The 27th Seoul International Women's Film Festival will be held at Megabox Sinchon from the 21st to the 27th of next month. This year's festival, under the slogan 'Reimagining F', aims to expand the meaning of the film festival through various concepts starting with the letter F, such as Film, Festival, Female, and Fellowship. With the highest number of films submitted in its history, it is expected to open new horizons for women's cinema.
Hwang Hye-rim, the executive director, stated the reason for selecting the slogan at the official press conference held at Mapo Central Library in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 29th: "We intended it to be a joyous space for solidarity and a festival that imagines a language of diverse connections, rather than hostility or conflict." Byun Jae-ran, the chairperson, expressed her anticipation for the festival, saying, "New and challenging women's films from various countries around the world await the audience."
Opening Film Sunshine, Berlin Film Festival Award Winner, First Public Screening in Korea
The opening film of the 27th Seoul International Women's Film Festival is Sunshine by Filipino director Antoinette Jadaone. This film tells the story of gymnast Sunshine, who discovers she is pregnant just before the national team selection for the Olympics. It was recognized for its artistic merit, winning the Crystal Bear at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival last February, and will be screened for the first time in Korea at this festival.
Son Si-nae, the programmer, explained about Sunshine: "It is a work born at the intersection of women's bodies, social norms, sports, and individual dreams, and it will be an opening film that symbolically shows the values that this year's slogan aims for." This film, which delicately deals with the conflict between women's autonomous lives and societal conventions, is expected to deeply resonate with the audience.
Competition and Non-Competition Sections: 4,129 Entries from 131 Countries Worldwide
This year, the Seoul International Women's Film Festival set a new record with a total of 4,129 entries from 131 countries across both competition and non-competition sections. This highlights the active participation of female directors worldwide.
The 'Discovery' section, a feature film competition for the first or second feature films by female directors, has invited 8 films, including Where Do We Go From Here? (USA, directed by Laramie Dennis) and Rage (Spain, directed by Gema Blasco). Although no domestic films are included, it will be an opportunity to encounter works by emerging female directors from diverse cultural backgrounds.
The 'Asian Short' section has invited a total of 20 films, including 5 domestic works such as Yoon Eun-kyung's Myuk and Myung So-hee's One Day, To Summer, offering a glimpse into the diverse perspectives of Asian female directors. Additionally, the 'iTeens' section, which screens short films by Korean teenage female creators, has selected 6 works, providing a platform to glimpse the potential of future female filmmakers.
'Issues' Section: 'Public Square and Field' Illuminates the History of Women's Struggles
The 'Issues' section, which annually selects important feminist issues for film screenings and discussions, will explore the history of women's struggles and street protests this year under the theme of 'Public Square and Field'. Films set in Korea, Japan, Sudan, Afghanistan, and other regions are prepared, deeply illuminating the history of social change and resistance experienced by women in various contexts. This demonstrates that women's cinema can be a medium for forming social discourse and leading change, beyond simple artistic expression.
'New Currents' and 'Now Here, Korean Cinema' Sections: Trends in Global Women's Cinema and the Present of Korean Cinema
The 'New Currents' section, which surveys trends in global women's cinema, will feature diverse works including director Vibeke Løkkeberg's documentary The Long Way to the Director's Chair, which records the first international women's film seminar held in Germany in 1973 by singers Claudia von Alemann and Helke Sander; master Japanese director Naomi Kawase's Circles; and Lee Miller: A Woman with a Camera (directed by Ellen Kuras), starring Kate Winslet, which tells the story of war photographer Lee Miller. This section provides a broad perspective encompassing the history and present of women's cinema.
The 'Now Here, Korean Cinema' section will screen new works such as Kim Il-ran's Eddie Ellis: Take, a director who has explored new forms of documentary. Additionally, a special program is prepared to intensively spotlight the world of animation director Jung Yu-mi, whose works were invited to the Cannes International Film Festival last May. Director Jung Yu-mi also contributed to the visual identity of the festival by designing the official poster and directing the trailer this year.
Actress Choi Sung-eun Appointed as Ambassador for the 27th Seoul International Women's Film Festival
Actress Choi Sung-eun has been appointed as the public relations ambassador (SIWFF Star) for this year's film festival. Choi Sung-eun won the Best New Actress award at the 25th Chunsa Film Art Awards in 2019 for the film Start-Up, and left a deep impression by appearing in Time to Power Up, a film screened at last year's Seoul International Women's Film Festival. Choi Sung-eun stated, "This film festival is always a special place that gives me new courage and perspective," adding, "I hope to meet you happily in this diverse world." She is expected to promote the charm of women's cinema to the audience and facilitate communication between the festival and its attendees.
The 27th Seoul International Women's Film Festival is ready to welcome audiences with a record number of entries and diverse programs. Like the slogan 'Reimagining F,' it is hoped that this festival will be a meaningful time to expand the meaning of various Fs—Film, Female, Festival, Fellowship—and collectively imagine the future of women's cinema.
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