01.15.2026

Judy Kim of Gardena Cinema Receives Special Citation from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association

Honored for 50 Years of Independent Cinema and Community Impact; New Chapter Begins with KTOWN International Film Festival

Gardena Cinema director Judy Kim has received a Special Citation from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA), recognizing her dedication to preserving the historic cinema and its cultural legacy. The award was presented on January 10 at the 51st annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards ceremony.

Gardena Cinema is an 800-seat, single-screen movie palace that has operated as an independent cinema since the Kim family took ownership in 1976. Originally maintained by John Kim’s father, a first-generation Korean immigrant, the theater is now run by his daughter, Judy Kim, who has continued the family’s commitment to film culture and community service. Over nearly five decades, Gardena Cinema has become a landmark cultural space and a symbol of Korean diaspora history in Los Angeles.

In its citation, LAFCA highlighted Judy Kim’s extraordinary efforts to keep the theater alive during the COVID-19 pandemic, often with the help of volunteers, ensuring that Gardena Cinema remained an essential cultural gathering place for the local community. The association praised her philosophy of prioritizing artistic integrity, community connection, and the long-term sustainability of film culture over commercial trends.

At the same 51st awards ceremony, the film One Battle After Another received the Best Picture award, while director Paul Thomas Anderson was honored with Best Director. LAFCA awards are widely regarded as a key indicator of future Academy Award contenders, and this year’s selections once again drew strong attention from the global film industry as an early marker of the Oscar race. The ceremony also emphasized long-term contributions to cinema by honoring individuals and institutions that have shaped film culture beyond the screen.

Founded in 1975, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association has earned an international reputation for championing bold, uncompromising filmmaking and expanding the definition of excellence in cinema. Receiving a Special Citation from LAFCA formally affirms Gardena Cinema’s status as a living cultural heritage site that has connected independent filmmakers and audiences for generations.

In addition to showcasing countless independent films over the decades, Gardena Cinema has collaborated with major and internationally recognized film festivals, serving as a crossroads for global film culture. This September, the theater will enter a new era as a central venue for the KTOWN International Film Festival (KTOWN IFF). The inaugural festival will feature a high-profile red carpet event and welcome renowned filmmakers and Hollywood industry leaders, marking a significant step forward as Gardena Cinema expands from a historic community theater into a global platform for international cinema.

Gardena Cinema is the official venue for the 2026 KTOWN International Festival