On Thursday, October 15, 2026, I had the chance to watch the Korean film Hope during the opening night of the ASEAN Korea Film Festival (AKFF) 2026.

Before this screening, I honestly had no idea what the movie was about. I had only seen headlines and heard friends talking about how it had achieved impressive recognition internationally. Many of my peers were eagerly waiting for its release, but I didn’t know what to expect.

It wasn’t until I finally got the opportunity to watch it at AKFF that I started digging into some background information. At first, I assumed it would be a war or historical drama. To my surprise, it turned out to be a science fiction monster film! A genre I absolutely love.

That revelation alone made me even more excited.

The film Hope (2026) was screened on the opening day of the ASEAN Korea Film Festival (AKFF) 2026 on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at CGV Pacific Place.

On Thursday, October 15, 2026, the ROK Mission to ASEAN hosted the 2026 ASEAN Korea Film Festival (AKFF), an annual event that brings together Korean and ASEAN cultures through a curated selection of quality films.

Unlike previous years, this edition featured a special program titled “FLY Films Screening & Special Conversation with FLY Directors.” There’re five short films that were showcased, which are Laughing and Crying, Mey Long, Last Light, JIWO, and Kado (A Gift).

Among these, JIWO and Kado were directed by Indonesian filmmakers Luhki Herwanayogi and Aditya Ahmad, who joined the festival as special guests for the director’s talk session.

Visitors could receive an event brochure containing brief information about the films being screened, along with limited-edition souvenirs from the ASEAN Korea Film Festival 2026, namely a small pouch and a set of post-it notes.