A letter introducing 10 Years, 10 Films

It feels like only yesterday that the Ulsan Ulju Mountain Film Festival (UMFF) launched its Pre-festival in 2015, yet here we are, celebrating its 10th anniversary. Over the years, many remarkable films have been introduced—some receiving awards, others moving audiences through direct encounters at the festival.

In considering what films to showcase in celebration of 10 years, we drew inspiration from the “Gau Magikoa (Magical Night)” program of the Mendi Film Festival and developed a brand-new, family-friendly program that blends cinema with live theater. Just as we connected with audiences through drive-in and online screenings during the pandemic, this program represents another creative form of cinematic experience.

In collaboration with the theater group 3sp, we present The Old Tree and the Lost Green, a theatrical performance incorporating four animations previously featured at UMFF: Some Thing, Good Heart, The Last Day of Autumn, and Viacruxis. These witty and imaginative animations feature personified mountains, a primitive family, an animal race, and the challenges of rock climbing, uniting the seemingly disparate worlds of film and theater. This special presentation offers a glimpse into UMFF’s evolving vision.

We are also bringing back six memorable, award-winning films from past editions. These include Ultra, which vividly portrays the intensity of ultramarathon runners; After Antarctica, chronicling polar explorer Will Steger’s expedition to the South Pole; and PASANG: In the Shadow of Everest, which recounts the historic ascent of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to summit Everest. Paradise depicts Siberian villagers’ fight against devastating wildfires, a theme also close to home. In addition, The Wall of Shadows, a poetic tale interweaving a Sherpa family’s story with a Himalayan deity myth, and Then Comes the Evening, a lyrical portrayal of an elderly mother and daughter living in Eastern Bosnia. These films will finally be presented with their directors in attendance, who were previously unable to join us due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We hope that UMFF’s lineup of mountain films, Korean independent films, and family-friendly screenings will continue to connect with audiences in years to come. With heartfelt thanks for your ongoing support of a festival that is always seeking new films and fresh approaches, we close this letter.

― Jinna Lee, Programmer​