New York – October 14, 2026 -- New Yorkers can watch 10 feature films and 5 shorts from Korea's independent scene for free from October 15 through 25, 2026, at the KCCNY Theater. The inaugural New York Korean Independent Film Festival (NYKIFF) is presented by the Korean Cultural Center New York (KCCNY). Admission is open to the public, but pre-registration is required.
Twelve filmmakers and film professionals will take questions from the audience
Twelve directors and other film professionals are traveling to New York for post-screening Q&As. The program spans fiction, documentary, thriller and action. It was developed with five Korean festivals: the Seoul Independent Film Festival, Jeonju International Film Festival, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Muju Film Festival and Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival.
The festival aims to widen international screening opportunities. According to the organizers, limited exhibition and distribution have kept many Korean independent films from reaching audiences abroad.
STARS AND SAND opens the festival, and THE WORLD OF LOVE closes it
The opening film is STARS AND SAND, directed by KAM JEONGWON, which won the Grand Prize at the 51st Seoul Independent Film Festival. Kam and cinematographer CHOI CHANG HWAN will attend the screening and join a Q&A. A networking reception with the local film community follows.
The closing film is THE WORLD OF LOVE by YOON GA-EUN, who won the Best Director award in the film category at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards.
Two feature directors will present award-winning films in person
LEE WEONYOUNG will present THE GLIMMERING, winner of the Grand Prize at the Muju Film Festival. KIM MYUNWOO will bring KARMA, an award-winning selection from the Jeonju International Film Festival. Both will join post-screening Q&As.
The remaining features are THE ONLY CHILD IN THE BUTCHERY, SAVON, THE FIN, THE LOVE OF TRUMAN, REI'S WINTER BREAK and THE GORALS. Genres include sci-fi, thriller, crime, melodrama and drama.
Five award-winning shorts come from the 22nd Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival
A special section, co-presented with Korea Creative Content Agency New York (KOCCANY) and Netflix Korea, screens five winners from the festival's 22nd edition: MY AUNT, WRONG AIM, MIXEDUP SHAMAN, NOISE CANCELLATION and AFTER SUBMERSION. Their genres range from comedy and horror to action-thriller.
Directors WI EUNG-KYOUNG, SON GWANG-MIN, KIM KEUNHO, CHOI JIHYE and PARK JEONG-SU will attend. JANG YOUNG-YEOP, CEO of the Korean film magazine Cine21, will also join them.