These are five feature films you shouldn’t miss at the Seoul International Food Film Festival which will take place from October 20 – 29, 2022 in Seoul, South Korea.

The soup kitchen is part of the Church of the Advocate – a national monument because of its importance in the civil rights struggle and the Black Panther Party. In North Philadelphia, crushing poverty, drugs addiction, gun violence and police harassment are a part of daily life. But this does not hinder the determination of our characters – former Black Panther Barbara Easley-Cox, Pastor Renee Mackenzie and head cook Mamie Mather – who believe everyone is welcome at their table. Their fierce grace and effort to help others are now more important than ever. As pastor Renee McKenzie points out, reaching out to undocumented immigrants marks a new chapter in the church’s long tradition of social justice activism. With a sympathetic eye, filmmaker Petr Lom follows the kitchen staff, volunteers and guests for two years, and records what happens when an undocumented Mexican family asks for sanctuary at the church. (SIFFF 2022)

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Eating Our Way to Extinction takes audiences on a cinematic journey around the world, from the depths of the Amazon rainforests to the Taiwanese Mountains, the Mongolian desert, the US Dust Bowl, the Norwegian Fjords and the Scottish coastlines, telling the story of our planet through shocking testimonials, poignant accounts from indigenous people most affected by our ever-changing planet, globally renowned figures and leading scientists. This powerful documentary sends a simple but impactful message by uncovering hard truths and addressing, on the big screen, the most pressing issue of our generation – ecological collapse. Confronting and entertaining, this documentary allows audiences to question their everyday choices, industry leaders and governments. Featuring a wealth of world-renowned contributors, including Sir Richard Branson and Tony Robbins, it has a message of hope that will empower audiences. (SIFFF 2022)

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People think the point of learning about the negatives that happened is to make people feel guilty. But it is our mission to take collective ownership of mistakes our country has made so that we learn and grow. Gather celebrates the fruits of the indigenous food sovereignty movement, profiling innovative changemakers in Native American tribes across North America reclaiming their identities after centuries of physical and cultural genocide. On the Apache reservation, a chef embarks on an ambitious project to reclaim his tribe’s ancient ingredients; in South Dakota, a gifted Lakota high school student, raised on a buffalo ranch, is using science to prove her tribe’s native wisdom about environmental sustainability; and in Northern California, a group of young men from the Yurok tribe is struggling to rehabilitate its rivers to protect the salmon. The reclaiming and recovery of ancient foodways provides a form of resistance and survival, collectively bringing back health and self-determination to their people. (SIFFF 2022)

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COVID-19 is rampant in the world. Juri, a 25-year-old unemployed young girl stopped socializing and has been just staying alone at home. Her mother, Young-shim struggles against the hard season, still running her Kimbap(seaweed rice roll) restaurant. One day, Young-shim leaves to take care of her mother, and Juri takes charge of the restaurant unexpectedly. However, rolling Kimbap is a challenge for her, and unusual customers are visiting this restaurant. (SIFFF 2022)

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My parents never approved of my Japanese husband as their son-in-law. For the first time he comes to visit her in Osaka, my mother puts her heart into her special chicken soup stuffed with a healthy filling to feed her son-in-law. Everything I hate about my family is an utter novelty to my husband. One day, my mom shares with us her memory about her hometown Jeju Island, which she hasn’t been able to bring up to anyone. Now she holds on to her hurtful yet vanishing memories, eats the chicken soup her son-in-law made for her, and pays a visit to her hometown with her family. Not our minds think alike but we do share the same meal. That’s what the family is for.  (SIFFF 2022)

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For more information, please visit: https://www.sifff.kr