Slovenia Named Guest Country for Ulju World Mountain Film Festival! Check Out the Lineup

The Ulju World Mountain Film Festival announced on the 6th that Slovenia has been selected as the guest country for the 2026 festival, and they have just revealed the main films to be screened!

With Slovenia as the guest country, the “Julian Alps-Slovenia” section, planned with the support of the Embassy of Slovenia in Korea, will explore Slovenia’s majestic nature and the unique sensibilities of life through film.

First up is the “Kekec” series, restored by the Slovenian Film Center to celebrate 120 years of Slovenian cinema in July 2025. Based on the original novel, it follows the adventures of a shepherd boy fighting for justice against the backdrop of the Julian Alps.

This series won an award in the children’s film category at the 1952 Venice Film Festival.

Then there is “Block 5,” a critically acclaimed work that begins when a girl named Alma, who just moved to a new neighborhood, discovers a plan to turn her playground into a parking lot.

The film depicts the process of Alma teaming up with other children to stop the plan, exploring conflict, reconciliation, and the meaning of community.

It was invited to the 77th Locarno Film Festival and the 28th Tallinn Black Knights Film Festival, and won awards at the 27th Olympia International Children’s and Youth Film Festival and the 29th Sarajevo Film Festival.

The buzzworthy “Family Therapy,” often called the Slovenian version of “Parasite,” is a masterpiece that raises sharp, universal questions about class and desire as two families unexpectedly end up staying together in a luxury forest villa.

This film was selected as Slovenia’s official entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film in 2025 and has received high critical praise.

“Pastor, Janja” is a documentary by director Maya Pretner, created over five years, recording the beliefs, wounds, and healing process of a female pastor. It calmly yet powerfully unfolds an individual’s inner world.

All of these works will be premiered in Korea for the first time.

“Warriors of the Mountain” is a documentary based on the book by Bernadette McDonald, the winner of this year’s Ulju World Mountain Culture Award (UMCA). It conveys the spirit of climbing through the voices and archives of Slovenian mountaineers.

“Aleš Kunaver and the First Journey of the World’s Highest Peak Expedition” follows the life of the legendary climber Aleš Kunaver.

After his active climbing career, he established a climbing school for Sherpas, helping those who were once assistants grow into mountaineers who lead expeditions themselves.

The film showcases this process of change alongside the footsteps of a climber who led an era.

A representative from the Ulju World Mountain Film Festival stated, “We have prepared works that showcase the unfamiliar nature, life, and cultural sensibilities of Slovenia through the guest country program.” They added, “Visitors can also experience Slovenia’s landscapes and culture through a traditional food pop-up store and experience programs organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Slovenia in Korea.”

Jernej Müller, the Ambassador of Slovenia to Korea, said, “This program will be an opportunity to introduce not only the touching stories of Slovenia but also its beautiful natural environment and the spirit of alpinism.” He added, “I hope Korean audiences visit the Julian Alps in Slovenia to experience its amazing natural heritage.”

The 11th Ulju World Mountain Film Festival will be held for five days from September 18 to 22 at the Yeongnam Alps Complex Welcome Center in Ulju-gun, Ulsan.