NEWS:
KTOWN International Film Festival Draws More Than 400 Attendees to Inaugural Opening Gala at Historic Gardena Cinema
LOS ANGELES, CA. – September 9, 2026 — The KTOWN International Film Festival (KTOWN IFF) celebrated its inaugural Opening Gala and Awards Show on September 5 at the historic Gardena Cinema, drawing more than 400 attendees and bringing together international filmmakers, Hollywood industry leaders, educators, students, musicians, civic leaders, and the community.
The inaugural festival received more than 1,200 film submissions from 91 countries, including films recognized by major international festivals and official submissions for the Academy Awards.
Gardena Mayor Tasha Cerda attended the gala and presented an official City of Gardena Certificate of Recognition to KTOWN IFF, recognizing the festival’s contributions to film, arts, education, culture, and community engagement.
Hollywood Leaders and Lifetime Achievement Honorees
Larry Namer, co-founder of E! Entertainment Television received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Cinema, while Leah Clapman, Executive Director of PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Education.
Also attending were Superman producer Ilya Salkind, acclaimed filmmaker Michael Schultz, cinema technology pioneer Dr. Barry Sandrew, and veteran actor Richard Riehle.
KTOWN IFF established permanent Signature Awards honoring these industry and education leaders, including the Ilya Salkind Best Feature Film Award, Michael Schultz Best Actor Award, Dr. Barry Sandrew Cinema Innovation Award, Richard Riehle Rising Star Award, Larry Namer AI Films for Humanity Award, Leah Clapman Young Storyteller Award, and KSRI Education Award – Dr. Eunice Kang.
2026 Award-Winning Films
Major festival winners included “The Fox King,” directed by Woo Ming Jin; “A House Named Shahana,” directed by Leesa Gazi; “Burn,” directed by Makoto Nagahisa; “Vox Humana,” directed by Don Josephus and Raphael Eblahan; “A Magnificent Life,” directed by Sylvain Chomet; “Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado,” directed by Natalia León; and “Paper Daughter,” directed by Cami Kwan.
AI filmmaking honors included “Cambria: Guardian of the Last Light,” directed by Pierre-Luc Desy; “OPEN THE DOOR,” directed by Riccardo Gabrielli; “Royal Mail – The Wanderer,” directed by Mike Bennion; and “The First Line,” directed by Kang Kim.
Performance honors included Robert Miano, recipient of the Michael Schultz Best Actor Award for Animal, as well as Nana Mori for Burn and Yang Mal-Bok for Manok.
Music, Students and Education
The gala featured live performances by Berklee College of Music students Zach Chang-Otane, Roah Hyebhin Nho, and Hannah Mahboubi.
Education was also central to the festival, with participation from Vanguard University and Westcliff University, along with a Special Student Animation Showcase featuring emerging filmmakers from CalArts, USC, Chapman University, California State University Long Beach, and ArtCenter College of Design.
Vanguard University students participating in Women’s Voices Now projects were also recognized during the gala for their accomplishments in storytelling and their festival experience.
“We are extremely thrilled to have so many schools and students participate,” said Paul Rivas, one of the Festival Directors of KTOWN IFF. “Our festival is about connecting students with filmmakers and industry professionals and providing meaningful opportunities. Selected films will continue to be screened throughout the year at Gardena Cinema and at participating schools and colleges, with directors and filmmakers invited to meet students and share their experiences.”
KTOWN IFF Founder and President Christopher HK Lee added:
“KTOWN IFF is much more than one evening. We want to honor accomplished professionals while giving students and emerging artists opportunities to showcase their work, perform, learn, and build meaningful relationships. Bringing Hollywood legends, international filmmakers, educators, students, and our community together is exactly why we created this festival.”
KTOWN IFF will continue throughout the year with film screenings, filmmaker discussions, educational programs, university partnerships, student projects, mentorship, and collaborations with entertainment and technology professionals.
About KTOWN International Film Festival
The KTOWN International Film Festival is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization connecting filmmakers, students, educators, industry professionals, and communities through film, education, culture, and emerging technologies.
For the complete list of 2026 selections and award recipients, visit KTOWN IFF 2026 Selections & Awards.
NEWS:
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) honored historic Gardena Cinema with a Special Citation for its 2025 awards
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