Gyeonggi Film Commission offers support for domestic and foreign movie productions. From location to equipment rentals.
This year South
Korean cinema turned 100 years old. Although the Korean film industry has faced
ups and downs, in the last two decades South Korean films have been
experiencing a surge in popularity with internationally acclaimed titles such
as Old Boy, The Host, Burning, Train To Busan, Parasite, and more. This has positively affected Gyeonggi-do’s film
industry as the province is home to many popular shooting destinations in South
Korea.
Films, whether
commercial or independent, are powerful cultural items and often require public
support as the international scene is very competitive. The Gyeonggi Film
Commission and the Gyeonggi Content Agency are two public institutions
dedicated to supporting Korean cinema and the Gyeonggi film industry.
What is the Gyeonggi Film Commission
The Gyeonggi Film Commission (GGFC) is a public institution dedicated to promoting Gyeonggi-do’s
film industry and local filming locations. GGFC was founded in 2005 with the
aim of fortifying the province’s central role in the South Korean film industry.
The commission also works to attract international productions by promoting and
granting access to Gyeonggi’s filming locations.
GGFC helps to
authorize the filming of more than one hundred visual productions a year in
various locations and offers a variety of support programs. These programs
cover different stages of film production and development and include:
- incentives for domestic
and international productions and the attraction of such productions to locations
in the province;
- incentives for local
production companies;
- support for scenario
planning and the development of indie/art films;
- support for the
production of indie/art films to diversify Korean cinema; and
- support for the distribution
of outstanding independent domestic films.
On top of that,
GGFC encourages Gyeonggi residents to enjoy films as a cultural activity. To
make films more accessible to the public, GGFC operates public movie theaters,
mobile movie theaters, and small-scale local film festivals. The commission also
organizes the screening of independent movies throughout the province.
GGFC’s support for
various aspects of film making and distribution is essential for the effective
use of the province’s resources. Its support programs help realize the hidden
potentials of local production companies and filmmakers.
Gyeonggi Film Commission Location & Shooting Support
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Gyeonggi Film Commission supports filming location to the productions
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One of the chief
aims of GGFC is to promote Gyeonggi-do as a shooting destination. It offers assistance
to domestic and foreign productions hoping to secure desired filming locations in
Gyeonggi-do. The location support program is available for all types of visual
productions (film, television, music videos, advertisement, and more).
To make location
scouting easier, GGFC has created an online database of available locations
with photos and basic information. After a production team has selected where
they wish to film, GGFC can help that team acquire the necessary permits to
film at those Gyeonggi-do locations.
Equipment Rentals
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| Equipment support from GGFC |
As part of the
location support program, GGFC operates a rental service for equipment production
teams may need. In some cases, the production team can apply to use the
equipment free of charge. If the production team has a budget of less than KRW
1 billion, cameras might be supported as well; this helps independent projects
and supports the production of diverse films.
Productions Supported by the GGFC Location Support
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Various titles are supported by GGFC
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Under its location
support program, GGFC has contributed to the filming of various international
and domestic projects in Gyeonggi-do.
Exit is a 2019 disaster action-comedy movie that tells the
story of a young man who has to use his rock climbing skills to save his family
after a mysterious fog hits Seoul. It was the 3rd most-watched domestic
production of the year.
I Can Speak is a 2017 comedy-drama based on the story of a South Korean
comfort woman. The movie is about an elderly woman who learns English so that
she can testify at an international court as a comfort woman.
The list also
includes international titles such as Avengers
2 and Colossal.
Gyeonggi Independent Films
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Independent filmmakers can draw more attention through GGFC support
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GGFC is proud to
have an active role in the thriving local indie film scene. Apart from production-focused
programs for local independent filmmakers, GGFC also offers a support program
for promotion and screening so as to ensure that Korean indie films can receive
well-deserved exposure and to provide local film enthusiasts with access to a
variety of films. Each year, up to fifty independent films receive promotion
and screening support.
Four screens in each
Gyeonggi movie theater are dedicated to supporting indie film releases that are
guaranteed to run for up to two weeks. GGFC also operates public movie theaters
in different cities and regions with the total number of locations expected to hit
forty in 2020.
Supporting the
film industry helps local culture and arts flourish. Films offer great insights
into our existence as a society, and the critical approach of some independent
films help expand our views about life. In addition, a successful film industry
contributes to the local economy while creating a wide variety of jobs.
Gyeonggi-do has invested in the local and national film industries, laying the
foundation for a new golden age of South Korean cinema.
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