KCCLA launches first Los Angeles Korean Film Festival

The Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles will debut the Los Angeles Korean Film Festival: New Waves, New Voices from Sept. 24-26, 2026, with 19 Korean independent, art and short films at Harmony Gold Preview House and KCCLA. The free festival aims to broaden Korean cinema’s reach in Los Angeles while connecting filmmakers, audiences and industry professionals from Korea and the U.S.

Why it matters: - The inaugural LA Korean Film Festival is designed to spotlight Korean independent, art and short films that rarely reach mainstream U.S. screens. - The three-day event is meant to build direct ties between Korean and U.S. film communities in Los Angeles. - All screenings and programs are free and open to the public, lowering barriers to access.

What happened: - The Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles announced the first Los Angeles Korean Film Festival: New Waves, New Voices. - The festival runs Sept. 24-26, 2026, at Harmony Gold Preview House and KCCLA. - The lineup includes 19 Korean films, many making their North American premieres. - KCCLA said the festival will bring together filmmakers, actors, audiences and film professionals in Los Angeles.

The details: - Programmer Kim Young-woo curated the festival. - The program is built around three sections: New Voice, Spotlight and Next Scene. - New Voice includes six contemporary independent and art films. - The opening film is The World of Love, directed by Yoon Ga-eun. - The World of Love was the first Korean film selected for the Platform competition at the Toronto International Film Festival and won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Warsaw International Film Festival. - Spotlight features four signature films honoring genre director Kim Jee-woon and actor Yoo Ji-tae, known for Oldboy. - Kim Jee-woon and Yoo Ji-tae will attend for in-person Q&A sessions. - Next Scene presents seven award-winning short films from the 2026 Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival. - The short films will have their North American premieres. - The festival also includes a special AI & Cinema program. - That program features a panel titled “Who Gets to Make a Movie? Cinema in the Age of AI.” - The AI & Cinema program also screens two AI-crafted short films by graduates of the Korean Academy of Film Arts. - The festival will host an exclusive Korean Cinema Night at KCCLA for visiting directors, actors, U.S. film industry professionals and media guests. - LAKFF is presented by KCCLA with the Korean Film Council, King Sejong Institute Center, U.S., Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival and Korean American Leaders in Hollywood. - Full program details, screening schedules and reservation information will be posted on KCCLA’s official website and social media channels. - The KCCLA website is more information. - KCCLA’s social channels include Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X.

Between the lines: - The festival’s mix of premieres, guest Q&As and an AI-focused panel suggests KCCLA wants to frame Korean cinema as both artistically rooted and forward-looking. - Centering independent films and shorts gives emerging and boundary-pushing filmmakers a larger platform than a standard commercial showcase. - The inclusion of industry networking points to an effort to make the festival useful beyond audiences, especially for cross-border collaboration.

What's next: - KCCLA will release final schedules and reservation details through its website and social media. - Guest participation, film lineup, schedule and program details remain subject to change. - The festival is expected to become a new annual platform for Korean cinema in Los Angeles.