Intangible cultural heritage is usually harder to notice than objects that you can touch, but it's an aspect of culture that needs preserving for future generations.
One way to preserve it is through film... and the 5th International Intangible Heritage Film Festival aims to do just that.
Our Han Soo-ah went to the southwestern city of Jeonju to find out more.

Cultural heritage is not just made of things you can touch, but also intangible heritage like performing arts, oral traditions, knowledge, and skills, which show a sense of identity and cultural diversity.
The International Intangible Heritage Film Festival, which kicked off on September 6th in Jeonju, showcases these intangible aspects of culture that have been captured on film.


“Intangible heritage is everywhere in our daily lives. It’s related to what we eat, what we wear, where we live. But usually people are not aware of it and do not feel the need to inherit it. Since movies are easy for anyone to access, it might help people to feel intangible heritage.”

Many artists and ‘Living Human Treasures’ have visited the National Intangible Heritage Center in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do Province to take part in the festival. Oh Jung-hae, a Korean traditional musician, gave a special performance to introduce intangible heritage artisans at the opening ceremony.

The opening film ‘The Lady in Number 6: Saved My Life’, is one of twenty-seven films from fifteen countries that will be shown at the festival.
The films range from a 1993 classic to films released this year, and cover a variety of genres, from documentaries to fiction and animations.


"As a film maker, I think festivals, any festivals that can deal with cultural heritage is frightfully important...because we are losing so much...the culture, the crafts, the arts and the people...who are getting old and having these marvelous skills and they will, if somebody doesn’t do something they will die… and not pass on these beautiful qualities and skills..."

The festival aims to help people share their intangible cultural heritage and preserve their unique values and cultural identity for future generations.

"As well as movies, there are plenty of other programs at the festival, like performances by a traditional Korean military band. The International Intangible Heritage Film Festival runs until September 9th in Jeonju.
Han Soo-ah, Arirang News, Jeonju."