Mokpo tests the waters with first sea film festival

The fantasy of watching movies under a cool ocean breeze is about to become a reality.

The first sea-themed film festival in Asia will make its appearance in Mokpo, a city on the coast in South Jeolla, with all 30 films screening free of charge from July 31 to Aug. 3.

Beachside film festivals are currently held in major cities such as San Francisco and Vancouver, and soon, Mokpo will join the list with the opening of the Mokpo Ocean Film Festival.

The event is divided into four sections, which relate to different subjects regarding the high seas.

The first section, “Ocean Panorama,” features movies that discuss the current status of the ocean to show its importance in our lives.

Another segment, “Ocean Cinema,” presents various movies with the sea as their background. The Danish thriller “A Hijacking” will screen in this category before its domestic release. On the other hand, the “All about Ocean” section will screen documentaries about sea creatures, while “Ocean Classic,” another section, features classic films related to the sea like “Titanic” and “Jaws.”

Yoo In-taek, an executive committee member of the festival, addressed concerns of whether Korea needs another film festival. “Some think this is just another film festival,” said Yoo. “Through the fest, we hope to introduce movies that haven’t reached the public and provide a platform for young filmmakers to share their work.”

BY JANG SEO-YOUNG CONTRIBUTING WRITER [estyle@joongang.co.kr]