The Seoul Larkspur International Film Festival (SLIFF) has announced that it will host North Korean Human Rights film screenings at the Hibiya Library & Museum in Tokyo, Japan, from Wednesday, October 1 to Thursday, October 2, and at Lancaster University and SOAS University in London, UK, from Wednesday, October 8 to Friday, October 10.

These screenings, held locally in Japan and the UK, are designed to raise global awareness of North Korean human rights issues. The program includes testimonies from North Korean defectors, screenings of feature and short films related to North Korean human rights, and conversations with relevant figures. The London screening, in particular, is highly anticipated as it coincides with the "Korea Day" celebrations in the UK.

The organizers of the Larkspur International Film Festival stated, "Widely informing the international community about the dire state of human rights in North Korea is the only way to save North Korean defectors and residents." They added, "Through the medium of film, we aim to improve awareness regarding North Korean human rights and encourage sustained international interest in the unification of the Korean Peninsula."

The screenings will feature three full-length films, including the latest work Arari at Eleven by directors Lee Yong-nam and Kim Yun-hee, as well as three short films that won awards in the film festival's annual short film competition, which saw a competitive ratio of 500:1.

This event is co-hosted with the North Korean Human Rights Film Festival Organizing Committee in Japan and the London-based civic group Jingumdari, and was prepared in collaboration with various international partners.

Now in its 5th year, the Larkspur International Film Festival is the only film festival in South Korea dedicated to the theme of North Korean human rights. Guided by the core values of "freedom, justice, and human rights," the festival continues to engage in various domestic and international screenings and cultural exchange activities.

Details regarding the films and the full screening schedule can be found on the official festival website at www.sliff.kr.

For inquiries regarding the UK and Japan screenings, please contact the Larkspur International Film Festival secretariat at 070-7007-5234.