Florence Korea Film Fest, which introduces Korean films throughout Europe and Italy, will be held from April 7 to 15 (local time). Marking its 20th anniversary this year, the festival will attract Italian and European audiences with its special programs.
First, the opening film is Heaven: To the Land of Happiness, directed by Im Sangsoo, starring Choi Minshik and Park Haeil. Heaven: To the Land of Happiness is a touching road movie depicting the story of an escaped prisoner and a terminally ill patient, who accidentally get a large amount of money and go on the last trip of their lives.
An official at the festival said, "The reason we chose Heaven: To the Land of Happiness as the opening film is that it is a very humorous road movie while making us ruminate on the profound meaning of existence. It also has a different color from Director Im Sangsoo's previous films." Starting with the Official Selection at the 73rd Cannes International Film Festival in 2020, Heaven: The Land of Happiness has been invited to domestic and foreign film festivals such as the 26th Busan International Film Festival, the 16th London Korean Film Festival, and the 18th Hong Kong Asian Film Festival, recognized its cinematic quality.
At Florence Korea Film Fest, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, directors and actors representing the Korean film industry will participate in person to meet Italian audiences. Starting Director Im Sangsoo of the opening film Heaven: To the Land of Happiness, Director Hwang Donghyuk and Actor Lee Jungjae of Squid Game, will host a master class at Florence Korea Film Fest. Also, Director Lee Kyuman and Actor Cho Jinwoong of The Policeman’s Lineage will meet the audience through the master class at the festival. At Florence Korea Film Fest 2022, more than 60 short and long Korean films will be screened. The closing film is Escape from Mogadishu, Director Ryoo Seungwan's film that recorded the highest box office hit among Korean films in 2021.