Itaewon Film Festival challenges boundaries that define, divide 'us'

Selections for the Itaewon Film Festival / Courtesy of Itaewon Film Festival

Cannes, Sundance, Venice and now Bogwang-dong?

The world's newest film festival is coming to a small theater just south of Itaewon, central Seoul's multicultural neighborhood that has been going through many changes.

The inaugural Itaewon Film Festival (ITF) will present over 20 films made in Korea and around the world at Bokwang Theater from Nov. 13 to 16.

Simon Chong and Brittany Lee, the Korean American husband-and-wife co-founders of ITF, noticed a distinct lack of grassroots film festivals when they moved back to Korea recently.

"Unlike other big cities around the world, we found that Seoul doesn't have many neighborhood- or community-driven film festivals," Chong told The Korea Times.

But they had trouble finding cinemas that could host a film fest in Itaewon. Broadening their search, they found Bokwang Theater, a small venue that can seat about 30-40 people, a little south of Itaewon's bustling area, in a neighborhood that is undergoing large-scale urban redevelopment.

"I have always believed that in-person connection with our neighbors is essential to building community. I have come to dislike how the apartment complexes that dominate Seoul often make it harder for people to connect on a human level," Lee said. "By holding an event that celebrates small, intimate community spaces, I hope we can bring back the sense of togetherness that once defined Seoul. We hope, in our own way, to spark awareness and maybe inspire a small change in the neighborhood, even if we can’t stop the redevelopment entirely."

Korea is well-known for its big film festivals, from Busan to Jeonju and Bucheon, but Chong and Lee wanted to create something different.

A poster for Itaewon Film Festival / Courtesy of Itaewon Film Festival

"Korea has many great film festivals, but I’ve often felt they lack inclusivity," Lee said.

"A lot of film festivals in Korea are just for Koreans, so we wanted to create a much more inclusive event and space," Chong said. "Our festival strives to create a space where diverse identities are embraced and every individual’s presence feels natural and welcomed."

They reflected the goals of ITF in the film festival's slogan, "You're Home," which Chong says conveys the warmth of "Welcome Home," but also carries the deeper meaning that you are your own home.

The festival's theme, "Us," explores and challenges the boundaries of the Korean concept of "us," or "woori" in Korean.

"When I came to Seoul and saw many residents, migrants and other diverse communities, I found myself wondering 'Are they part of 'woori nara' (our country) to other Koreans?" Chong said.

Despite having Korean citizenship, Chong emphasized the difficulties he had resettling in his motherland, which made him reflect on how much more unwelcoming it must be for everyone else moving here.

"Observing how Korea is already becoming a multicultural society, I came to feel that, both institutionally and socially, the boundaries of 'us' remain very closed," he said. "This experience may be one of the key reasons why I began questioning the meaning of 'us.'”

"To me, the word 'us' is a double-edged sword," Lee added. "It carries a sense of togetherness, yet at times, it can also feel very exclusive. In Korea, we tend to use the word 'us' quite often, which makes me wonder: How inclusive is the 'us' we so easily use to define ourselves and others? Does it include me? Does it include someone from the other side of the world? Someone with completely different political beliefs?

"Through this festival, we hope to explore that question together: How inclusive is our definition of 'us'?"

For the questions they're asking, Itaewon — and its surrounding communities — could be the perfect place in Korea for this film festival.

"Itaewon carries a symbolic meaning that goes beyond being just the name of a place. When I was growing up in Seoul, the word 'Itaewon' always evoked images of diversity, freedom and, at the same time, a strong sense of community. I remember, as a child, dreaming of living in Itaewon one day for that very reason," Lee said.

"But after returning to Seoul, I realized how much has changed. The recent disaster in the neighborhood has given the name Itaewon a different kind of weight. I hope that this festival can, in its own way, help revive the spirit of Itaewon that once existed, a place where people of different backgrounds could come together and feel at home."

"The reason I love Itaewon is that it has long been a home for those often marginalized in Korean society, including migrants and LGBTQ+ communities," Chong added. "Yet, I still see threats to this sense of home — things like hate, discrimination, disrespect and issues such as illegal drugs. I believe it should be a place where both the community and each of us can truly feel safe. My hope is that the neighborhood continues to be a welcoming and safe home for many — and less construction would be appreciated."

Chong and Lee initially wondered if they would get enough films to put together a festival, but they were flooded with 310 submissions from all around the world.

Lee said they ended up selecting "films that remind us that even when distance separates us, our hearts remain connected."

On the search for tigers in a scene from "Old Man and Tiger" (2024), a 29-minute documentary by Jung Hyeon-jun / Courtesy of Itaewon Film Festival

The founders added that the films selected reflect the borders that divide us, whether physical boundaries or borders that keep us apart in spirit, and reflect on who is included and excluded in "us."

One of the outstanding selections is "The Old Man and The Robot" (2025), a 10-minute claymation produced by local foreign resident Callum Scott-Dyson, about an aging man in a post-apocalyptic world who encounters a malfunctioning robot.

"Old Man and Tiger" (2024) is a 29-minute documentary about a public official in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, who insists that wild tigers still live on the Korean Peninsula. The film follows the official into a dark cave, in pursuit of the tiger he witnessed, among other surprising encounters.

Park Ji-yun's "(Welcome to) The Planet of Orchids" (2024) takes the perspective of orchids experiencing the effects of human colonization.

"SǒN" (2025) by Belgian filmmaker Micha Volders, filmed in Thailand, is a wandering portrait of an ex-convict caught in the shadow of his father and the remnants of a lost career in Muay Thai.

A scene from "SǒN" (2025) by Belgian filmmaker Micha Volders, filmed in Thailand / Courtesy of Itaewon Film Festival

A selection of films on Saturday night, grouped under the theme "About Love," will be hosted by Korean drag queen Hurricane Kimchi. The festival organizers are also collaborating with art collective The Hechyeomoyeo to showcase selected artworks from recent exhibitions during the festival. In addition, Boksoondoga’s makgeolli (fermented rice wine) will be presented and served throughout the festival.

Entry is free for all screenings, but registration is encouraged to guarantee a seat before the cinema fills up. Visit itaewonfilmfest.com or follow @itaewonfilmfest on Instagram for more information.