The well-made documentary 'Dangol,' directed by Hong Tae-seon, has gained attention overseas for its unique 'K-Occult' themes and groundbreaking narrative development, and is set to be released in March.
'Dangol' is an occult horror documentary that depicts the story of a graduate student, Myung-gil, who studies the fading shamanic tradition of 'Dangol' in JINDO. As Myung-gil tracks the ominous truths of the 'Dangolpan,' they become embroiled in strange phenomena, following this perspective to rediscover the past and present of JINDO shamanism and the values embedded within.
'Dangol' is a production developed through a joint technology and content collaboration between Korea University of Media Arts and Gugak Broadcasting, highlighting the little-known traditional cultural element 'Dangol.' It delves deeply into various figures related to shamanistic practices, such as Dangol (hereditary shaman), mudang (spirit medium), beopsan, and musicians, while exploring the influence they have had on traditional culture. The documentary combines this exploration with the fake format of the occult horror genre, achieving a distinctive style.
This rare documentary material is vividly captured using high-end cine cameras and professional filming equipment, resulting in a unique work that possesses both genre entertainment and visual beauty. As a result, 'Dangol' has been officially invited to nine international film festivals worldwide, including those in the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Canada, India, and Singapore. It has received awards at events such as the Crownwood International Film Festival in the documentary institutional sector and the Servara Soulplace Film Festival, serving as a successful precedent for IP expansion, having also been produced as a TV documentary version in South Korea, winning the '2024 Cable TV Broadcasting Awards Daesang' in the process.
Meanwhile, the domestic distribution of 'Dangol' is managed by Moving Pictures Company, which has conducted distribution for films such as '47 Meters (import, distribution),' 'The Love That Remains (production, distribution),' 'Kim Kwang-seok (distribution),' and 'She Died (distribution).'
[Photo] Moving Pictures Company
[OSEN = Choi I-jeong reporter]