| On behalf of the Center for Asian and Pacific Studies (CAPS), I wish to
extend a warm welcome to the 3rd Annual Kolors Korean Film Festival.
The Kolors Korean Film Festival makes a valuable contribution to the
mission of CAPS, which is to promote knowledge of Asian societies
and culture at the University of Iowa and among the citizens of the
state of Iowa. Cinema is a particularly effective medium for introducing the culture of distant societies. As an art form that is both national and international, cinema speaks to diverse audiences across differences in language, culture and history. We hope that the films exhibited this weekend will not only entertain, but will also stimulate University of Iowa students and the wider community to learn more about Korean society and culture today. CAPS is proud to be a sponsor of the Kolors Korean Film Festival and extends its appreciation to Kolors for organizing this valuable event. Stephen Vlastos Director, Center for Asian and Pacific Studies |
| Congratulations to Kolors for hosting the 3rd Korean Film Festival!
This event is occurring at a historic time in which multicultural
understanding is so desperately needed. Also, it is a time on this
campus, as well, with Asian-American / Asian students organizing like
never before to speak their voice/s in unity and diversity while many
American students are still quite unaware of world geography and
cultures. And the film festival, of course, is occurring in a world that
is aching for paths that bring people of diverse backgrounds and
experiences toward greater understanding, rather than greater division. My congratulations and respect for the contributions Kolors is making to this campus and world community. May it bring greater understanding of the Korean / Korean-American experience and, subsequently, greater understanding of ourselves. Diane Finnerty Diversity Resources Coordinator, Office of Affirmative Action Adjunct Instructor, International Business Environment |
| I’m very pleased to again acknowledge Kolors as a welcome and regular
part of the University of Iowa’s exciting film culture. Each of the previous
Kolors festivals has been extremely popular with students, faculty, and
local audiences, but Kolors has been especially valuable for drawing
serious attention to a once-neglected but increasingly significant national
cinema. It’s not uncommon for people to now view Korean cinema in the
way Hong Kong cinema was received a decade ago: as one of the world’s
most vibrant, innovative, and influential centers of filmmaking activity. The hard-working Kolors group has played a crucial role in bringing Iowa City’s most adventurous film audiences a carefully selected sample of this fascinating cinema, and what was first designed as a one-time event has evolved into an eagerly anticipated annual event on campus. Congratulations and keep up the good work. Corey K. Creekmur Associate Professor, Cinema and Comparative Literature Director, Institute for Cinema and Culture |
| Events like this one are the lifeblood of our campus. Kolors is now its
third year and stands as both an opportunity to catch up on recent
Korean filmmaking and as a testament to the dedicated students who
put it together. Hard work in service to an important addition to our
community. I hope Kolors goes on forever. Congratulations. Franklin Miller Professor, Cinema & Comparative Literature |
| Come, learn and absorb yourself in the UI Korean Film Festival. Events
like this bring us all close to our goal of developing cross-cultural
understanding, and making our world a better place to be. I want to
congratulate the students and scholars involved in Kolors for giving us
this opportunity not only to have a great time, but also for sharing with us
their culture, and these fine examples of the current renaissance taking
place in Korean cinema. I especially want to thank James Lee, President
of Kolors, for his leadership in making this year’s Korean Film Festival
another success. Respectfully yours, Helen Jameson International Student Program Coordinator |
| Kolors contributes greatly to campus film culture. The festival is an
opportunity to see an intelligently curated set of
films from a contemporary cinema little known in this country. By giving
us an opportunity to see films from a industry that has been changing
rapidly over the past few years, Kolors has allowed the University of
Iowa community to witness film history as it unfolds. On behalf of the
Department of Cinema and Comparative Literature, I congratulate Kolors
on three years of excellence. Louis Schwartz Assistant Professor Department of Cinema & Comparative Literature |