The 11th Ulsan Ulju World Mountain Film Festival will take place from September 18 to 22 at the Yeongnam Alps Complex Welcome Center in Ulju County.
This year, 114 films from 35 countries will be screened. The festival will feature 11 screening venues, including a drive-in theater, tent theater, deck theater, and a forest theater utilizing augmented reality (AR) glasses, all concentrated in the Yeongnam Alps area.
On August 11, festival organizers held a press conference at Ulsan City Hall to unveil the main programs and films for this year’s event. Executive Chairman Um Hong-gil explained the festival's operational direction, while programmer Lee Jeong-jin introduced key films and programs. Actress Ham Eun-jung, this year’s ambassador, also attended.
The festival continues with its slogan, 'Let’s Climb Together, the Mountain of Film.' It aims to expand beyond just screening mountain films, allowing attendees to enjoy films, performances, and experiential programs in nature.
The screening venues will see significant changes. In addition to traditional indoor theaters, there will be a drive-in theater and tent theater at the foot of the Yeongnam Alps, as well as a deck theater. The forest theater will offer movie viewing with AR glasses.
Evenings will feature a night flea market called 'Ump Treasure Chest,' along with singing bowl programs, stargazing, and unplugged busking. This initiative aims to enhance the stay time for families and younger audiences by combining film viewing with relaxation in nature.
The opening film will be 'K2: Following the Shadows,' which depicts the ascent of K2 without supplemental oxygen. It showcases the challenges faced by climbers on one of the world’s most treacherous peaks.
The closing film, 'Still Sailing,' follows an elderly man nearing ninety as he returns to the sea. Although set against the contrasting backdrops of mountains and the ocean, it resonates with the festival's theme of overcoming age and limitations.
Real-life challenges faced by Korean climbers will also be featured. Captain Ahn Chi-young will share stories from his expedition to the Himalayas' 'Satt Peak' through a talk program. Captain Kim Young-mi will recount her experience of a solo, unsupported trek across Antarctica, accompanied by a screening of the film 'Letter from Antarctica.' There will also be programs highlighting the expedition experiences of student climbers.
International films that are hard to find in Korea will also be showcased. Slovenian films 'Family Therapy,' along with restored versions of 'Kiket' and 'Goodbye, Kiket' celebrating 120 years of Slovenian cinema, will be presented to domestic audiences. A collaborative program with the Bilbao Mountain Film Festival will introduce mountain and cultural films from the Basque region.
International exchange programs in the field of mountain culture will continue. Silvo Karo, recipient of the Golden Pickel Award for lifetime achievement, will give a special lecture, and Bernadette MacDonald, winner of the Ulsan Ulju World Mountain Literature Award, will engage with the audience on the topic 'The Courage of the First Sentence: A Mountain Writer Discusses the Beginning and Completion of Writing in the AI Era.'
The press conference also included the appointment ceremony for actress Ham Eun-jung as the festival ambassador.
Ham Eun-jung stated, "The keyword 'challenge' that the festival embodies resonates deeply with me as an actress who continually seeks new challenges. I look forward to meeting the audience as the host of the opening ceremony on September 18 and joyfully kicking off the festival together."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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