Cinecube Premiere Festival, a Seoul-based movie event featuring arthouse films, unveiled its line-up for this year’s edition. A total of 16 films, including five Cannes-winning works, will be screened during the upcoming event starting on Nov. 29, according to its organizing committee.

The festival, hosted by Cinecube, one of the best known arthouse theaters in Seoul, offers moviegoers a chance to enjoy the premiere of the critically acclaimed works due to show in local theaters in December or early next year. 

This year’s line-up includes a total of five movies that won awards at this year’s Cannes International Film Festival.

The films include Austrian filmmaker Michael Hanake’s heartbreaking tale “Amour,” which won the highest prize at the festival, as well as Romanian director Cristian Mungjiu’s “Beyond the Hills,” which tells the story of two young girls who grow up in an Orthodox convent.

The line-up also includes American director Lee Daniels’ 2009 work “Precious.” The award-winning film, which is based on American writer Sapphire’s 1996 novel titled “Push,” takes place in 1987 New York. It tells the story of Precious, an obese, illiterate 16-year-old girl who lives in Harlem with her abusive, unemployed mother.

Local fans of British actress Keira Knightley could be interested in seeing her latest work “Anna Karenina.” A film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s 1877 novel of the same title, “Anna Karenina” explores the theme of love and passion in Russia’s high-society in late 19th century. Popular English actor Jude Law co-stars in the film.

Viewers also get to see “The Woman in the fifth,” Polish-born, Paris-based director Pawel Pawlikowski’s drama released last year. It tells the story of a college professor who flees to Paris after a scandal costs him his job, and runs into a widow in the French city who might be involved in a serial murder case.

Other notable films include Ben Lewin’s indie drama “The Sessions,” which tells the story of a paralyzed man who hires a sex surrogate to lose his virginity. The movie stars actor John Hawkes and actress Helen Hunt.

“2012 Cinecube Premiere Festival” runs until Dec. 5. All screenings take place at Cinecube theater in central Seoul. For more information, visit www.icinecube.com.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)