These are twenty feature documentaries you shouldn’t miss at the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival which will take place from September 14 -21, 2023 in Goyang and Paju, Korea.

And, Towards Happy Alleys by Sreemoyee SINGH – India | 2023 – 73 minutes | Asian Premiere
And, Towards Happy Alleys is a passionate declaration of love for the cinema and poetry of Iran which also provides a frank view of daily life, and bears witness to a fearless generation raising its voice and implacably demanding its civil liberties. (DMZ Docs 2023)

Trailer:

Another Body by Reuben HAMLYN, Sophie COMPTON – USA, UK | 2023 – 80 minutes | Asian Premiere
Another Body follows a college student’s search for justice after she discovers deepfake pornography of herself circulating online. (DMZ Docs 2023)

Born in Gunsan and After Seven Years, I Was Repatriated to Japan by Zonpilone – Japan, Korea | 2023 – 239 minutes | World Premiere
Born in 1938 in Gunsan, Korea, during the era of Japanese occupation, Akio Kambayashi’s life took a significant turn when he was repatriated from Busan to Japan in October 1945 following Japan’s defeat in the war. Despite this history, Mr. Akio Kambayashi, who returned to Gunsan at the age of 40, left a lasting impression on everyone at the Gunsan Junior High School reunion. He did so by singing the school song of Gunsan Elementary School, showing his deep connection to the place and the memories it holds. (DMZ Docs 2023)

Defectors by KIM Hyunkyung – Korea, USA | 2023 – 84 minutes | Asian Premiere
When my older sister died, my mother withdrew into her memories of being a refugee during the Korean War. She began amassing discarded chairs, dishes, dolls, and plastic flowers, with which she filled the rooms of her house. I later encountered Mr. Kwon, a North Korean defector, who reminded me of my grandfather who disappeared during the war. (DMZ Docs 2023)

Trailer:

Eastern Front by Vitaly MANSKY, Yevhen TITARENKO – Latvia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, USA | 2023 – 98 minutes | Korean Premiere
Defending their homeland from Russian aggression, the protagonists, along with the whole country, went to the Eastern Front. In 2022 all of Ukraine, from the Donbas to the Carpathians, became the Eastern Front for Europe. (DMZ Docs 2023)

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Eat Bitter by SUN Ningyi, Pascale APPORA-GNEKINDY – Central African Republic, China | 2023 – 98 minutes | Korean Premiere
Against the backdrop of the civil war in the Central African Republic, a Chinese construction manager and local African laborer work on opposite ends of the spectrum to construct a sparkling new bank. As deadlines loom, unexpected twists threaten their jobs, relationships, and plans for a better life. An eye-opening drama about these two men in their pursuit of wealth and happiness. (DMZ Docs 2023)

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Eopu Eopu by PARK Baeil, HWANG Namin – Korea | 2023 – 64 minutes | World Premiere
On September 24, 2022, Namim and Baeil get married. However, their wedding doesn’t follow the conventional norms of a Korean ‘wedding hall’ decorated with flowers and lights. Instead, they choose a movie theater. Far from an extravagant wedding, Namim and Baeil create a movie full of their personal stories. In the midst of this uniquely unusual wedding, the theater’s lights dim, marking the beginning of the first film from Nahana Film, founded by Namim and Baeil. But the road to love and marriage isn’t all rosy, as the couple faces challenges to keep their heads above water. (DMZ Docs 2023)

Trailer:

If We Burn by James LEONG, Lynn LEE – Hong Kong | 2023 – 265 minutes | Korean Premiere
Summer 2019. Hong Kong’s leaderless pro-democracy movement stuns Beijing and captures the world’s attention. ‘If We Burn’ is an urgent, immersive journey into the protests, and a meditation on what it means to resist. (DMZ Docs 2023)

K-Family Affairs by NAM Arum – Korea | 2023 – 89 minutes | World Premiere
Director Arum initially believes that the democratic society in which she lives is a precious legacy of her parents’ generation, who fought valiantly against dictatorship in the 1980s. However, her conviction is shaken when her father, a prominent government figure, is implicated in the Sewol Ferry disaster. This pivotal event prompts her to question the concepts of justice and the framework of government. As she embarks on this introspective journey, she seeks to understand her own generation’s contributions to shaping justice and democracy in society. (DMZ Docs 2023)

Knit’s Island by Ekiem BARBIER, Guilhem CAUSSE, Quentin L’HELGOUALC’H
France | 2023 – 98 minutes | Asian Premiere
Somewhere on the Internet, there is a space of 250 square kilometers in which individuals gather in community to simulate a survivalist fiction. Under the guise of avatars, a film crew enters this place and makes contact with players. Who are these inhabitants? Are they actually playing? (DMZ Docs 2023)

Trailer:

To see the second part of this article please go HERE

For more information, please visit: https://dmzdocs.com/eng/