Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Governor of Gyeonggi Province
KIM Dong-yeon
We welcome you all to the 17th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival. This is Kim Dong-yeon, Chairman of the Organizing Committee and governor of Gyeonggi Province.
To all documentary lovers, filmmakers, and creators who have been recording the truth and communicating with the world, I would like to extend my heartfelt welcome on behalf of the 14.2 million residents of Gyeonggi Province.
The DMZ International Documentary Film Festival is a cultural action to transform the DMZ, symbolizing division and confrontation, into a space of peace and coexistence. The real stories delivered by the documentaries have become a driving force in transforming the DMZ into the symbol of peace.
This year, about 140 documentaries from 50 countries will begin their journey from Paju and Goyang and extend to five provincial cities, including Gimpo, Suwon, Seongnam, Pocheon, and Hwaseong, to reach out to a wider audience. The film festival has also expanded its scale to connect cities and people, foster human connections, and broaden the scope of empathy toward peace through documentary films. This is our meaningful step forward, showing that peace in the DMZ is no longer limited to Northern Gyeonggi or a specific region, but an issue related to everyone’s lives
The DMZ is now taking its silent step toward peace. Last August, the propaganda loudspeakers that once threatened the daily lives of border residents and peace of the Korean Peninsula began to be removed. Gyeonggi Province is also joining the current of change toward peace to focus on laying a stronger foundation of peace.
Peace should not be taken for granted. Instead, peace has to be created. Gyeonggi Province will try its best to make the DMZ an eco-peace zone for humanity, nature, the Korean peninsula, and the world.
Once again, I sincerely congratulate the opening of the film festival, and I sincerely hope that the value of peace that the film festival has upheld will become a force to open the future for us all.
September 2025
Chairman of Organizing Committee, Kim Dong-yeon
To all documentary lovers, filmmakers, and creators who have been recording the truth and communicating with the world, I would like to extend my heartfelt welcome on behalf of the 14.2 million residents of Gyeonggi Province.
The DMZ International Documentary Film Festival is a cultural action to transform the DMZ, symbolizing division and confrontation, into a space of peace and coexistence. The real stories delivered by the documentaries have become a driving force in transforming the DMZ into the symbol of peace.
This year, about 140 documentaries from 50 countries will begin their journey from Paju and Goyang and extend to five provincial cities, including Gimpo, Suwon, Seongnam, Pocheon, and Hwaseong, to reach out to a wider audience. The film festival has also expanded its scale to connect cities and people, foster human connections, and broaden the scope of empathy toward peace through documentary films. This is our meaningful step forward, showing that peace in the DMZ is no longer limited to Northern Gyeonggi or a specific region, but an issue related to everyone’s lives
The DMZ is now taking its silent step toward peace. Last August, the propaganda loudspeakers that once threatened the daily lives of border residents and peace of the Korean Peninsula began to be removed. Gyeonggi Province is also joining the current of change toward peace to focus on laying a stronger foundation of peace.
Peace should not be taken for granted. Instead, peace has to be created. Gyeonggi Province will try its best to make the DMZ an eco-peace zone for humanity, nature, the Korean peninsula, and the world.
Once again, I sincerely congratulate the opening of the film festival, and I sincerely hope that the value of peace that the film festival has upheld will become a force to open the future for us all.
September 2025
Chairman of Organizing Committee, Kim Dong-yeon
Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Mayor of Paju City KIM Kyung-il
KIM Kyung-il
We welcome you all to the 17th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival.
This is Kim Kyung-il, Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee and mayor of Paju City.
The DMZ is a strip of land dividing North and South Korea.
Once again, documentaries seeking the truth begin at the DMZ.
The film festival will be held for seven days from September 11, and it introduces documentary films that directly confront the themes of war and peace, environment and life, and labor and human rights, as the essence of our times. The cameras reveal hidden realities, and audience will encounter a broader world through these records.
Like last year, the opening stage will be held at Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri. There will also be meaningful programs envisioning the future of peace and coexistence together. The main films will be screened at CGV Paju Yadang to help citizens enjoy the documentaries more closely.
Paju City promises to try its best to ensure the comfortable and in-depth experience of all visitors of the film festival.
Lastly, I would like to extend my gratitude to Organizing Committee Chairman Kim Dong-yeon, Executive Committee Chairman Chang Hae-rang, and all those who have devoted themselves to the successful hosting of the film festival.
