From Torture Site to Cinema: Former Namyeong-dong Interrogation Facility Tennis Court Transforms for Democracy & Human Rights Film Festival

Transforming the Namyeong-dong Tennis Courts Into a Public Cinema

The focal point of the gathering will be the facility's tennis court, located directly adjacent to the interrogation rooms where state agents once subjected dissidents to torture. The court gained widespread public recognition after appearing in the film "1987," depicting a space where investigators played tennis just feet away from active human rights abuses.

According to the foundation, led by Chairman Lee Jae-o, the festival aims to repurpose the dark history of the grounds into a vibrant cultural hub dedicated to democratic values and human rights. To minimize disruptions for nearby residents, the outdoor screening area will utilize silent-cinema technology, allowing audiences to view films via Bluetooth headsets. Additional on-site offerings include one-day handicraft classes for families and stamp tours of the memorial’s exhibitions.

First-Ever Film Competition and Diverse Screening Slate

For the first time since its inception, the festival introduced a competitive submission category. Running from June 15 to July 16, the call for entries centered on themes of democracy, human rights, and peace, drawing a total of 637 submissions, according to organizing records. Following a preliminary screening phase, 27 projects advanced to the main competition.

The selected works tackle a broad spectrum of contemporary issues, including the recovery of Sewol ferry disaster survivors in the documentary “Relay,” the lives of former student activists a decade later in “To Those Who Waver,” alongside entries addressing industrial accidents, disability care, family structures, LGBTQ+ topics, migration prejudice, and housing exclusion. A preliminary judging panel consisting of film producer Kim Young, documentary director Nam A-reum, Indieground value-diffusion team Song Sung-ho, and programmer Jang Dana praised the finalists for capturing hard-won societal values through diverse cinematic languages.

The festival’s executive committee, chaired by Kim Hye-jun, curated 10 additional invitation works under the banner of “broader and more diverse everyday democracy.” The opening night screening will feature the film “Namtaeryung,” selected for its alignment with the thematic focus and the symbolic location of the memorial venue. Other invited works include “Wangsimni Kim Jong-bun,” “Soundless Nabillera,” “There’s Still Tomorrow,” “The Zone of Interest,” “Square,” and “Graduation Album: Waiting for Teacher.”

Cine-Talks, Guest Dialogues, and Closing Events

Alongside screenings, the event features scheduled engagement sessions designed to deepen audience interaction. Cultural critic Sohn Hee-jung and journalist Cha Han-bi will host a post-screening discussion following “There’s Still Tomorrow,” while film YouTuber “Geo-yi-up-da” will lead a special cine-talk after “The Zone of Interest”—a feature examining quiet domestic life adjacent to the Auschwitz concentration camp, echoing the historical layout of the Namyeong-dong site.

From Torture Site to Cinema: Former Namyeong-dong Interrogation Facility Tennis Court Transforms for Democracy & Human Rights — Photo: nc.press

The festival will open with remarks hosted by film director Lee Mu-young. The final day on Sept. 13 will conclude with the competition awards ceremony and the screening of the closing film, “Graduation Album: Waiting for Teacher.” Organizers noted that audiences will also vote for a people’s choice award among the 27 main competition finalists based on viewer feedback gathered across the three-day run.