Korean Film Festival returns to UAE with free screenings and OST concerts
Calling all K-culture fans. Get ready for a cinematic journey – the Korean Film Festival returns to the UAE this week, with its ninth installment.
Running from 19 to 29 June 2025, this cultural event will take place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and promises powerful storytelling and immersive sound experiences.
This year’s festival focuses on the universal theme of "Music” and is presented by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Cultural Center in the UAE, in collaboration with Manarat Al Saadiyat, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, Creative Media Authority, and Arab Film Studio.
Music, film and cultural exchange
With a selection of eight Korean films, spanning various genres and moods, the festival will highlight how sound and storytelling combine, to create impactful cinematic moments.
All the films that will be featured are celebrated for their iconic original soundtracks or central musical themes.
Kicking off the festival is Bong Joon-ho’s groundbreaking Parasite, the Palme d’Or and four-time Academy Award winner, setting a powerful tone with Jung Jae-il’s evocative score.
A special highlight this year includes two K-Movie OST (original soundtrack) Live Concerts. These performances will bring popular Korean film soundtracks to life on stage.
Expect memorable tracks
like ‘In Praise of the Han River’ from the film The Host, ‘Irreversible Step’ from the movie A Tale of Two Sisters, and, of course, ‘Belt of Faith’ from the award-winning movie Parasite.
In a significant step for cultural exchange, the festival also includes a special screening of six Arab Film Studio films on June 21, in Abu Dhabi.
Yong Hee Lee, Director of the Korean Cultural Center in the UAE said: “The Korean Film Festival has a long and meaningful history in the UAE… This year, we are proud to expand that engagement even further, by introducing a special Arab film showcase and
hosting live K-Movie OST concerts for the first time. These additions reflect our commitment to deeper cultural exchange and creating shared experiences through film and music.”
The partnership with Creative Media Authority and Arab Film Studio (AFS) supports emerging filmmakers and fosters the UAE’s growing film industry.
These short narrative and documentary films explore themes of memory, music, identity, and place.
Festival locations and access
Audiences in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai can look forward to a dynamic lineup of screenings and concerts across two cultural landmarks.
In Abu Dhabi the films will be shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat.
The schedule for Abu Dhabi starts with Parasite on June 19 at 7pm.
Watch C’est Si Bon at 4pm, and Secret: Untold Melody at 7pm on June 20; My Beautiful Girl, Mari at 2pm, Arab Film Studio films at 4:30pm, and JAURIM, The Wonderland followed by a Q&A with the director at 6pm on June 21. The schedule includes Dog Days at 2pm, A Tale of Two Sisters at 4:30pm, and the K-Movie OST Live Concert at 7.30pm on June 22.
In Dubai, the screenings will take place at the Mohammed bin Rashid Library. The festival continues with Parasite at 4:30pm and a K-Movie OST Live Concert at 7:30pm on June 27. On June 28, catch My Beautiful Girl, Mari at 5pm, and JAURIM, The Wonderland at 7:00 PM. The festival concludes on June 29 with A Tale of Two Sisters at 3pm and The Host at 5.30pm.
All film screenings and concerts are free of charge and open to the public. No registration is required.
Visitors are asked to arrive early, since seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
