ABUJA, Nigeria – The Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN), in collaboration with the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), successfully concluded the 14th Korean Film Festival, held from 17 to 19 September at Silverbird Cinemas in Abuja. The three-day festival welcomed approximately 1,000 local moviegoers and offered audiences an opportunity to discover the diversity of Korean cinema through stories exploring history, society, family and everyday life.

Ahead of the opening film, The King's Warden, Ambassador Yohan Kim introduced the audience to the historical background of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty and the story of King Danjong, stressing that “good stories cross borders.” He noted that despite the different histories and cultures of Korea and Nigeria, audiences can connect through universal values such as family, friendship, courage, hope, justice and human dignity.

The festival opened on 17 September with The King's Warden, followed by The Book of Fish and Move the Grave on 18 September. The final day featured four short films alongside Lucky Chan-sil. Ranging from historical drama to stories of family and everyday life, the programme offered Nigerian audiences a broader glimpse into Korean history, society and culture.

For many local audiences who first encountered Korean culture through K-pop and Korean dramas, the festival also provided an opportunity to look beyond popular culture and gain a deeper understanding of Korea’s history, society and the everyday lives of its people.

A highlight of the final day was the screening of the winning entries from the inaugural Nigerian Short Film Competition, jointly organised by KCCN and the Kaduna International Film Festival (KADIFF). Held from May to July, the competition invited emerging Nigerian filmmakers and creators to incorporate elements of Korean culture—including Korean food, hanbok and cultural objects—into their own stories and interpret them through a distinctly Nigerian creative lens.

Following a joint evaluation by KCCN and KADIFF, Maryam Abiola’s Too Loud was awarded first place, with the jury highlighting the film’s strong cinematography and performances. During a Q&A session following the screening, Abiola explained that her longstanding interest in Korean culture inspired her to naturally weave Korean cultural references—including items related to Korea’s haenyeo female divers and K-pop albums—into the film.

By screening locally produced works as part of the Korean Film Festival and creating a space for filmmakers and audiences to engage directly with one another, the festival expanded Korea–Nigeria film exchange beyond simply watching films to include local creation, participation and dialogue.

“The power of cinema lies in its ability to bring people from different histories and cultures together through stories they can relate to,” said Juho Jeon, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria. “We will continue to introduce diverse Korean films to Nigerian audiences while creating more opportunities for meaningful exchange and collaboration with local filmmakers.”