KOREFF
(Korea Refugee Film Festival)
Korea Refugee Film Festival (KOREFF) is an annual, official event commemorating the UN-set World Refugee Day. It is hosted by the community of Korean refugee human rights organizations, the Refugee Human Rights Network, in order to reach and connect with citizens and refugees. The most accessible medium of film has been be used to introduce people to refugees’ stories, not through news or cases, but through their lives. Refugee activists and refugees in Korea themselves have selected movies for this cultural event.
Greetings
Today's Me, Tomorrow's We
오늘의 나, 내일의 우리
There's a refugee in all of us who fear not being understood.
In a time when individual struggles are treated as generational selfishness, we feel more alone than ever. Among us who feel lonely for fear of not being understood, or worse, of being treated as the odd one out, are refugees who have fled their homes due to war and persecution and settled in Korea. Because the word “refugee” is so foreign to us, we have gradually widened the gap between us and them. We wish to convey the message that we should no longer isolate ourselves from each other. When we step out of our own shadows and reach out to each other, "me" who is alone today and can become "we" with refugees tomorrow.
Through film, we hope to convey a vision of ourselves who are alone today, but will be together with refugees tomorrow.
The Korea Refugee Film Festival (KOREFF) is a non-profit human rights film festival held annually to commemorate World Refugee Day (June 20) and to help imagine a community standing in solidarity with refugees. Starting with the inaugural Korea Refugee Film Festival in 2015, we aim to challenge misunderstandings and prejudices about our refugees and live together with them. Through the medium of film, which binds people living in different situations into one community, we wish to share the message that a refugee is another me today and that we can be together tomorrow.
Film List
The Old Oak (나의 올드 오크)
Director Ken Loach
Countries United Kingdom, France, Belgium
Released in 2023
Running Time 113 mins
Rated PG 15
Genre Drama
THE OLD OAK is a special place. Not only is it the last pub standing, but it’s also the only remaining public space where people can meet in a once thriving mining community that has now fallen on hard times after 30 years of decline. TJ Ballantyne (Dave Turner) the landlord hangs on to The Old Oak by his fingertips, and his predicament is endangered even more when the pub becomes contested territory after the arrival of Syrian refugees who are placed in the village without any notice.
In an unlikely friendship TJ meets a curious young Syrian Yara [Ebla Mari] with her camera. Can they find a way for the two communities to understand each other? So unfolds a deeply moving drama about their fragilities and hopes.
For Sama (사마에게)
Director Waad Al-Kateab,
Edward Watts
Country United Kingdom
Released in 2019
Running Time 96 mins
Rated PG 15
Genre Documentary
FOR SAMA is both an intimate and epic journey into the female experience of war. A love letter from a young mother to her daughter, the film tells the story of Waad al-Kateab’s life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, all while cataclysmic conflict rises around her.
Her camera captures incredible stories of loss, laughter and survival as Waad wrestles with an impossible choice– whether or not to flee the city to protect her daughter’s life, when leaving means abandoning the struggle for freedom for which she has already sacrificed so much.
Youth (청년)
Director Paul Wu
Country UNHCR
Released in 2024
Running Time 25 mins
Rated G-rated
Genre Documentary
Even though South Korea is facing a crisis of an ageing community, the youth of today - those aged between 9 and 24 years of age - represent the future for the country and for its place in the world. This film asks young people of various backgrounds living in South Korea about their lives and futures, and about their own attitudes to refugees and foreigners.
Information about buying tickets to 9th KOREFF
The KOREFF has been taking place annually with the voluntary participation of refugee rights activists and is a non-profit file festival which does not seek profits. Also, you will be able to enjoy booths where you can have a fun experience and buy unique souvenirs. Tickets for the 9th KOREFF can be purchased via link below.
*Before you participate, please read the information below:
※ Section 1 includes a 10-minute opening ceremony. The movie starts at 11:20.
- Tickets and rewards will be distributed at the ticket booth (CGV Apgujeong, 3rd floor) on the day of the movie after checking the name and contact information of the ticket holder.
- Seats cannot be reserved in advance and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the door.
- Entry to the theater may be restricted depending on the rating of the screening.
- Refugee Film Festival films are screened on time and admission may be restricted after the start of the screening, so we recommend ticketing at least 30 minutes before the start of the screening.
- If you would like to use a wheelchair seat, please make sure to select that option during the ticketing process.
[Refunds]
- Payments are non-refundable in case of cancellation.
- Purchase of tickets is a one-time donation and a donation receipt can be issued.
- In case you are unable to attend, please text us at 010-8410-6748 and we will arrange for another person to purchase a ticket.
[Parking]
- CGV Apgujeong's parking lot is operated in two buildings, the main building and the new building, and is a mechanical parking lot, so the number of vehicles that can be accommodated is limited and the entrance/exit time may be delayed, so please use public transportation for convenient use.
- Pricing
8,000 won for 3 hours (including 3,000 won for valet parking), 1,000 won per 10 minutes for more than 3 hours. Payment for parking is made in cash at the parking lot.
- Parking Lot Valet Parking Location and Information
Main building parking lot (towards McDonald's): 2,3, IMAX (PRIVATE BOX) parking lot/ New Building Parking Lot: ART 1,2, and 4 movie theater parking lots
- Large, R/V and tuning vehicles, supercars, wide wheels and wide tires, vehicles with too low body, and vehicles with excessive mechanical specifications are not allowed to park, so please use the nearby public parking lots.