In this summer with lingering heat, I hope you watch documentaries to envision the tomorrow we aspire to create together.
Thank you.
September 2025
Vice Chairman of Organizing Committee, Kim Kyung-il
This is Kim Kyung-il, Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee and mayor of Paju City.
The DMZ is a strip of land dividing North and South Korea.
Once again, documentaries seeking the truth begin at the DMZ.
The film festival will be held for seven days from September 11, and it introduces documentary films that directly confront the themes of war and peace, environment and life, and labor and human rights, as the essence of our times. The cameras reveal hidden realities, and audience will encounter a broader world through these records.
Like last year, the opening stage will be held at Imjingak Pyeonghwa Nuri. There will also be meaningful programs envisioning the future of peace and coexistence together. The main films will be screened at CGV Paju Yadang to help citizens enjoy the documentaries more closely.
Paju City promises to try its best to ensure the comfortable and in-depth experience of all visitors of the film festival.
Lastly, I would like to extend my gratitude to Organizing Committee Chairman Kim Dong-yeon, Executive Committee Chairman Chang Hae-rang, and all those who have devoted themselves to the successful hosting of the film festival.
In this summer with lingering heat, I hope you watch documentaries to envision the tomorrow we aspire to create together.
Thank you.
September 2025
Vice Chairman of Organizing Committee, Kim Kyung-il
Festival Director
CHANG Hae-rang
One Step Further
Last summer, the Earth severely suffered from heatwaves and floods caused by climate disasters. The madness of warfare driven by greed and selfishness continued, and countless lives were lost before our eyes. Politics has grown divided into fractions and growing inequality led to hatred, discrimination, and violence. In these times of despair full of pain and tears, who dares to speak of hope and the progress of history?
Nevertheless, we cannot stop. We stand before this tough era to think once again about the mission and spirit of documentaries and the documentary film festival. “The Day We Want to Live” has been chosen as the slogan for this year. We dream of a humble yet long and distant path we must take. We envision a community of life that we must achieve as we dream.
The 17th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival carefully selected 143 films from 50 countries, living up to its title of documentary film festival representing Asia. We expanded the scale of the special program by screening 45 films by Frederick Wiseman in [Frederick Wiseman : A Complete Retrospective]. We also added depth to the non-theatrical program, [Face of Nature], which is returning for its third year. We also introduced a new program, [Critics’ Choice], to discuss significant Korean documentaries of the year. These original programs will be a valuable opportunity to gain insights into the era and reflect on our lives.
The 17th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival has been renewed for its two owners: citizens and filmmakers. First, we adopted a concept of “Film Festival Rooted in Northern Gyeonggi DMZ Border Cities and Citizens” to fulfill the second year of “Into Lives of Residents” mission. Such attempts include expansion of main screening theaters to CGV Paju Yadang and Megabox KINTEX in Goyang City, [Non-theatrical Program - Face of Nature] exhibition at Aegibong Peace Ecopark, and special screening of animation, [Drawing History], at Paju Gallery Greaves. Furthermore, we plan to connect with the film festival’s special programs, [DMZ Docu Road] and [DMZ Docs Plus+], for enriched programs, and we also plan to expand the point of contact between the film festival and citizens by collaborating with annual projects, [Special Screening] and [Community Screening Support Project].
Second, we innovated the DMZ Docs Industry system to fulfill “With Filmmakers” mission. We redesigned the production support system for each production stage, such as planning, production, and post-production, and newly established a short film production support system for new creators and an international co-production support system. We also strengthened educational functions connected with production support and innovatively expanded market functions, such as pitching, consulting, business meeting, and exchanges with international film festivals and professional filmmakers for overseas market expansion. We are proud to introduce the completely new industry by the filmmakers and for the filmmakers.
Lastly, we attempted new changes and innovation through choice and concentration in order to maximize the efficiency within the limited budget. The first attempt was the introduction of art director system. This allowed comprehensive designing and planning of the film festival space in advance, unified the consistent images covering from event venue design to outdoor promotions, posters, publications, and souvenirs, and strengthened the overall artistic sense of the film festival. At the same time, the film festival’s OTT platform, [DocuVODA], saved the cost by transforming from permanent operation system to exclusive channel for online special exhibition and documentary education program, [Doc School]. Even though the budget was limited, we tried our best to professionalize and specialize our representative programs, including [Frederick Wiseman : A Complete Retrospective], [Non-theatrical Program], [Critics’ Choice], [Documentary Concert], [DMZ Docu Road], and [DMZ Doc Forum] to make them signature brands of the film festival. We invite you to explore and enjoy them.
