Geumcheon Fashion Film Festival Grand Prize Awarded to 'Sae-byeok Du Si-e Bul-eul Butyeo'

[Seoul District News] 2nd Geumcheon Fashion Film Festival Grand Prize Awarded to 'Lighting Fire at Two A.M.' About a 1995 Female Dormitory Arson Case ... Dapsimni Film Media Art Center Hosts Family-Friendly Festival from 11th to 13th ... Songpa-gu Invests 500 Million KRW National Funds to Restore Ecosystem by Creating Wetlands for Mangkkongi Habitat in Jangji-dong Green Area with Illegal Cultivation and Trash Disposal

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yu Seong-hoon) announced that the film "Lighting a Fire at Two in the Morning" was selected as the Grand Prize winner of the "2nd Geumcheon Fashion Film Festival."

The festival was held in a calm atmosphere over three days from November 4 to 6 at Lotte Cinema Gasan Digital Branch. Out of 912 submissions this year, 44 finalists, 3 opening films, and 1 previous year's award-winning film were screened, totaling 48 films over three days. On the final day, November 6, a total of 10 awards were presented in the fashion film and advertising video categories.

The Grand Prize-winning film, directed by Yoo Jong-seok, "Lighting a Fire at Two in the Morning," is based on a true story about a female dormitory arson incident that occurred in 1995. Although it resulted in dozens of casualties, the film reveals the overlooked aspects of this real event forgotten in people's memories. The film features a narration style where characters observe the incident and pique the audience's curiosity, reducing the time constraints typical of short films and enhancing immersion.

Director Yoo Jong-seok expressed in his acceptance speech, "I hoped people would not think of this only as a past event, and I believe the award was given because it resonates with current situations."

The Special Jury Award in the fashion film category went to "Mom's Walking" (Director Shin Nari), which tells the story of a woman entering the senior model world. The Best Actor Award was given to actor Kim Seung-bi, who impressively portrayed a teenager in distress in the film "Bicycle Thief."

The Audience Award, chosen by viewers who watched the films, was awarded to "Kiss Me If You Can" (Director Kim Min-ji). The film received praise for its cheerful imagination unfolding from the perspective of "Lisa," a mannequin satisfied with her job as a fashion model.

Special awards included ▲Mario Outlet Art Award for "Unknown World Season Two Episode One" (Art by Kim Seung-kyung) ▲ENA Makeup Award for "The Time to Erase Her" (Special Makeup by Kim Si-hwa) ▲Wonshin W Mall Costume Award for "The Trio" (Costume by Shin Ga-young) ▲Woori Bank Cinematography Award for "Follower" (Cinematography by Lee Ji-min).

Notably, "Unknown World Season Two Episode One," directed by Yoon Sung-ho, attracted attention for its depiction of a fictional 1970s parallel universe, featuring retro props like vintage telephones and sets reminiscent of that era, providing visual appeal fitting for a fashion film festival.

In the advertising video category, the Grand Prize went to "New Wave" (Director Jin Seung-wan), and the Special Jury Award was given to "Still Life" (Directors Lee Jae-hwan and Kim Sung-gon).

Meanwhile, the "2nd Geumcheon Fashion Film Festival" expressed deep condolences to the victims and families of the Itaewon tragedy by fully canceling planned events such as fashion shows, celebratory performances, outdoor screenings, and bazaars. The opening ceremony was also canceled and replaced with a quiet memorial time shared with the audience through the screen before the screenings.

Executive Director Jung Yoon-chul said, "Despite holding the festival mainly focused on film screenings in a calm atmosphere, many audiences visited the theater, surprising all involved. I hope the works encountered at this festival, including the award winners, left a deep impression."

Geumcheon-gu Mayor Yu Seong-hoon stated, "I thank the directors and filmmakers who provided the audience with a precious time to reflect on fashion. I hope the Geumcheon Fashion Film Festival will enhance the value of Geumcheon and serve as a link connecting Geumcheon's foundational industries with the art of film."

For more details, please visit the Geumcheon Fashion Film Festival website.

A film festival where the whole family, from children to seniors, can communicate and empathize together will be held for three days from the 11th to the 13th in Dapsimni, which led the golden age of Korean film production in the 1960s.

