4th PIPFF to Present 88 Films from 28 Countries under Theme of ‘Peace’

A poster to promote the Pyeongchang International Peace Film Festival (PIPFF) that kicked off for the fourth time on June 23.

The Pyeongchang International Peace Film Festival (PIPFF) will kick off for the fourth time on June 23, 2022.

Since its inauguration in 2019 as a legacy event of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, inheriting its spirit of peace, PIPFF has garnered strong support and popularity for its well-programmed film screenings, exhibitions, performances and activities centering around the theme of “peace.”

Despite an unprecedented pandemic situation in 2020, PIPFF safely hosted events offline, enforcing strict infection prevention measures.

In 2021, PIPFF managed to take a meaningful step toward ‘normal’ and received an enthusiastic response from festival goers as one of the global channels connecting filmmakers and audiences.

For the 2022 edition, PIPFF has selected “with, CINEMA” as its slogan.

A total of 88 films from 28 countries will be screened, and most notably, filmmakers will travel internationally to greet and talk with audiences in person.

The opening ceremony and main events will be held at the Olympic Medal Plaza as usual, with one-of-a-kind, makeshift theaters installed around the town, such as Potato Cinema, Eoulmadang and Training Center.

PIPFF Stage, Follow P, other performances and some outdoor screenings will take place at the Olympic Medal Plaza. The scenic nature of Pyeongchang will offer a great backdrop for unforgettable outdoor screening in venues such as Mitan Eorumchi village, Ggumeuidaehwa (Conversation in Dream) Campsite and Gyebangsan Mountain Auto Campsite. Fun-filled activities including a VR exhibition, PIPFF Walk and Stamp Tour as well as exclusive merchandise will add to the experience and entertain visitors of all ages.

The lineup of eight films in the International Feature Competition is one of the most colorful in PIPFF’s history.

Two documentaries, four foreign features and two Korean features comprise this category, encompassing movies that poignantly capture with sensitivity the impact of social systems and issues on individuals, from microscopic to macroscopic points of view.

A poster to promote “Olga,” the opening film of the Pyeongchang International Peace Film Festival. (Photos: PIPFF)

“Olga” is the opening film of the festival. The film tells a story of a 15-year-old gymnast from Ukraine who is torn between Switzerland, where she is training for the European Championship in preparation for the Olympics, and Kiev, where her mother works as a journalist, reporting on Euromaidan in 2013.

“Television Event” is an intriguing archive documentary that follows the making of the 1980s film “The Day After,” which helped spread the fear of a nuclear proliferation upon release at the height of the Cold War.

It brings back the old debate surrounding the threat of using nuclear weapons that has resurfaced due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“Navalny,” which was screened at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, documents the jaw-dropping account of the assassination attempt on Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader and Putin’s biggest enemy.

“The Fam,” “Between Two Worlds” and “Sonne” delve into the most pressing social issues of our times such as child abuse, economic polarization, generational conflicts and problems within culturally diverse communities.

“A Home from Home” and “The Hill of Secrets,” both homegrown movies, will make you realize that a true family is so much more than just a bloodline, thanks to their warm take on the “smallest unit of society.”

A total of 16 films will run in the Korean Short Competition. Three keywords define the 16 entries in the K-shorts section - teens, families, and romance.

“Girl at a Window” follows a teenager who uses a public study room for live streaming on social media, offering a look into how the youths today interact with the society.

“Chuz Me!” goes deep into the feelings between two young girls and “Killing a Hamster” portrays somewhat peculiar relationship of twin sisters.

“Light It Up at 2 AM” deals with a tragic incident that took place at a vocational boarding school in the 1990s and the documentary “CITI-100” peers into the “street culture” of teen motorcycle riders.

Meanwhile, “Nobody’s Land,” “The Banners” and “Two Woman” tell stories of family members gone missing, of the void left behind, from unconventional perspectives.