There are expectations and concerns for the film festival. Even though we still have far to go, please keep sending your love for the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival. Now is the moment of documentaries. Only documentaries can provide insight and seek solutions to the harsh realities by recording the truth and reconstructing the reality around the world. The DMZ International Documentary Film Festival promises to serve as a platform connecting the citizens and filmmakers and become a true festival of harmony. We will take one step broader, deeper, and newer to reach out to you.
September 2025
Chairman of Executive Committee, Chang Hae-rang
Last summer, the Earth severely suffered from heatwaves and floods caused by climate disasters. The madness of warfare driven by greed and selfishness continued, and countless lives were lost before our eyes. Politics has grown divided into fractions and growing inequality led to hatred, discrimination, and violence. In these times of despair full of pain and tears, who dares to speak of hope and the progress of history?
Nevertheless, we cannot stop. We stand before this tough era to think once again about the mission and spirit of documentaries and the documentary film festival. “The Day We Want to Live” has been chosen as the slogan for this year. We dream of a humble yet long and distant path we must take. We envision a community of life that we must achieve as we dream.
The 17th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival carefully selected 143 films from 50 countries, living up to its title of documentary film festival representing Asia. We expanded the scale of the special program by screening 45 films by Frederick Wiseman in [Frederick Wiseman : A Complete Retrospective]. We also added depth to the non-theatrical program, [Face of Nature], which is returning for its third year. We also introduced a new program, [Critics’ Choice], to discuss significant Korean documentaries of the year. These original programs will be a valuable opportunity to gain insights into the era and reflect on our lives.
The 17th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival has been renewed for its two owners: citizens and filmmakers. First, we adopted a concept of “Film Festival Rooted in Northern Gyeonggi DMZ Border Cities and Citizens” to fulfill the second year of “Into Lives of Residents” mission. Such attempts include expansion of main screening theaters to CGV Paju Yadang and Megabox KINTEX in Goyang City, [Non-theatrical Program - Face of Nature] exhibition at Aegibong Peace Ecopark, and special screening of animation, [Drawing History], at Paju Gallery Greaves. Furthermore, we plan to connect with the film festival’s special programs, [DMZ Docu Road] and [DMZ Docs Plus+], for enriched programs, and we also plan to expand the point of contact between the film festival and citizens by collaborating with annual projects, [Special Screening] and [Community Screening Support Project].
Second, we innovated the DMZ Docs Industry system to fulfill “With Filmmakers” mission. We redesigned the production support system for each production stage, such as planning, production, and post-production, and newly established a short film production support system for new creators and an international co-production support system. We also strengthened educational functions connected with production support and innovatively expanded market functions, such as pitching, consulting, business meeting, and exchanges with international film festivals and professional filmmakers for overseas market expansion. We are proud to introduce the completely new industry by the filmmakers and for the filmmakers.
Lastly, we attempted new changes and innovation through choice and concentration in order to maximize the efficiency within the limited budget. The first attempt was the introduction of art director system. This allowed comprehensive designing and planning of the film festival space in advance, unified the consistent images covering from event venue design to outdoor promotions, posters, publications, and souvenirs, and strengthened the overall artistic sense of the film festival. At the same time, the film festival’s OTT platform, [DocuVODA], saved the cost by transforming from permanent operation system to exclusive channel for online special exhibition and documentary education program, [Doc School]. Even though the budget was limited, we tried our best to professionalize and specialize our representative programs, including [Frederick Wiseman : A Complete Retrospective], [Non-theatrical Program], [Critics’ Choice], [Documentary Concert], [DMZ Docu Road], and [DMZ Doc Forum] to make them signature brands of the film festival. We invite you to explore and enjoy them.
There are expectations and concerns for the film festival. Even though we still have far to go, please keep sending your love for the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival. Now is the moment of documentaries. Only documentaries can provide insight and seek solutions to the harsh realities by recording the truth and reconstructing the reality around the world. The DMZ International Documentary Film Festival promises to serve as a platform connecting the citizens and filmmakers and become a true festival of harmony. We will take one step broader, deeper, and newer to reach out to you.
September 2025
Chairman of Executive Committee, Chang Hae-rang
