The 16th International Women’s Film Festival in Seoul raised its curtains on Thursday May 29th and will continue to highlight women’s films until June 5th. The Opening Night Film was For Those Who Can Tell No Tales by Jamila Žbanić which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, and went to many others including Donostia-San Sebastián, Hong Kong International Film Festival, and Sydney Film Festival. The opening brought many cineastes to the Megabox at Shinchon, with a good mix of local and international audiences. Screenwriter and actor, Kym Vercoe was in attendance to introduce the film.

The opening ceremony was moderated by actress HAN Ye-ri and director BYUN Young-joo, who gracefully volunteered to send all proceeds from the screenings of her three films to be handed to The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan War. BYUN’s The Murmuring (1995), Habitual Sadness (1999) and My Own Breathing (1999) are a trilogy examining the comfort women. Actress HAN Ji-min came to the stage for the handover of the donation to the representative from The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan War, recognizing and paying respect to those who have suffered throughout the years.

In addition to those that came on stage, it was possible to spot key film industry delegates and stars like actress CHO Min-soo (Pieta [2012]).