KT&G, 'Amazing Short Film Festival' Calls for Submissions

*This content was translated by AI.

KT&G Imagine Market has prepared another special and amazing short film festival this year.

KT&G Imagine Market will accept public submissions for the 18th 'Amazing Short Film Festival' until June 9.

The submission category includes short films completed after June 1, 2025, with a runtime under 20 minutes. Works that pass the preliminary screening will be screened at KT&G Imagine Market Cinema from September 2 to 8. During the same period, awards will be presented to outstanding works based on audience evaluations and reviews by professional judges.

The 'Amazing Short Film Festival' is a representative cultural contribution program operated by KT&G Imagine Market since 2007 to discover and support short films.

This year's call for entries includes a total of three categories: the 'Amazing Short Film Production Support Project' to discover excellent screenplays, the 'Amazing Design Project' for the poster category, and the main short film competition.

In 2025, the film 'SPEEDY!' directed by Oh Ji-in (37), which won the Golden Crown Award, received the most attention.

SPEEDY! is a short black comedy film set in Seoul in 1989. It tells the story of 9-year-old protagonist Jung-min, who enrolls in a speed-reading academy under pressure from his father during an era when the 'fast and furious' spirit was considered an essential virtue for success. The film depicts the struggles of a child who wants to become like Dong-hyun, an older brother who is a 'speed-reading prodigy' capable of finishing a book in 60 seconds. SPEEDY! was invited to the 'Generation K Plus' short film competition section at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival (2026).

Director Oh Ji-in is a young filmmaker with a unique background, having worked at Samsung Electronics' Wireless Business Unit UX Group before leaving for the United States to study film.

Industry insiders evaluated Director Oh Ji-in as "one of the promising female directors who have just begun to touch both their own and others' worlds." They added, "She is a talent with both commercial potential and artistic merit, as evidenced by her graduation project produced with support from the Hollywood production company Indian Paintbrush."

Details on how to apply for the Amazing Short Film Festival and the program can be found on the KT&G Imagine Market website. KT&G officials expressed hope that this year will see submissions surpassing SPEEDY!.

In a phone interview with this newspaper, a KT&G official stated, "The 'Amazing Short Film Festival' has produced winners in a total of 65 categories, including Best Director and Best Actor awards, over 19 years, serving as a stepping stone for emerging directors and actors." The official added, "We expect many capable film professionals to participate this year as well."

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*This content was translated by AI.