Women Workers Film Festival, Isn’t It Really Awesome?

 

I was looking forward to seeing the Women Workers Film Festival and its curtain was finally raised. It has become far better and developed over time since 2004 when the first festival was commenced. On Saturday, November 3^rd, 2007, although the festival was just commenced, it was so popular that all the seats were highly occupied. The Women Workers Film Festival will last for other 3 days with the help of hardworking volunteers including middle school students to members of the society, regardless of occupation and age.

 

The opening ceremony was the most eye-catching. At the opening addresses, Choi Sangrim, Chairperson of Korean Women Workers Association, Park  Namhee, Chairperson of Korean Women's Trade Union, and Yoon Hye-ryeon, Chairperson of Seoul Women Workers Association addressed a message that the films are about ordinary women, our mothers, our sisters and themselves in Korea, and asked for our constant interests in the festival. In addition, they evaluated the 1970s to be the history of struggles, and little improvement has been made in terms of working conditions and demands of workers who the films portray, mentioning this festival offers a venue to confirm that. However, they underlined they would have continued to carry out their struggles to improve working conditions, and hoped many people can join the movement together.

 

Kang Kyeonghee, chairperson of the Korea Foundation for Women, Park Soo-ae, wife of Creative Korea Party’s president, Lee Kyeong-eun, chairperson of Eui-jeongbu Women Association joined the film as guests. Followed are greetings by volunteers who help to bloom and fruit the festival, conveying their affections and hopes for the successful festival.

 

A performance by ‘rapping peppermint’ was followed. The performance created a festive mood and encouraged people to take an active part. From time to time, the musicians added rap lyrics for their congratulations on this festival. It was very amusing and fun.

 

In an interview, Bae Jin-kyung, secretary-general of KWWA in charge of planning and organizing this festival hoped we could have a good time to raise our concerns for the society, awaken our self-images and look at what have happened and what is truth in the society, rather than just accept distorted social images delivered by the press. The Phantom of the Operator was designated as an opening film. This Canadian film is a black-and-white film, whose beauty is its special structure. When the organizer let us know her funny episode experienced when she tried to import the film, a cheerful atmosphere was created. A good start guarantees a good end! I hope the Women Workers Film Festival with a good start can give a big leap forward in the end. I hope audiences and participants can have a valuable opportunity to improve their awareness to the higher level: ‘my stories, and important issues in our society’ not ‘her stories’ or ‘others stories different from me’,

written by Sookyoung, a volunteer