The Korean Cinema Today – Vision of BIFF is a widely recognized section where the newest Korean independent films of the year with outstanding quality are premiered. After their world premieres at BIFF, most of the selections will have a domestic theatrical release or be invited to acclaimed film festivals, thereby garnering significant attention from the domestic and international film industries each year.
Maggie (2018) directed by Yi Okseop, Lucky Chan-sil (2019) directed by Kim Cho-hee, and The Dream Songs (2022) directed by Cho Hyunchul are examples of successful films from the Korean Cinema Today – Vision. In particular, Birth (2022), directed by Yoo Ji-young, which was selected last year, won the Proxima Grand Prix at the 2023 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. These are just some examples of films discovered by the Korean Cinema Today – Vision that have been receiving high praise from both press and critics, and achieving impressive results.
This year, Korean Cinema Today – Vision—now a cradle for Korean independent films and emerging directors—has selected 10 films that delve into profound themes of life, agony, family affection, and personal introspection, inviting audiences to contemplate their meaning. In addition, the imaginative depiction of a diverse array of stories, free from the typical rules of genre, adds anticipation.
JANG Min-joon — Delivery (2023)
To begin with, Delivery (2023), directed by Jang Min-joon, presents the suspenseful irony that happens between an affluent couple dealing with infertility and a young, financially struggling couple facing unplanned pregnancy. Concerning My Daughter (2023), by director Lee Mirang, is a reflective drama that explores the mother-daughter relationship, offering a mature perspective on interpersonal issues.
LEE Mirang — Concerning My Daughter (2023)
KIM Da-min — FAQ (2023)
FAQ (2023), by director Kim Da-min is a captivating comic fantasy where an ordinary Korean elementary schoolchild innocently picks up a bottle of makgeolli at a field camp, then gets to know the secrets of the world through the traditional alcoholic beverage. Director Eu-min Kim’s Isle of Snakes (2023) is a whimsical and mysterious tale of three men shipwrecked on an uninhabited island while sailing to war on a turtle boat.
Eu-min KIM — Isle of Snakes (2023)
GUPASU Ryunhoi — Sorigouldari: The Sound Underpass (2023)
Sorigouldari: The Sound Underpass (2023), by director Gupasu Ryunhoi, is a unique performance art and docufiction in which a group of artists convene to stop the impending apocalypse. House of the Seasons (2023), by director Oh Jung-min, portrays the intricate and diverse struggles of a family spanning three generations as they persevere in the tofu factory business, all presented with a refined structure and a warm approach.
OH Jung-min — House of the Seasons (2023)
CHOI Seung-woo — Last Summer (2022)
Last Summer (2022), by director Choi Seung-woo, gently captures one summer in the lives of a young man, his family, and the residents of a secluded rural village. The Berefts (2023), by directors Jeong Beom and Hur Jang is a precarious and touching narrative of a father, a daughter, and a young man, who pretend to be a family in order to secure their home.
Jeong Beom, HUR Jang — The Berefts (2023)
PARK Hong-jun — Work to Do (2023)
Work to Do (2023), by director Park Hong-jun, intimately yet firmly builds up the emotional dilemmas of a young employee in the HR team tasked with company restructuring. The Guest (2023), by director Yeon Jaegwang, is a thrilling chase and confrontation between a murderer and fugitives entangled in a murder case that occurs in a rundown motel in the suburbs.
YEON Jaegwang — The Guest (2023)
Meanwhile, as the announcement of the selections for Korean Cinema Today – Vision draws attention to the discovery of new Korean independent films, the 28th Busan International Film Festival is scheduled to take place from Oct 4 (Wed) to Oct 13 (Fri) in the vicinity of the Busan Cinema Center.