The "1st Dapsimni Film Festival," held at the Dapsimni Film Media Art Center (Dongdaemun Cultural Foundation Chairman Lee Pil-hyung, Dongdaemun-gu Mayor), is sponsored by Dongdaemun-gu, cooperated by the Seoul Film Commission, and jointly hosted by the Dongdaemun Cultural Foundation and the Korean Film Archive.

The festival offers various programs divided into ▲Classic Animation ▲Independent Films ▲Cinema Playground ▲Film Humanities.

For "Classic Animation," the festival will screen "Kongjwi and Patjwi," a puppet animation directed by Kang Tae-woon, and "Hong Gil-dong" (1967), Korea's first feature-length animation directed by Shin Dong-heon.

On the 12th, "Kongjwi and Patjwi" will be screened, with Mo Eun-young, programmer of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, serving as moderator, and animation director Jeon Seung-bae participating as a lecturer to discuss stop-motion animation. After the screening of "Hong Gil-dong" on the 13th, a lecture by Kim Bo-nyeon, programmer of Seoul Art Cinema, is scheduled, raising expectations.

In the "Independent Films" section, viewers can watch "I Am Bori" (2020) directed by Kim Jin-yu, "Summer Night of Siblings" (2022) directed by Yoon Dan-bi, and "The Village Chief" (2019) directed by Jung Seung-oh.

After the screenings of "I Am Bori" and "Summer Night of Siblings," there will be GV (Guest Visit) sessions where directors discuss their films with the audience.

Various experiential programs are also prepared. Through the "Cinema Playground," children aged 6 to 9 can express their emotions through colors and body movements in "Drawing Mind," children aged 8 to 11 can learn acting by becoming actors in "Action and Reaction," and all ages can enjoy "Polyarty," where participants create video sounds using various materials. These programs will be held over two days on the 12th and 13th.

In the film humanities area, critic Kang Sung-ryul will introduce the history of the Dapsimni filming studio and the characteristics of films produced there in "Dapsimni Filming Studio and Korean Cinema." Additionally, writer Kim Hee-kyung, author of "Strange Normal Family" and "My Santiago: Walking Alone Yet Together," will engage in a deep conversation on the theme "The Birth of a New Family," discussing family in Korean society.

Moreover, during the festival, a photo booth with cute and lively props will be freely available for taking and printing photos.

Advance reservations are required to enjoy the festival, and applications can be made through the Dapsimni Film Media Art Center website and the Seoul Public Service Reservation System. Detailed information about the festival is available on the Dapsimni Film Media Art Center website.

A representative of the Dapsimni Film Media Art Center said, "The '1st Dapsimni Film Festival,' held for the first time this year in Dapsimni, the center of Korean film production, is composed of various programs for the whole family to enjoy together. We ask for the interest and participation of all film lovers."

Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) has transformed a neglected green space in Jangji-dong into a healthy ecological area, including wetlands suitable for the habitat of the endangered Korean tree frog (Maengkkongi), by investing 500 million KRW in national funds.

The target site is a green space of 21,894m² around 852 Jangji-dong. Although located near Jangji Park, a popular spot among residents, it had long been neglected due to illegal farming and garbage dumping.

Accordingly, the district created an ecological experience space for residents by restoring the ecosystem, ensuring both usability and sustainability.

The project budget was secured by winning a national fund of 500 million KRW through the Ministry of Environment's "Ecosystem Conservation Charge Refund Project" last year. This refund project uses funds paid by developers who caused ecological damage to carry out vegetation restoration and install ecological facilities.

For this site, the district has been pursuing ecological restoration and facility installation for seven months since March, moving away from landscaping-focused projects to enable coexistence between nature and residents.

Facilities installed include ▲an artificial wetland (Dumbeong) for Korean tree frogs and other species to inhabit, ▲an ecological observatory, ▲a flower garden, ▲walking trails, and ▲rest areas.

In 2021, the district also created the "Neolmun Park Detention Basin Ecological Experience Space" to expand urban habitats, demonstrating continuous efforts in ecosystem restoration.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, "Songpa-gu is a nature-friendly city with a healthy ecological environment, boasting the second-highest number of parks in Seoul despite being a representative urban area. We will continue to preserve Songpa-gu's healthy nature well and share it with future generations."