Join the Asian Studies Center for an exciting opportunity to view North Korean films rarely shown to the American public.

The first day of the North Korean Film Festival will begin promptly at 3:00pm on Friday, November 18. We will be featuring two films by Shin Sang-ok, a prolific South Korean director who was kidnapped by the North Korean government in order to head the production of films for future leader Kim Jong-il. Professor Seung-hwan Shin of Pitt's East Asian Language and Literature department will begin with an introduction, followed by a screening of An Emissary Unreturned (1984, 132 minutes). The first North Korean film to be shot internationally, An Emissary Unreturned features an idealized account of Korea under Japanese occupation.

Professor Steven Chung of Princeton University, noted for his extensive writings and research on the North Korean film industry, will follow up with a Q&A session and reception after the screening. The evening will conclude with a lecture by Chung at 6:45pm and a screening of North Korea's famed Godzilla film, Bulgasari (1985, 95 minutes) at 8:00pm.

The films will be presented in Korean with English subtitles.