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| EU Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez speaks during the opening ceremony of the European Union Film Festival 2022 at the Seosomun Shrine History Museum in central Seoul, Oct. 5. Courtesy of Delegation of the EU to Korea |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
A feast of European films is offered throughout October as the European Union Film Festival 2022 brings 19 award-winning titles from Europe to Korea.
The Delegation of the European Union to Korea, along with the embassies of the 18 EU member states and Ukraine, is presenting the festival at the Seosomun Shrine History Museum in central Seoul on weekends through Oct. 23.
EU Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez emphasized that the event, returning after a two-year hiatus, is organized through cooperation among the embassies of EU member states as well as Ukraine.
"It really is a work of the Europe team, together trying to bring through culture diplomacy the realities and the cultural diversity that is certainly one of the key assets of Europeans," Castillo Fernandez said during the opening ceremony of the festival on Oct. 5.
"These are 19 films that will bring us together through our journey through the magic of cinema, because we will see the European perspective, history, language and different cultures. And it is a wide selection from dramas to thrillers and from animated films to documentaries."
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| Lithuanian Ambassador to Korea Ricardas Slepavicius introduces the film "Mariupolis" and its director Mantas Kvedaravicius, during the opening ceremony of the European Union Film Festival 2022 at the Seosomun Shrine History Museum in Seoul, Oct. 5. Courtesy of Delegation of the EU to Korea |
The ambassador said that the opening film, "Mariupolis," carries a "very strong message" from Europe.
The 2016 Lithuanian documentary, directed by Mantas Kvedaravicius, depicts everyday life in the Ukrainian port city, situated to the northeast of Crimea.
Lithuanian Ambassador to Korea Ricardas Slepavicius gave a brief introduction to the film and spoke about its creator, who passed away in Ukraine during the Russian invasion in March this year.
"Kvedaravicius studied in Lithuania but he had a girlfriend in Ukraine and he made a documentary there. When Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year, Kvedaravicius headed back to the Ukrainian city to shoot a sequel," Slepavicius said.
"He brought supplies to help people in the city and tried to capture the life of people there. However, he was shot and killed in Mariupol and his girlfriend later found his dead body on the street," he said.
The sequel, "Mariupolis 2," was completed by Kvedaravicius' partner, Hanna Bilobrova, after his death.
"Kvedaravicius' film is not about war, but about life next to war and life despite war," the ambassador said.
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| The ambassadors of EU member states and Ukraine make a toast to Lithuanian Ambassador to Korea Ricardas Slepavicius during the opening ceremony of the European Union Film Festival 2022 at the Seosomun Shrine History Museum in Seoul, Oct. 5. Courtesy of Delegation of the EU to Korea |
Other films presented throughout the festival include "Another Round" from Denmark, "Deserted" from Estonia, "Lola" from Belgium, "Dating Amber" from Ireland, "The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki" from Finland, "And Then We Danced" from Sweden, "Le Prince" from Germany, "Nothing Wrong" from Italy, "The Whiskey Bandit" from Hungary, "A Day in the Life of a Teddy Bear" from Greece, "Sanremo" from Slovenia, "Let There Be Light" from Slovakia, "Fire Will Come" from Spain, " Comic Sans" from Croatia, "The Father" from Bulgaria, "The Face You Deserve" from Portugal and "My Thoughts Are Silent" from Ukraine.
"Even Mice Belong in Heaven," a 2021 animated film co-produced by the Czech Republic, France, Poland and Slovakia, will wrap up the festival on Oct. 23. Based on the children's book, "Mice Go to Heaven," by Czech writer Iva Prochazkova, the film portrays the journey of an unlikely friendship between a young mouse and a fox.
The film screenings are available on a reservation basis.
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