The first-ever Korea Pinoy International Film Festival (KPIFF) opens today in Seoul, South Korea with the feature film “The Secret of Philippine Peso”, starring reel and real life couple Ariel Rivera and Gelli de Belen.
The Secret of Philippine Peso is a film by Perry Escano inspired by actual events and released in 2018.
The KPIFF 2019 Feature Films Showcase will screen 4 films, including two Special Screenings for the South Korea premiere of the Alden Richards-Kathryn Bernardo top-grossing film “Hello, Love, Goodbye”.
The 3-days of KPIFF, running from September 27-29 at the Arirang Cine Center in Seongbuk-gu, is organized by the Pinoy Artists in Korea led by Seoul-based Festival Director Nash Ang, a multi-awarded filmmaker.
The festival, themed on topics of migration, celebrates the 70th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and the Philippines and the centennial anniversary of Philippine cinema.
Here are the KPIFF Feature Films and their scheduled screenings:
1. The Secret of Philippine Peso
Opening Film
Date: September 27, 2019 (Friday)
7:00pm-9:00pm (110 Minutes)
Genre: Family Comedy
Language: Tagalog with English and Korean Subtitles
Organizer: International Youth Fellowship (Korean Audiences)
The film is about the strength of familial love in the Philippines. Meet Ronnie (Ariel Rivera), a father who gives lots of effort for the future of his wife (Gelli de Belen) and his daughter. He is forced to accept an odd job that promises higher income–one that requires him to gather as much one-peso coins has he could. It is only a matter of time when he discovers something, what secrets do these Philippine peso coins hold?
2. You With Me
KPIFF 2019 Spotlight
Date: September 28, 2019 (Saturday)
7:00pm-9:00pm (102 Minutes)
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Language: Tagalog, English and Korean with English Subtitles
Organizer: Seoul Filipino Catholic Community (Filipino Audiences)
It tells the story of Kim who lives with her overprotective parents and meets Jayson online. She then ends up moving to Seoul and starts a new life.
3. Hello, Love, Goodbye
Special Screening
Dates: September 28 (Saturday) 1:00pm-3:00pm
September 29 (Sunday) 9:00am-11:00am (117 Minutes)
Genre: Romantic Drama
Language: Tagalog with English Subtitles
Organizer: Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea (Filipino Audiences)
Joy (Kathryn Bernardo) was forced to work as a domestic helper in Hong Kong to provide for her family in the Philippines and to be able to save for a visa to Canada, where she can work as a nurse. On one fateful night, she meets Ethan (Alden Richards), a fellow Filipino working as a bartender. A dilemma arises: will Joy leave Hong Kong and follow her dream of working as a nurse in Canada, or will she listen to her heart and stay with Ethan in Hong Kong?
4. The Bus
Closing Film
Date: September 29, 2019 (Sunday)
7:00pm-9:00pm (86 Minutes)
Genre: Documentary Drama
Language: Korean with English and Korean Subtitles
Organizer: Pinoy Artists in Korea (Filipino and Korean Audiences)
Diagnosed with cancer, a doctor goes to the Philippines to spend his remaining time to live. He rides a bus and treats poor children in the countryside, hoping that fate may change. Will his love to people overcome his pain?
A Student Films Showcase of 6 award-winning short films from the Mapua University in Manila will be screening on September 28, 2019 (Saturday) 5:00pm-7:00pm.
The KPIFF will also hold a Directors Showcase of 7 short films by renowned Filipino directors on Sunday, September 29 from 11:00am-1:30pm.
The KPIFF has the support of the Seongbuk-gu Government, Seongbuk Multicultural Foundation, Philippine Embassy in Korea, Rotary Club of Dong Pocheon. The festival partners include Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea, Filam Creative Inc., Tanghalang Banyuhay, Koreigners, University of Mapua, and GoodNewsPilipinas.com.
For tickets and inquiries contact KPIFF website and on KPIFF Facebook.
WATCH the teaser here and SEND well wishes in the comments below to the KPIFF and its partner filmmakers and organizations for showcasing Filipino filmmaking in South Korea!
Like, Follow, Subscribe to GoodNewsPilipinas.com Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Good News Pilipinas! TV on YouTube, new story notifications and e-mail newsletters for updates on more Filipino Pride stories.
