2026 Korean Film Festival concludes with the ‘Stories that Moved Us’

 The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) successfully concluded the 2026 Korean Film Festival (KFF), held under the theme "K-Story: Stories that Move Us." Through a diverse lineup of activities spanning film, literature, and webtoons, this year's festival celebrated the universal power of storytelling while strengthening cultural ties between the Philippines and Korea.

“This year's festival carries the theme 'K-Story: Stories that Move Us,' celebrating stories that transcend pages, screens, and borders. For the first time, our festival features films adapted from Korean webtoons and literary works, showcasing how stories continue to connect people across cultures and generations,” Kim Myeongjin, Director of the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines, expressed during his opening remarks.

Building upon the growing global influence of Korean content, the festival expanded beyond traditional film screenings to present a dynamic three-part program featuring emerging Filipino filmmakers, renowned artists from both countries, and a carefully curated selection of Korean films adapted from beloved webtoons and literary works.

Part I. Kwentong Korea: Student Short Film Competition 

At the opening ceremony, held last August 5, the top three “Kwentong Korea” entries were recognized and awarded. Their film entries were also shown at the beginning of the program.

"When Love Met a Language", a film created by students from the University of the Philippines Diliman, was selected as the Grand Winner, highlighting the creativity and storytelling abilities of young Filipino filmmakers.

As part of their prize, the winning team will travel to South Korea to attend the 2026 Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), where they will have the opportunity to experience one of Asia's most prestigious film festivals and gain firsthand insight into the international film industry.

Part II. Meet the Mentor: Webtoon Artist

As part of the festival's focus on storytelling across multiple platforms, KFF hosted Meet the Mentor: Webtoon Artist, featuring acclaimed Korean webtoon artist Lee Younchang, creator of My Daughter is a Zombie, alongside celebrated Filipino graphic novelist Arnold Arre, known for The Mythology Class and The Children of Bathala.

The two artists participated in a Philippines-Korea talkback session at the Cinematheque Centre Manila, where they shared their experiences in visual storytelling, discussed the growing influence of webtoons and graphic novels, and explored how stories continue to transcend languages, cultures, and mediums.

Lee Younchang also led a special webtoon workshop at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, giving aspiring artists and creators a valuable opportunity to learn directly from one of Korea's leading webtoon creators.

Part III. Korean Film Screenings

The festival concluded with free public screenings held from August 7 to 9 at participating SM Cinema branches, including SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM City Iloilo, and SM Lanang.

This year's lineup showcased stories that successfully made the journey from page to screen, featuring Your Letter, Love in the Big City, My Daughter is a Zombie, Omniscient Reader, and Yumi's Cells: The Movie.

The screenings attracted audiences from across the country, further highlighting the enduring popularity of Korean cinema and the growing appreciation for stories inspired by literature and webtoons.

Through the theme "K-Story: Stories that Move Us," the 2026 Korean Film Festival once again demonstrated storytelling's ability to bridge cultures, inspire creativity, and foster meaningful connections between the Philippines and Korea.

The 2026 Korean Film Festival was presented by the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines in collaboration with the Korean Film Council, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc., the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, and SM Cinema.

For updates and more information, follow @kccphil on Facebook and Instagram or visit the KCC website.