Seoul International Children's Film Festival Opens on the 5th of Next Month

Held from September 5 to 10 at Gupabal Lotte Cinema Eunpyeong and others
Sponsored by Seoul City, Eunpyeong-gu, and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education

The 12th Seoul International Children’s Film Festival, sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Eunpyeong District, will be held from October 5 to 10 at Lotte Cinema Eunpyeong in Gupabal and the 1st parking lot of Bukhansan National Park.

The opening ceremony will take place on September 5 at 7 p.m. at Lotte Cinema Eunpyeong, with the opening film "Las is the Laugh Button" being screened. The ceremony will proceed with the opening declaration by Kim Mikyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong District, followed by an introduction and screening of the opening film.

The opening film, "Las is the Laugh Button," is a Norwegian work depicting Amanda, who cares for her newly transferred friend Las, who has Down syndrome, and resolves conflicts with her friends. It has won several awards, including the Best Award from the European Children’s Film Association, and will have its Asian premiere at this festival, marking its first screening in Asia.

This year’s Seoul International Children’s Film Festival received a record number of submissions: 3,338 works from 124 countries. After preliminary screening, 128 works from 34 countries were selected for the final lineup.

The competitive sections of the Seoul International Children’s Film Festival include the International Feature Competition, International Short Competition, Animation Competition, and Children’s Competition. These sections feature films that not only have artistic merit but also reflect the festival’s unique characteristic of deeply engaging children in the world of cinema. In particular, the festival’s representative section, the Children’s Competition, includes 10 works produced by child directors, raising expectations even higher.

The non-competitive sections feature newly revamped categories. These include "Paran; Our School," which presents new perspectives on education, and "The Giant’s Small Footsteps," showcasing the bold and creative attempts of lively children.

Films addressing concerns for the next generation such as "Please Take Care of the Adults," a tailored section for infants and toddlers called "Dodam Dodam Theater," and "Ji·Pyeong·Seon," which evokes the value of coexistence, will be screened, covering a wide spectrum of themes related to children.

The closing ceremony will be held on September 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the 1st parking lot of Bukhansan National Park. The event will include a red carpet attended by filmmakers, followed by an awards ceremony, celebratory performances, and the closing declaration.

Executive Committee Chair Kim Han-gi said, “Each work shows, in its own way, the direction the Children’s Film Festival should take and why we must continue discussions about children. Through films that allow us to understand the broad and deep world of children, I hope audiences will reflect, empathize, and enjoy together.”

Kim Mikyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong District and Chair of the Organizing Committee, said, “We have prepared a variety of programs that children and their families can enjoy together, so we ask for your great interest and participation.”

Information about the films and various side events of this festival can be found on the official website of the Seoul International Children’s Film Festival.