25th anniversary of CineCube, from the Bu-guk Festival to the Mise-en-scène Festival to the Seoul Independent Film Festival, the time of the theater, and the invitation of major film festivals in succession

Oct 21, 2025

The 25th anniversary of CineCube, an art movie theater run by Taekwang Group's media affiliate T-Cast, has been invited to major domestic film festivals one after another, proving new possibilities for art films.

Starting with the official invitation of the 30th Busan International Film Festival 'Today of Korean Film - Panorama' in September, it was specially screened at the 21st Miseensen Short Film Festival 'Deep Focus' program in October and received favorable reviews from film officials and audiences. Recently, the invitation to the 51st Seoul Independent Film Festival 'Festival Choice' section has been confirmed, drawing attention.

'Theatrical Times' is an anthology film that illuminates the essence of watching and creating movies with the theme of a theater. Director Lee Jong-pil, Yoon Ga-eun and Jang Geon-jae participated and completed three short stories with their respective eyes.

Director Lee Jong-pil's 『Chimpanji" tells the story of three friends who accidentally meet in Gwanghwamun in 2000 and fall in love with a mysterious chimpanzee story, starring actors Kim Dae-myung, Wonstein, Lee Soo-kyung and Hong Sabin. Director Yoon Ga-eun's 'Naturally' is a story of children actors and directors struggling for natural acting, with actor Go Go Ah-sung as the director. Director Jang Geon-jae's 『The Time of Cinema』 is the story of people working in theaters and a person who met a friend at a theater in Gwanghwamun for the first time in a long time, starring Yang Suk-bok, Jang Hye-jin, Kwon Hae-hyo, and Moon Sang-hoon.

This work goes beyond simple film production and also highlights the history and cultural identity of domestic art cinemas. CineCube is the oldest existing art theater opened in 2000 with the idea of former Taekwang Group Chairman Lee Ho-jin. Located in the center of Gwanghwamun, it has been the center of Korean art films for 25 years due to its curation focusing on artistry and workability, and symbolism of the space itself.

At the 21st Mise-en-Sen Short Film Festival special screening held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall on Oct. 18, Director Lee Sang-geun, executive member of the Mise-en-Sen Short Film Festival and director of 'Exit', was followed by 'Creator Talk' directed by Lee Jong-pil, Yoon Ga-eun and Jang Geon-jae. The three directors received enthusiastic responses from the audience by having in-depth conversations about film production and creative environment. Director Lee Jong-pil said, "'Chimpanji' containing my actual experience made me cry when I watched it again today. It was meaningful to be able to experience the movie as a work for the first time in a long time while making a popular movie with the movie as a profession", Director Yoon Ga-eun wanted to go back to the beginning and experience the movie as a play again by making "naturally". Watching movies together with strangers in the same space is a personal and common experience that only theaters can give." Director Jang Geon-jae said, "CineCube is a really important place for directors born in the 70s and 80s. When I think of 'CineCube', the image of a young CinePhil comes to mind first, but I wanted to pay attention to middle-aged female audiences and people working in theaters, so I made 'The Time of the Movie'", and the valuable experience of theater and film he felt while working on 'Theatrical Times' drew sympathy from many audiences. Director Lee Sang-geun expressed his appreciation for the movie, saying, `Looking at the Hammering Man in the movie, the space called CineCube, and the scenery of Gwanghwamun, we recall the memories of CineCube that we have.'

Following the Busan International Film Festival and the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival, 'Theatrical Times' was officially invited to the 'Festival Choice' section of the 51st Seoul Independent Film Festival, which runs from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5. This section introduces non-competitive works by directors who have drawn attention or are well-known at other film festivals, and boasts high attention in the domestic independent film industry.

The Seoul Independent Film Festival is co-hosted by the Korea Independent Film Association and the Film Promotion Committee, and organized by the Seoul Independent Film Festival 2025 Executive Committee. It is screened at CGV Apgujeong and CGV Cheongdam Cine City, and is a representative independent film festival that settles the year's independent films and looks at various trends.

Through this project, T-Cast will reaffirm its social role as an art theater and continue to play a role in discovering and supporting young creators in the future. 'Theatrical Times' is set to officially open in theaters in the first half of 2026.

Park Ji-ye, head of the CineCube team at T-Cast, said, "Time of the Theater" is invited to three major film festivals in succession, meeting with audiences, and drawing a discourse on the value and meaning of "theater."CineCube will continue to create opportunities for creators and audiences to connect as a platform for constant art films." he said.

kwonfilm@sportschosun.com