The 66th Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF; June 20 - July 1, 2012) has announced its complete program, which includes three Korean features and two shorts. JANG Kun-jae’s <Sleepless Night> and YEUN Sang-ho’s <The King of Pigs> will screen in the International Feature Competition and YANG Jung-ho’s <Mirage> in the New Perspectives section. YUN Ki-nam’s short film <The Metamorphosis> will appear in the Shorts section and KIM Kangmin’s <38-39°C> will appear in the International Animation section; both have been nominated for Best Film in the International Shorts Competition.
 
<Sleepless Night> was arguably the breakout Korean hit of the 13th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF), which closed on May 4. The film chronicles the struggles of a young married couple who endure pressure to have a child from both  family and friends as well as economic hardships. JANG’s second feature, the film took home the JJ Star Award for best Korean Feature in competition and was a crowd favorite as well, scoring the festival’s Audience Award.
 
A dark, animated tale of childhood trauma, YEUN’s <The King of Pigs> has done well on the festival circuit both in Korea and abroad. Among its many invites, the film recently screened at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival Directors’ Fortnight. It premiered at last year’s Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and is currently showing at the prestigious Annecy International Animated Film Festival. <Mirage>, YANG Jung-ho’s debut feature, has also garnered invites from the US’s 2012 Seattle International Film Festival and 2012 Los Angeles Asia-Pacific International Film Festival.
 
YUN Ki-nam’s <The Metamorphosis>, a Nosferatu-inspired tale shot in black and white on 8mm and 16mm film, will make its European premiere at the festival. KIM Kangmin’s <38-39°C> chronicles a man’s memories of his father as he enters a steaming sauna. The film has traveled to a number of festivals this year, including France’s Annecy International Animated Film Festival and the USA’s Sundance Film Festival.
 
This year’s edition of EIFF will open with the UK premiere of US director William Friedkin’s <Killer Joe> and feature 19 world premieres, 13 international premieres and 11 European premieres. Also notable is the return of EIFF’s Michael Powell Award, given to the best new British feature. Details and a full festival program can be found at: www.edfilmfest.org.uk