The Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the Philippines has kicked off the 2026 Korean Film Festival, bringing a three-month celebration of storytelling through movies, student films, and webtoons.
Running from August to October under the theme “K-Story: Stories that Move Us,” the festival showcases Korean creative arts and culture through three main programs.
A key highlight of the festival was the Student Short Film Competition, centered on the theme “Kwentong Korea.” Gathering 43 entries from Filipino student filmmakers between Jan. 12 and June 30, the contest awarded top honors to “When Love Met a Language.” The winning team earned a trip to attend the 2026 Busan International Film Festival in South Korea this October.
Webtoon enthusiasts can also look forward to special sessions featuring renowned creators Lee Younchang from South Korea and Arnold Arre from the Philippines. The duo will host a talkback session on Aug. 6 at the Cinematheque Centre Manila, followed by a webtoon workshop led by Lee on Aug. 7 at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila.
Rounding out the festivities, film screenings will run from Aug. 7 to 9 at select SM Cinema branches, including SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM City Iloilo, and SM Lanang.
Moviegoers can look forward to a lineup featuring “Your Letter,” “Love in the Big City,” “My Daughter is a Zombie,” “Omniscient Reader,” and “Yumi’s Cells: The Movie.”