Toronto Korean Film Festival

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the press conference for the first annual Toronto Korean Film Festival (June 22nd -July 1st 2012).

I was fed continuously, delicious beef bulgogi straight from a sizzling pan, bibimbap, glass noodles, various kimchis (radish being my current fav) and a refreshing rice soft drink. I thought that Italians had an unrestrained love of feeding others but it appears that the Koreans have eclipsed them at this (I speak as an Italian-Canadian). Anyone who wants to feed me delicious food has won me as a forever friend. I probably should have taken more photographs of the food as it was beautifully presented but I was too busy gobbling it up.

I was excited to learn of the film line-up which includes one of my favourite films, A Tale of Two Sisters. I am also looking forward to seeing Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring, Mother, Leafie, a Hen into the Wild, Old Boy, Failan, and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance at the festival.

After the press conference we were treated to a screening of PBS's cookery show The Kimchi Chronicles and of course we were fed again on the way out!

On June 1st there will be a free screening of The Host in Christie Pitts park as part of the 20th Korean DANO spring Festival. TKFF will have a booth for the festival (June 1st-2nd) where advanced tickets and passes to the film festival can be purchased.

Kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi)

It was nice to see Hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) modelled:

 Jeogori (short jacket) and Chima (long skirt)

 Dangui (over garment) and Seuran chima (long skirt)

Beautiful and elebaorate traditional hairstyles accented by bi'nyeo (long ornamental hair pins securing buns)and tteoljam (hair ornaments)

 Sadly, most Torontonians know very little. It seems odd since we have an awesome Korea Town:


This lady was at least familiar with bibimbap.

 This man is a big fan of Korean barbeque but strangely has never had kimchi (what???).

 This man waxed lyrical about South Korea having the world's fastest internet speeds but seemed to know little else.

  Hipsters, as one very well may have suspected, know very little about Korean cinema and culture.

A bibimbap demo to show how easy and fun it is to make this delicious dish. Since bibmibap is usually comprised of cold ingredients it is an especially suitable dish for the summer months.

All photos were taken by myself, Danielle La Valle. If you would like to borrow or use them in anyway please provide a link back to this post and also email me at glowingdoll@gmail.com.

Marine Life On The Window Sill

I am sometimes transfixed by the beauty of silly things like the light coming into my shower and reflecting off of the water that has pooled along the black painted window sill. Thankfully I have a camera to capture these things:

All photos were taken by myself, D.E La Valle. If you borrow them please provide a link back to this post and email me at glowingdoll@gmail.com.