First Los Angeles Korean Film Festival draws 2,200 across 19 films

The inaugural Los Angeles Korean Film Festival wrapped Sept. 24-26 with screenings, Q&As and panels spotlighting independent, arthouse, short-form and AI-driven Korean cinema. The event brought together Korean filmmakers and Hollywood talent, underscoring growing U.S. interest in Korean storytelling.

Why it matters: - The first Los Angeles Korean Film Festival gave local audiences a broad look at Korean cinema beyond mainstream releases. - The festival also created a direct meeting point for Korean filmmakers and Hollywood talent in Los Angeles. - Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles aims to use the festival to deepen ties between Korean cinema and the U.S. film industry.

What happened: - The inaugural LAKFF ran Sept. 24-26 in Los Angeles under the theme “New Waves, New Voices.” - The three-day festival drew about 2,200 audience visits. - Organizers presented 19 films across independent, arthouse, genre, short film and AI-focused programming. - Screenings and events took place at Harmony Gold Preview House on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood and at the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles. - The 334-seat opening-night venue filled, and many screenings and Q&As reached capacity in advance.

The details: - Opening night featured Korean filmmakers and actors including Director Kim Jee-woon, actor Yoo Ji-tae, Director Yoon Ga-eun and actress Seo Su-bin, whose film The World of Love opened the festival. - LA-based guests included Director Maggie Kang of Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters, along with actors Kevin Woo, Ji-young Yoo and Alicia Hannah-Kim. - Yoo Ji-tae said he was happy to share the potential of Korean cinema and where it can develop. - Maggie Kang said the LA setting made the festival especially meaningful as Korean cinema gains global attention. - The World of Love was previously invited to the Platform section of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and won the FIPRESCI Award at the Warsaw International Film Festival. - Yoon Ga-eun and Seo Su-bin joined a post-screening Q&A on the film’s themes and production process. - The Spotlight section highlighted Kim Jee-woon and Yoo Ji-tae with screenings of A Tale of Two Sisters and One Fine Spring Day. - Yoo Ji-tae spoke with audiences after the Sept. 25 screening of One Fine Spring Day. - Kim Jee-woon took part in a conversation after the Sept. 26 screening of A Tale of Two Sisters. - The Fin, an official selection of the 78th Locarno International Film Festival, had its North American premiere at LAKFF. - Director Park Se-young and actor Go Woo attended that screening and discussed the film with audiences. - The Next Scene section showcased seven award-winning films from the 2026 Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival. - Directors Wi Eun-kyung and Son Gwang-min appeared for a Q&A after My Aunt, which won awards including Best Film and Best Actor. - The AI & Cinema program screened the Korean AI shorts Sigumun and Fragment of Falling. - The AI panel included co-director Jeon Ye-rin, Hollywood screenwriter and producer Matt Allen, and LA-based producer, director and VFX supervisor Erick Geisler. - The panel discussed how AI is changing filmmaking and the creative environment.

Between the lines: - The festival’s programming suggests Korean cinema is expanding beyond star-driven commercial films into shorts, arthouse work and technology-driven formats. - The strong turnout and full screenings point to sustained audience demand in Los Angeles for Korean-language stories and creative exchange. - The presence of both Korean and Hollywood figures signals a festival designed as both a showcase and an industry bridge.

What's next: - The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles plans to keep introducing diverse Korean films and creators to LA audiences. - The center also plans to expand connections with the local U.S. film industry. - The festival’s partners included the Korean Film Council, the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival, the King Sejong Institute Foundation U.S. Office and KALH. - Programmer Kim Young-woo handled film selection, and Urban Creator Inc. served as the management agency.

The bottom line: - LAKFF’s debut showed there is room in Los Angeles for a wider, more experimental view of Korean cinema.