Seoul Film Center Opens in Chungmuro
- Place
- Seoul Film Center
- Region
- Jung-gu, Seoul
- Address
- 중구 마른내로 38
- Coordinates
- 37.5641618036958, 126.992108521208
- Original source
- blog.naver.com
The Seoul Film Center, a public film culture space dedicated to independent and art films, featuring screenings, exhibitions, education, and exchange, will open in Chungmuro on November 28th.
Shall we take a closer look?
‘Seoul Everywhere,’ introducing Seoul’s ‘good, wonderful, and necessary places.’ Today, we introduce the public film culture space, ‘Seoul Film Center.’
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will officially open the ‘Seoul Film Center (38, Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu)’ on the 28th.
✅ What is the Seoul Film Center?
The Seoul Film Center is opening in Chungmuro on November 28th as a public film culture space with screenings, exhibitions, education, and exchange functions based on independent and art films.
The city expects this opening to mark a turning point for Chungmuro to once again become the ‘heart of Korean cinema.’ Around 200 key figures from related organizations, associations, groups, and leading Korean actors and directors will participate in the opening ceremony, starting with the unveiling of the Seoul Film Center.
The opening ceremony will begin with a congratulatory performance set against a silent film, followed by congratulatory speeches and video messages from filmmakers, the appointment of actress Han Ye-ri as the public relations ambassador, and a viewing of a special video created by filmmakers. Afterwards, side events such as a pop-up exhibition on the theme of film, an AI film seminar, and a networking event for filmmakers will also be held to enrich the meaning of the opening.
✅ What are the size and main spaces of the Seoul Film Center?
The Seoul Film Center operates as a complex platform where creation and enjoyment coexist, going beyond a simple screening room. The center, with 3 basement floors and 10 above-ground floors, has a total floor area of 4,806㎡, and includes ▴ a total of 3 screening rooms (Screen 1 with 166 seats, Screen 2 with 78 seats, Screen 3 with 68 seats), as well as ▴ a special exhibition hall ▴ a multi-purpose room ▴ a shared office ▴ a rooftop theater ▴ a film cafe, and other various spaces.
Screening Room 1 is equipped with two 35mm film projectors to provide a film screening base, Screening Room 2 has comfort seats, and Screening Room 3 has recliner seats to create a pleasant viewing environment.
The 4th floor houses a special exhibition hall for film-related experience exhibitions, the 7th floor has a multi-purpose room for film and citizen education, and the 8th floor is equipped with a shared office and meeting room to support the exchange and creative activities of filmmakers, creating specialized spaces for each function.
On the 9th floor of the center, an archive space is provided where film-related books and DVDs can be viewed, increasing access to materials. The storage function was rationally adjusted in consideration of the duplication of the National Film Archive function of the Korean Film Archive (Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu) and the burden of maintenance costs, and this was decided after discussions with the film advisory committee and the Seoul Film Promotion Committee.
In addition, the city of Seoul integrated and relocated the education, creation, screening, and archive functions of the Chungmuro Video Center, which will end its operations in December, to the Seoul Film Center. Basic film production education for citizens will be expanded and operated in the multi-purpose room, and programs for filmmakers and citizens to communicate, such as independent and art film screenings and GV, will be promoted at all times in the three screening rooms. In addition, books and video materials held by the Chungmuro Video Center will be transferred to the archive and video viewing room (8th and 9th floors), and citizen participation programs such as film-related special exhibitions and experience-type content will be strengthened.
✅ What is the operating direction of the Seoul Film Center?
The Seoul Film Center will be operated focusing on three directions: ▴ promoting the video industry ▴ supporting the growth of filmmakers ▴ providing a space for citizens to enjoy culture.
First, it plans to strengthen the creative base by expanding opportunities to screen promising art films and discovering new directors, and to revitalize the content distribution and investment ecosystem by operating business meetings and film markets.
To support the exchange and growth of filmmakers, it provides shared offices and meeting rooms to create an environment where creation, exchange, and collaboration are possible. Professional education such as understanding and responding to OTT and workshops on incorporating AI and new technologies are also promoted, and a membership system for filmmakers and citizens is introduced to promote continuous participation and exchange.
Its role as a space for citizens is also strengthened. In addition to screening programs for various genres such as independent, art, commercial, and classic films, side events such as conversations with directors and actors (GV) and previews are also operated.
In addition, the special exhibition hall on the 4th floor will feature exhibitions and experience-type content related to film, and the rooftop theater will host outdoor screenings and citizen experience programs. Through film education for citizens and short film production courses, film will be established as a culture in everyday life.
The city plans to provide a base for filmmakers to connect creative and industrial activities, provide citizens with a daily film culture space, and revive Chungmuro as a center for the film industry and culture through the Seoul Film Center.
✅ What programs are currently operating?
To commemorate the opening of the Seoul Film Center, the city is pre-operating the opening screening program from November 22nd to 28th. Citizens are showing great interest, with consecutive sell-out works and an average reservation rate of 90%.
The theme of the opening screening program is ‘RE:CINEMA,’ which aims to reflect on the essence of film and shed light on the cinematic heritage that connects the past and present, and is planned with themes for each city. ▴ Korean classics and urban films in Seoul (Section 1) ▴ French New Wave and historical records in Paris (Section 2) ▴ Independent and experimental films in the United States (Section 3). Through special screenings in cooperation with major overseas film institutions such as the New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Cinémathèque Française in Paris, we introduce world film heritage that is usually difficult to access to citizens.
The December screening program will be introduced after the official opening. It is planned to cover all genres from commercial films to independent and art films, and is free for all citizens to watch.
▴ Rediscovering Korean film production companies (12.2~14) screens 8 major works by Sidus, which has established itself as a leading production company that combines commercial appeal and artistry since its establishment in 1995. ▴ Ahn Sung-ki Actor Special Exhibition (12.20~31), which represents Korean cinema, is designed to provide an overview of the actor's acting world and the flow of Korean cinema through 10 major films representing the era. ▴ ‘Independent Film Festival of the Year and Art Film Festival’ plans to screen 3 independent films and 3 art films in December to introduce the achievements and aesthetics of various Korean films to citizens.
Film reservations can be made on the Seoul Film Center website and the Dtryx website, and admission is free until March 2026 so that many filmmakers and citizens can easily use it without burden.
The city of Seoul said, “The Seoul Film Center is a public asset with the long-cherished wishes of the film industry and citizens, and will be a space for exchange and collaboration for filmmakers and a cultural space where film meets everyday life for citizens.” “Seoul will work closely with the film industry to make Chungmuro beat again as the heart of film.”
Seoul Film Center
○ Location: 38, Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu
○ Size: Total floor area 4,806㎡ (3 basement floors to 10 above-ground floors, site area 804㎡)
- Screening Room: Screen 1 with 166 seats (B1~2F), Screen 2 with 78 seats (2~3F), Screen 3 with 68 seats (5~6F)
- Special Exhibition Hall (4F), Multi-purpose Room (7F), Shared Office (8F), Archive (9F), Rooftop Theater (10F)
○ Operating Hours: Closed once a week (Monday), open from 09:00 to 23:00
Source :https://blog.naver.com/haechiseoul/224088980113
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