The 22nd Jecheon International Music Film Festival (JIMFF) opens on September 3, 2026, bringing 189 films from 51 countries and 37 live music performances to South Korea. According to festival organizers, the six-day event runs through September 8 across multiple venues in Jecheon under the official slogan “Fly Together.”
Opening Ceremony and Star-Studded Red Carpet
The festival kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at the Jecheon Arts Center Summer Plaza.
International Masters and Opening Work
Chinese composer Zhao Jiping, recognized for shaping the sound of fifth-generation Chinese cinema, attends the festival to receive the 2026 Jecheon Film Music Award. A special retrospective highlights his work with screenings of Farewell My Concubine, Raise the Red Lantern, Ju Dou, and One and Eight.
The opening film is Congo Boy by Congolese director and musician Rafiki Pariala. According to festival programmers, the documentary combines music and the reality of displacement.
Expanded Venues and New Programs
Screenings and performances are distributed across downtown Jecheon to improve accessibility. Venues include the newly remodeled Jecheon Culture Theater—which now houses seven screening rooms—alongside the Jecheon Media Center Bom and the Yeoyeoncho Salon. Live performances take place at the Jecheon Arts Center Summer Plaza, Jecheon Station Square, and the Uirimji History Museum.
For 2026, the festival introduces “Nocturne Special,” a late-night screening program dedicated to music films, genre works, and cult classics. The Jecheon Music Film Market operates at the Haso Living Culture Center Sancheok and the Yeoyeoncho Lawn Yard as an industry platform for project pitching and business networking.
Festival Information and Access
Actor Ahn Jae-hong serves as this year’s “JIMFFACE” promotional ambassador. The opening ceremony will be broadcast online simultaneously through Naver Chzzk. Additional details on ticketing, screening schedules, and guest appearances are available through the official Jecheon International Music Film Festival website.
Worth a look