Film Screening: “Sanctuary” (MinCheol Wang, 2022)

**Directed by MinCheol Wang, 2022, 120 min, South Korea, in Korean w/English subtitles**

About the film:
Kim Jeong-ho, head veterinarian in Cheongju Zoo, dreams of turning his zoo into the nation's first animal sanctuary. The zoo hires animal welfare activist Choi Tae-kyu in hopes of establishing a bear sanctuary for rescued farm bears. Meanwhile, employees at neighboring Chungnam Wildlife Rescue Center support the idea of sanctuary as they unwillingly euthanize rescued animals that are unable to return to the wild. The film poignantly highlights the moral dilemmas and relentless efforts to provide animals with a second chance at life.

Director's Statement:
"I witnessed so many animals died as I made a documentary about zoos. Yet, for several reasons, I couldn't include all of their stories. So I wanted to make a story about the death of the animals. I saw many animals. I also saw many people working for those animals. And I saw the death of many animals. However, there are still many deaths that are not included in the film. I hope all those deaths change the lives of the living animals."

About the Director:
Mincheol Wang was born in 1975 in Seoul, Korea. He is a cinematographer and director, known for "Garden, zoological" (2019), "Sanctuary" (2022) and "Mondscheinsonate" [Moonlight Sonata] (2009). {information from IMDB}

Awards:
2022 Busan International Film Festival
2022 Seoul Animal Film Festival
50th Seoul Independent Film Festival (2024)