On 23rd September, the Korean Film Festival 2022 organised by the Korean Embassy in Sri Lanka together with the Korea Film Council (Kofic) was inaugurated at the BMICH in Colombo. This Festival held annually, was re-launched after a hiatus of two years due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The Korean Film Festival 2022 featured four Korean movies for three days from the 23rd to 25th of September 2022.
In conjunction with the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Sri Lanka this year, the grand opening of the Film Festival was held on Friday 23rd of September, in the gracious presence of many dignitaries including Speaker of the Parliament, Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers, Members of Parliament, Chief of Defence Staff, Governors, Secretaries, Ambassadors and diplomats, cultural dignitaries and media chiefs. Many of Korean residents who live in Sri Lanka also attended the event.
Dr. Bandula Gunawardana Minister of Mass Media and famous film-maker attended the opening ceremony of the Film Festival as the Chief Guest. The Veteran Actress Kala Keerthi Ms. Anoja Weerasinghe graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. Cultural icons, media personnel and many friends of Korea were welcomed warmly by the Korean Ambassador Santhush Woonjin JEONG at the grand reception of the Korean Film Festival.
Delivering the opening remarks, Ambassador Santhush Woonjin Jeong stated that, “For the last 45 years, Korea and Sri Lanka have shared robust and wonderful bilateral relations. Our ties have been strengthened by the people-to-people exchanges and cultural cooperation between our two nations. Celebrating the 45th anniversary this year, the Korean Embassy has organised a series of special cultural events like the Korean Lantern Festival, Quiz on Korea, K-pop World festival and Korean Ambassador’s Taekwondo Championship. This Korean Film Festival will also be an opportunity to bridge our two peoples together and allow Sri Lankans to enjoy a variety of Korean movies. As you know, the Korean movies and dramas have crossed national borders and received international recognition. The Korean Film Festival 2022 is composed of Korean movies featuring many internationally acclaimed actors and actresses. I hope that Sri Lankan audiences will enjoy the interesting roles played by world-famous Korean movie stars in the films at this Festival.”
Dr. Bandula Gunawardana Minister of Mass Media congratulated Santhush Woonjin JEONG for the impressive launch of the Korean Film Festival and commended Excellency’s efforts to strengthen friendly bilateral relations between Korea and Sri Lanka and boost cultural links between the two countries that dated back to 5th century A.D. with people-to people exchanges. He stated, “I am particularly happy to be present on this occasion of sharing the rich cinema of the Republic of Korea with Sri Lankan fans as a person who is actively involved in the local cinema industry by way of producing several award winning films nationally and internationally.’