The Korea Expat Film Festival: An Interview with Kevin Lambert
The Korea Expat Film Festival is happening this weekend in Seoul, South Korea and if you haven’t heard about it, here’s a one stop spot to get all the info you need. The festival in Korea will showcase almost 40 films from more than 12 countries around the world. An idea born from a small group of expat filmmakers and Seoul Players, a non-profit theater company in Korea that has been producing shows since 2001.
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I interviewed the festival’s director Kevin Lambert to get some background on the event that the KIXFF Marketing Coordinator is purporting is the “first of its kind”. Here’s what he had to say:
When you say this festival is the “first of its kind” what are you referring to?
The Korean Indie and Expat Film Fest is the first “Expat” film fest in the world, as far as I know. At least it’s the only expat film fest currently in operation.
How did this get started? Who had the idea? Was there something someone felt was missing in the Seoul/Korea/World scene?
I came up with the project for a grant proposal, though I didn’t win the grant, I continued the idea and let it grow. I have felt Seoul has so much creative energy in the expat community that wasn’t being seen elsewhere. It’s truly unique… and likely to do with the my hunch that we may have the world’s largest population of nomadic displaced liberal arts majors in the world.
Can you tell me about the special events happening this weekend?
Sure. We have some large screenings and some intimate screenings, we have producers giving workshops and fight choreographers breaking down how they make a scene. We also have some great parties. But if I could only recommend a few, I’d say the Opening Night and Closing Night films are pretty special (and stay for the afterparty).
Are there any particular films that will be showcased this weekend that struck a cord with you?
Home Movie by Mark Ostrowski, Dive by Elief Landsend, and The Winds that Scatter by Chris Bell are all pretty phenomenal. And the Midnight Shorts. Even if only for the panty fairy.
Your Marketing Coordinator mentioned that 12 countries will be represented in the festival, what countries are they?
Oh man, off the top of my head? France, Argentina, USA, Spain, Norway, Tuvalu, UK, Korea of course… It’s late and my brain hurts.
Are there any particular themes or genres or are they all across the board?
They mostly orbit around the idea of displacement. The whole expat thing. Of course some don’t and are just great examples of low-budget filmmaking. Put those together and it’s about showing people how to make their own stories.
Is there anything else you’d like to share or you want me to share?
KIXFF is a small fest focused on intimacy and fun. We run from 6/18 to 6/21 and venues are in Haebangchon, Kyungridan, Jongro 3ga and Gangnam. Tickets are priced low so come see everything. Get tickets at kixff.com
Website: kixff.com/
Dates: June 18 ~ 21, 2015
Screening Venues: Battered Sole, Body & Seoul Martial Arts & Fitness Center, Indie Space/Seoul Cinema, Camarata Music Company, 7Brau
Events to Check Out:
- Thursday, June 18, 2015: Opening Party @ 6-1 Lounge in Riverside Hotel, Gangnam
- Thursday, June 18, 2015: Producer’s Workshop with Joondong Lee @ Camarata Music Company Studio, Haebangcheon
- Thursday, June 18 ~ 21, 2015: Film Screenings @ Various venues
- Saturday, June 20, 2015: Afterparty w/ NOV, IAN L, LIGRYE, & DAVID EPS @ club Decibel, Itaewon
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