The 9th Ulsan Ulju Mountain Film Festival (Image courtesy of the Ulsan Ulju Mountain Film Festival)
ULSAN, Dec. 2 (Korea Bizwire) – The Ulsan Ulju Mountain Film Festival (UMFF), South Korea’s only international mountain film festival, is seeing its global standing rise as it receives numerous requests for collaboration and exchange from major mountain film festivals and museums worldwide.
Festival organizers announced on December 1 that following the International Alliance for Mountain Film (IAMF) general assembly, held alongside the festival’s ninth edition this year, multiple member institutions have proposed various collaborative projects, which are currently under review.
The National Mountain Museum of Turin, Italy, an IAMF member institution, has proposed a joint exhibition for next year. Meanwhile, Nepal’s Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF), Asia’s first mountain film festival established in 2000, has expressed strong interest in cooperating with UMFF’s guest country program for the coming year.
The relationship between UMFF and KIMFF dates back to pre-festival events, with continued support for film production and screenings related to Nepal and the Himalayas. This partnership was particularly highlighted during UMFF’s third edition in 2018, which featured a special “Himalaya-Nepal” exhibition, marking the festival’s first attempt to showcase the mountain culture and lifestyle of major mountain ranges worldwide.
The Trento Film Festival, one of the world’s two premier mountain film festivals alongside Canada’s Banff Mountain Film Festival, plans to share detailed feedback about their UMFF visit at a future board meeting. Founded in 1952 and now in its 72nd year, the Trento festival attracts around 60,000 visitors annually and is recognized as the world’s oldest mountain film festival.
Cooperation between UMFF and Trento is already well established, with a delegation from Ulju County, including county head Lee Soon-geol, having attended the 71st Trento Film Festival held at the Buonconsiglio Castle Museum from April 28 to May 7, 2023.
The Bilbao Mountain Film Festival in Spain has also expressed interest in collaboration. The festival, founded in 2008, shares a special connection with UMFF through its founder and executive director, Javier Barayazarra, who served as a jury member for UMFF’s international competition during its inaugural edition in 2016.
Additionally, the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) has extended an invitation for Korean university student mountaineers to participate in their mountain short film festival for Italian university students.
“The IAMF member festivals and institutions expressed satisfaction with the scale and operation of our festival this year,” said Lee Jung-jin, UMFF programmer. The assembly discussed various matters including the selection of venues for the 2025/2026 general assembly and approval of new member applications. “We will continue our efforts to facilitate successful collaborations and exchanges with major mountain film festivals worldwide,” Lee added.
The IAMF, established in 2000 at the Turin Mountain Museum, holds annual general assemblies to promote the development of mountain films and strengthen friendships among its members. The alliance comprises one mountain museum, one mountain film archive, and 26 mountain film festivals. While the majority of members are European institutions, the alliance includes one member from Oceania, two from South America, one from North America, and two from Asia.
At this year’s festival, Felix the Shepherd, directed by Louis Aucke, won the grand prize in the international competition section.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
