NFB documentary The Apology begins its theatrical release in South Korea

The award-winning National Film Board of Canada (NFB) documentary The Apology will hit 66 screens in South Korea starting March 16, 2017.

South Korea-based distributor AK Entertainment acquired a five-year licence for the film during the 2016 Busan Contents Market and will be releasing it at CGV Cinemas, the largest multiplex chain in South Korea, as well as at local art cinemas throughout the country. Cities include Seoul, Busan, Incheon and Jeju City.The company also acquired the rights for mainland China.

The feature documentary debut by Toronto-based Tiffany Hsiung follows the personal journeys of three “grandmothers”—Grandma Gil in South Korea, Grandma Cao in China, and Grandma Adela in the Philippines—who were among the 200,000 girls and young women kidnapped and forced into military sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. After decades of living in silence and shame, they know that time is running out to give a first-hand account of the truth and ensure that this horrific chapter of history is not forgotten.

“This is the first time that one of our films has been released on such a large scale in South Korea. Having The Apology released in this country’s largest theatre chain confirms the NFB as an important international player in the audiovisual field,” said NFB Sales Agent Oscar Rangel, who brokered the deal. “The fact that the lives of these brave women are shown in part through the eyes of a Canadian public producer is evidence that borders around the world blur when relevant stories are told.”

Produced by Anita Lee for the NFB’s Ontario Studio, The Apology had its world premiere at Hot Docs 2016, where it was the runner-up for the audience award. South Korea’s Busan International Film Festival gave the film its Cinephile Award, which was followed by the Best of Festival Award at the Zonta Film Festival in Kitchener, Ontario, and the Audience Award at the Cork Film Festival in Ireland.

The film is currently being shown at festivals all over the world. In Canada, it will be broadcast on TVO in April of 2017.