Cinephiles! Here’s another event that deserves a spot in your already busy calendar: The 2026 Korean Film Festival (KFF). Excited? Read on for the lowdown on this year’s biggest K-Movie event in the country, organized by the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the Philippines.

Save the dates!

Celebrating stories that transcend pages, screens, and borders through the theme “K-Story: Stories that Move Us,” this year’s KFF will run from August 7 to 9. 

The lineup

Five South Korean films are set to take viewers on an emotional roller coaster ride at this year’s KFF:

Yumi’s Cells: The Movie (2024)

Genres: Animated, Romance, Comedy, Slice of Life
Director: Kim Da-hee
Cast: Yoon Ah-young, Shin Beom-sik, Song Ha-rim, Ahn So-yi, Sa Moon-young

Based on the hit webtoon of the same name by Lee Dong-gun, Yumi’s Cells: The Movie follows the quirky brain cells in heroine Yumi’s head, who work tirelessly to guide her through love, work, and life’s everyday challenges. As Yumi pursues her dreams and happiness, her loyal cells band together to help her navigate the emotional ups and downs of adulthood.

Your Letter (2024)

Genres: Animated, Coming-of-Age, Drama
Director: Kim Yong-hwan
Cast: Lee Suhyun, Nam Do-hyeong, Won Jong-jun

Another adaptation of a well-loved webtoon joining the 2 026 KFF lineup is Your Letter. Breathing life into Cho Hyeon A’s original story, the film tells the story of transferee So-ri (voiced by AKMU’s Suhyun), who discovers a series of mysterious letters left by a former student.Following the clues leads her on a heartfelt journey of friendship, healing, and finding the courage to move forward.

Love in the Big City (2024)

Genres: Romantic Drama, Coming-of-Age, LGBTQ+
Director: Lee Eon-hee
Cast: Kim Go-eun, Noh Sang-hyun, Jang Hye-jin, Lee Sang-yi, Kwak Dong-yeon

Outspoken Jae-hee and the reserved Heung-soo form an unlikely friendship after she learns his closely guarded secret. As roommates navigating modern Seoul, they help each other confront prejudice, loneliness, and the complicated search for love.

My Daughter is a Zombie (2025)

Genres: Comedy, Horror, Family, Drama
Director: Pil Gam-seong
Cast: Jo Jung-suk, Lee Jung-eun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Yoon Kyung-ho, Jo Han-sun

Based on the popular manhwa by Lee Youn-chang, the film takes place during a zombie outbreak, and a devoted father refuses to give up on his infected daughter despite the danger. He hides and cares for her while searching for a way to preserve her humanity, resulting in a touching blend of comedy, family drama, and horror.

Omniscient Reader (2025)

Genres: Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Director: Kim Byung-woo
Cast: Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Min-ho, Chae Soo-bin, Nana, Jisoo, Shin Seung-ho

Ordinary office worker Kim Dok-ja suddenly finds himself trapped inside the apocalyptic web novel he alone has faithfully read to the end. Armed with knowledge of the story’s future, he joins forces with its protagonist to rewrite fate and save humanity. The film is an adaptation of the bestselling web novel of the same name by Sing Shong.

Festival locations

The featured films will be screened for free at four SM Cinema branches, namely SM SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM City Iloilo, and SM Lanang.

How to get tickets

Go to the ticket booth in front of the designated cinema an hour before your chosen show to secure your free ticket on screening day. Tickets are limited, so be there on time!

Meet the mentor

To make the film festival even more exciting, KCC has two more special events prepared for movie and manhwa lovers: A talkback session between South Korean webtoon artist Lee Youn-chang (My Daughter is a Zombie) and Filipino graphic novelist Arnold Arre at the Cinematheque Centre Manila on August 6, and a webtoon workshop with Lee at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila on August 7. 

Which of the films and events at this year’s Korean Film Festival are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!