London Korean Film Festival Wraps with Historic BFI Collaboration and Squid Game 2 Preview

The 19th edition of the London Korean Film Festival (LKFF) concluded on a high note Wednesday, with a screening of Love in the Big City, a bold coming-of-age drama starring Kim Go-eun (Exhuma) and Noh Sang-hyun (Pachinko). The festival, run by the Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK), was a huge success, attracting over 3,300 attendees this year.

One of the key highlights was a historic collaboration with the British Film Institute (BFI). Several of this year’s screenings were hosted at BFI’s iconic Southbank Theatre, underscoring the growing recognition of Korean cinema in the UK. As part of this partnership, KCCUK will present a special preview of Squid Game Season 2 on December 16 at BFI’s theater, ahead of its global Netflix premiere on December 26.

In addition, the BFI and KCCUK are running the Echoes in Time program until December 31, which features 30 classic Korean films from the 1960s Golden Age and the New Korean Cinema era, offering UK audiences a chance to explore Korea’s rich cinematic history.

Eunji Lee, KCCUK’s head of film and the LKFF programmer, shared insights into this year’s festival. Lee, who has been programming the event for the past five years, noted that funding from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) remained consistent this year, though domestic festivals like Busan are facing budget cuts. “We are always trying to secure additional sponsors to support international projects,” Lee explained.

The global success of Korean films like Parasite and Squid Game has significantly boosted the interest in Korean cinema, Lee added. “Audiences now come to our festival having already watched many Korean films, so programming has become more challenging. We try to bring exclusive UK premieres and bring special guests over to keep it fresh.”

This year’s LKFF also highlighted female voices in Korean cinema, with a special “Women’s Voices” section showcasing 11 films and a “Women’s Voices Forum.” Lee pointed out that while only one of the top 35 high-budget Korean films from last year was directed by a woman, the festival has made a conscious effort to spotlight female filmmakers, such as Yim Soon-rye, who directed The Point Men. “After the success of Parasite and Squid Game, people are asking who the next big Korean director will be, and we want to make sure women’s voices are heard,” Lee added.

The festival has successfully positioned itself as a key platform for both emerging and established voices in Korean cinema, offering a dynamic program that blends contemporary works with classic films to celebrate the depth and diversity of Korea’s cinematic landscape.