Korean Film Festival 2026 to feature free screenings of Korean films adapted from webtoons, novels

The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) will bring this year's Korean Film Festival to select SM Cinemas, featuring acclaimed Korean films adapted from popular webtoons and literary works. The festival will run from August 7 to 9 at SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM City Iloilo, and SM Lanang.

Announced by the KCC on social media on July 25, the festival carries the theme “K-Story: Stories that Move Us.” The official caption invited audiences to “experience a lineup of acclaimed Korean films that began as beloved webtoons and literary works, now brought to life through cinema,” featuring stories ranging from heartfelt dramas to thrilling adventures.

Admission to all screenings is free. Tickets will be released one hour before each scheduled screening, and viewers may secure their tickets in front of the designated cinema according to the festival’s instructions.

The festival lineup features five film adaptations. Opening the festival is “Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy” by Kim Byung-woo, a fantasy action film starring Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Min-ho, and Chae Soo-bin. 

It will be followed by “Yumi's Cells: The Movie” by Kim Da-hee, an animated adaptation of the hit webtoon featuring the voices of Yoon A-Young, Shin Beom-Sik, and Song Ha-rim, and “My Daughter is a Zombie” by Pil Gam-seong, a comedy, sci-fi starring Jo Jung-suk, Lee Jeong-eun, and Cho Yeo-jeong. 

Also included in the lineup are “Your Letter” by Kim Yong-hwan, an animated coming-of-age film featuring the voices of Nam Doh-hyeong, Kim Min-ju, and Min Seung-woo, and “Love in the Big City” by Lee Eon-hie, a romance-drama starring Kim Go-eun and Noh Sanghyun.

The screenings will be held at Cinema 1 in SM Mall of Asia, Cinema 6 in SM North EDSA, Cinema 1 in SM City Iloilo, and Cinema 2 in SM Lanang Premier.

The festival opens on August 7 (Friday) with “Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy” at 7:30 pm. On August 8 (Saturday), audiences can watch “Yumi's Cells: The Movie” at 1:00 p.m., followed by “My Daughter is a Zombie” at 5:00 pm. The festival concludes on August 9 (Sunday) with “Your Letter” at 1:00 pm and “Love in the Big City” at 6:30 pm.

All films are rated PG, except “Love in the Big City,” which is rated R13.

After the screenings, audiences can participate in the 2026 KFF post-event survey by scanning the QR code available on KCC's official page.

Aside from the film screenings, fans can also take part in special festival activities featuring Korean webtoon artist Pil Gam-seong, creator of “My Daughter is a Zombie,” and Filipino graphic artist and novelist Arnold Arre, known for “The Mythology Class” and “Milkboy.”

The “Meet the Mentor” sessions will be held on August 8 and 9, while a talkback session with a special screening of their works is scheduled for August 6, followed by a webtoon workshop on August 7. Interested participants are required to register by completing the sign-up form available on the official KCC page.