The excitement of K-pop reached new heights in Latin America! Over 260,000 fans gathered to celebrate their favorite artists during the HYBE CINE FEST in LATAM. Held from November 14 to 20 across 486 Cinépolis movie theaters in 11 countries, the festival transformed cinemas into vibrant music, fandom, and culture spaces.
A Week-long Musical Celebration Across Latin America
For one electrifying week, HYBE, in partnership with Trafalgar Releasing and Cinépolis +QUE CINE, brought K-pop’s biggest acts to the silver screen.
Fans in countries like Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina embraced this unprecedented opportunity to sing along to concert films featuring BTS, SEVENTEEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and ENHYPEN. With Mexico leading the charge, the festival soared second place in the weekend box office rankings.
- The HYBE CINE FEST in LATAM showcased six unique pieces of content, including:
- BTS MAP OF THE SOUL ON:E
- SEVENTEEN WORLD TOUR [BE THE SUN] – SEOUL
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER WORLD TOUR [ACT : SWEET MIRAGE] FINALE
- ENHYPEN WORLD TOUR [FATE] IN SEOUL
- 2023 Weverse Con Festival
- HYBE CINEMA NORAEBANG (karaoke-style sing-along videos)
The sing-along versions turned cinemas into concert venues. Fans excitedly waved light sticks, shouted for encores, and even danced in front of screens.
“HYBE CINE FEST in LATAM brought together the magic of cinema and the awesome performances of our favorite K-pop stars.
This unique festival not only showcases breathtaking performances but also invites fans to experience a new movie-going experience community. The partnership between HYBE, TRAFALGAR, and Cinépolis was about creating new ways for fans to stay connected with their favorite artist through a unique cinematic experience in the Latin-American region.”
A Cinépolis representative.
HYBE CINE FEST in LATAM: Bridging Distances and Cultures
HYBE CINE FEST marked a significant step for global K-pop fandoms. The event erased the geographical distance that often limits fans from attending live performances.
By partnering with major local distributors like Cinépolis, HYBE became the first Korean entertainment company to host such an event in Latin American cinemas.
Highlights included:
- BTS MAP OF THE SOUL ON:E: Featuring groundbreaking visuals and stage technology from BTS’s COVID-era online concert.
- SEVENTEEN [BE THE SUN] – SEOUL: A fiery performance brimming with the group’s explosive energy.
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER [ACT : SWEET MIRAGE]: A storytelling spectacle that showcased their artistic depth.
- ENHYPEN [FATE] IN SEOUL: A global gathering of fans from 95 countries and regions.
- HYBE CINEMA NORAEBANG: A karaoke experience with 18 music videos from artists like LE SSERAFIM, BOYNEXTDOOR, and TWS, featuring Romanized lyrics for fans to sing along.
“The inaugural HYBE CINE FEST in LATAM was a testament to the passion of the fans across Latin America to come together for the first-ever music festival in cinemas and support a variety of HYBE artists across an entire week.
We enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside HYBE and Cinépolis to make it a truly immersive experience for fans and look forward to what the future holds for the concept.”
Marc Allenby, CEO, Trafalgar Releasing.
A Multi-Sensory Fan Experience
The HYBE CINE FEST went beyond film screenings to create an immersive fan culture experience.
In Mexican theaters, there are interactive spaces that allowed fans to film choreography challenges, exchange photocards, and take photos at K-pop-themed photo walls.
Cinema lobbies buzzed with activities like makeup booths, face painting, and photo sessions. Online, fans engaged in quizzes, fan art contests, and dance challenges, with prizes awarded to winners.
Adding to the excitement, official HYBE merchandise, including DVDs, photobooks, and event-themed cups, was sold locally for the first time in Latin America.
“HYBE CINE FEST in LATAM has proven that theaters can become vibrant spaces where fans can enjoy K-pop concerts and foster fan culture together. We will continue to create opportunities for K-Pop fans worldwide to experience K-Pop culture in various ways and expand their fandom experience.”
HYBE spokesperson.
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