50 tickets are made free with the generous support of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Toronto.
South Korea202395 minKorean with English subtitlesCanadian PremiereDrama, First Feature, Sports
Ho-jun, a flailing actor, has found relative success as a social media influencer, hawking fishing hacks. He preps his live stream at his preferred fishing spot, only to be disrupted by an obnoxious stranger whose bad vibes are ruining the morning. The stranger is Director Nam, a hotshot (and hot-headed) independent film director about to shoot his first commercial feature. He’s invited rising actress Hee-jin for a quiet pondside chat to convince her that his film will be a star-making breakout role—only Hee-jin isn’t sure about Director Nam’s film, or his ulterior motives. As the day progresses, links between Ho-jun, Director Nam, and Hee-jin entwine and unravel to reveal each character’s ambition, pettiness, and pathos as they try to reel in their respective dreams.
In an impressively lean and resourceful production, Small Fry director Joongha Park and co-writer Howon Kim (who also stars as Ho-jun) have crafted a funny, biting, and heartfelt meta film commentary about the strains on artistic process and purpose, especially when confronted with the demands of the commercial industry.
– Aram Siu Wai Collier
Howon Kim
Seonghwan
Chaeyoung Leem
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Jeonju International Film Festival, 2023
Arizona International Film Festival, 2023
San Diego Asian Film Festival, 2023
AWARDS
Best Acting Prize, Jeonju International Film Festival, 2023
Best First Feature, Arizona International Film Festival, 2023
Joongha PARK
Born in 1980 and majoring in environmental engineering, Joongha Park started making films because he wanted to make stories about the environment and humans. His short film Sweet Potato Family (2015) won the Bucheon Choice Audience Award at the BIFAN 2015.
PG
10 Nov, 2023 5:30 pm
TIFF Bell Lightbox C450 tickets are made free with the generous support of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Toronto.
–
This screening is presented with English subtitles. Wheelchair spaces and step-free seating is available for this screening – click below to book accessible seats.
Join us for a Q&A immediately after the theatrical presentation with Director Joongha Park & Writer/Producer/Actor Howon Kim.
You rarely couple poop and romance together, but Okiku and the World does it effortlessly in the most genuine and adorable way.
9 Nov. 8:00 pm
When 13-year-old Ilyas’s parents yank him out of his comfortable Islamic private school and force him to adjust to life in public school, he develops a plan to change their minds. After a staged fondness for non-halal food and explicit music fails to sufficiently scandalize his parents, Ilyas asks his whip-smart former classmate, Yasmeen, to help devise a more foolproof plan.
12 Nov. 7:30 pm
Some family stories are so epic they demand telling. Some moments in history require the intimate and inside knowledge of community storytellers. The venerated Chinese Canadian filmmaker Keith Lock narrates the story of how his mother married his father in Australia, who was training with other Chinese Canadian veteran volunteers for the top secret suicide mission, Operation Oblivion.
14 Nov. 7:00 pm