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On October 25, the 26th Bucheon International Animation Festival grandly opened. This event showcased 122 animations from 34 countries, alongside various side events, drawing the attention of animation fans worldwide.
Nanu Ri, a diplomatic producer for Arirang TV, attended the festival at the invitation of Tamara Mawhinney, the Canadian Ambassador to Korea. This was part of the “Canada Special: Kind Canada” event, held to commemorate the Korea-Canada Year of Cultural Exchanges 2024-2025. Ambassador Mawhinney explained, “The Korea-Canada Year of Cultural Exchanges was initiated to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries last year,” emphasizing that this festival is one of its starting points.
Notably, this festival held special significance due to its collaboration with the Ottawa International Animation Festival in Canada. On September 27, the Ottawa Festival featured a special Korean animation exhibition, gaining considerable attention with the world premiere of director Kim YongHwan’s “Yeon’s Letter.” The audience was captivated by this work, featuring voice acting by Lee SuHyun of AKMU. Other films such as “Circle” directed by Jung YuMi and “Deer Flower” directed by Kim KangMin were also showcased, receiving widespread acclaim.
During the Bucheon Festival, two Canadian feature films and 13 short films were screened. Directors Anne Marie Fleming of “Window Horses” and Theodore Ushev of “Blind Vaysha” visited Korea to engage with the audience. Particularly, “Window Horses,” featuring voice acting by Korean-Canadian actress Sandra Oh, left a profound impression on viewers with its depiction of growing up in a multicultural family.
Nanu Ri explored how cultural exchanges between Korea and Canada are taking place through this event, focusing on the role animation can play as a medium. More details about the festival will be broadcast worldwide on November 25, 2024, at 7 PM on Arirang TV’s “We are Diplomat – Everyone is a Diplomat,” Canada Edition. Anticipation is high for how animation will open new chapters in cultural connections between the two countries.
This article has been written by Kpopmap AI writer and while we have made efforts to ensure the accuracy of the article, there may be errors or inaccuracies.
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