A new “letter” is being added to the story of the 28th Far East Film Festival: K. K stands for Korea, and also for KOCCA – the Korea Creative Content Agency. One of the key highlights of this year’s edition is a new collaboration between the Udine-based festival and KOCCA, the South Korean government organisation dedicated to supporting, promoting and expanding the global reach of audiovisual content. This partnership brings a fresh wave of contemporary Korean creativity to Udine, while also offering a forward-looking glimpse into the future of Asia’s screen industries.

On 29 and 30 April, Cinema Visionario (via Asquini 33, Udine) will serve as the central hub for “KOCCA on Screen.” Across two days, audiences can discover a curated programme featuring three television series and four documentaries, all screened with English subtitles. The initiative creates a valuable exchange: Italian audiences gain direct access to emerging Korean content, while Korean creators receive immediate audience feedback. Screenings at the Visionario will be open to the public and accredited industry professionals attending the festival or Focus Asia.

The programme itself shows a wide and varied selection of storytelling styles. Among the series, Phantom Lawyer combines elements of fantasy and comedy, following a lawyer, played by Yoo Yeon-seok, who can communicate with spirits. Bloody Flower delves into moral ambiguity through a tense narrative that blurs the boundaries between perpetrator and protector. Meanwhile, 4Kims, which was selected for the 2026 Berlin Indie Film Festival, explores the illusion of the American dream through the intertwined lives of four Koreans caught up in a mysterious case in the United States.

The documentary line-up is equally compelling. The Sent: A Pastor, A Murderer tells the story of a former soldier who admits to participating in civilian massacres during the Vietnam War. The Silicon Valley Butchers looks at the fast-evolving world of cultured meat, questioning the balance between technological innovation and ethical responsibility. Snow Face follows a mountaineer returning to Cholatse nearly two decades after surviving a life-threatening accident, while The Coral Triangle offers a visually striking journey beneath Asia’s oceans, captured in 8K, highlighting both natural beauty and environmental concerns.

Speaking at the opening of KOCCA’s Milan office in 2024, General Manager Rak Gyun Kim described KOCCA Italia as a key link between Italy and South Korea’s cultural sectors. He emphasised its role in encouraging collaboration between creative industries in both countries and supporting initiatives that can strengthen their shared artistic development. Stella Heesun Suh, Director of KOCCA Italy, also highlighted the festival’s long-standing reputation and professional expertise. She noted her enthusiasm for presenting not only Korean films but also television series and documentaries, and expressed KOCCA’s ambition to broaden cultural exchange further by introducing diverse forms of Korean content, from fashion to webtoons and animation. Let’s not forget that Marianna Baroli, Panorama’s journalist, will moderate a few screenings.

Featured image courtesy of KOCCA

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