LEAFF 2025

masters of cinema

In the strand Masters of Cinema, LEAFF celebrates the artistry and craft behind iconic films. The programme opens with a special screening of Bong Joon-ho’s acclaimed thriller Memories of Murder (2003), followed by an in-depth conversation with its celebrated cinematographer Kim Hyung-koo, offering rare insight into his visual storytelling and long-time collaboration with Bong. Continuing this exploration of cinematic craft, we present the epic war drama Taegukgi: Brotherhood of War (2004) — one of Korea’s highest-grossing and most beloved films — followed by a talk with award-winning production designer Shin Bo-kyeong, renowned not only for her evocative work on Taegukgi but also for shaping the richly detailed worlds of global projects including Apple TV+’s Pachinko (2022).

Memories of Murder 

+ In Conversation with the Cinematographer Kim Hyung Koo

Dir. Bong Joon-ho | Korea | 2003 | 132 mins | 18

Friday October 24, 17:00 - 20:30
Victoria and Albert Museum Buy tickets →

Directed by Academy Award–winner Bong Joon-ho (Parasite), Memories of Murder is often regarded as one of the greatest Korean films of all time. Inspired by the true story of Korea’s first known serial murders, the film follows two detectives, one local and impulsive, the other from Seoul and methodical, as they grapple with mounting pressure, elusive suspects, and their own conflicting approaches to justice. Taut, atmospheric, and laced with Bong’s signature dark humour, the film is as much a haunting portrait of 1980s rural Korea as it is a gripping crime thriller.

Following the screening, Kim Hyung Koo will reflect on his collaboration with Bong and share insights into his distinct visual language and share a behind-the-camera perspective on the artistry of making a landmark moment in Korean cinema.

Taegukgi:

The Brotherhood of War

 + In Conversation with the Production Designer Shin Bo-kyeong

Dir. Kang Je-gyu | Korea | 2004 | 140 mins | 18

Monday October 27, 17:30
London Cinema Museum Buy tickets →

Directed by Kang Je-gyu, Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War is a sweeping epic that redefined Korean cinema. Set against the harrowing backdrop of the Korean War, it follows two brothers — one reluctantly conscripted, the other fiercely protective — as their bond unravels under the brutality of combat and the shifting tides of ideology. Both intimate and grand in scale, the film pairs visceral battle sequences with a deeply human story of love, sacrifice, and survival, capturing the emotional scars of a nation divided.

Following the screening, acclaimed production designer Shin Bo-kyeong will discuss crafting the film’s powerful visual world — from war-torn landscapes to poignant details that ground the epic narrative — and offer a rare behind-the-scenes look at shaping one of Korea’s most iconic cinematic experiences.