes and narratives connect with global audiences through genre cinema.
Programs highlighting fresh directions in Korean cinema continued throughout the festival. The Fin, an official selection from 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 attendees.
The “Next Scene” section featured seven award-winning shorts from the 2026 Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival. Among these, Directors Wi Eun-kyung and Son Gwang-min of My Aunt—which received honors including Best Film and Best Actor—joined a Q&A session, showcasing the imaginative worlds of Korean short films and emerging directors.
The “AI & Cinema” program presented the Korean-produced AI short films Sigumun and Fragment of Falling and explored how advancements in AI technology are influencing filmmaking, the creative environment, and the role of creators. Director Jeon Ye-rin, co-director of Sigumun, participated 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 insights drawn from their hands-on experience in the industry.
“It Was Great to Experience a Variety of Korean Films”
Local festival attendees expressed strong appreciation for the chance to see not only popular Korean films but also independent and arthouse works, as well as projects exploring new formats, all in one venue, alongside their enthusiasm for Korean cinema.
One audience member shared, “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.”
During the Opening Night, Director Haedon Lee of the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles stated, “Film is more than just entertainment. It is an art that connects different cultures and people,” outlining the festival’s purpose and importance in delivering diverse Korean films and creators to LA audiences.
Building on the strong local audience interest and the exchanges with the Korean and LA film industries confirmed during this inaugural event, the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles intends to keep introducing a variety of Korean films and creators to LA audiences while expanding 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 was responsible for curating all the films presented at the festival. Urban Creator Inc. acted as the festival’s management agency.
Yunjun Cho
Urban Creator Inc
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