59 Countries, 1,669 Works Submitted... The 15th Seoul Metro International Subway Film Festival Concludes Successfully

On the 27th, the 15th International Subway Film Festival Awards Ceremony was held at CGV Yeongdeungpo... Over 32,000 online citizen votes received... Six award-winning films selected through online and offline voting, International Competition Grand Prize awarded to , Domestic Competition Grand Prize awarded to

The 15th Seoul Metro International Subway Film Festival, jointly hosted by Seoul Metro (President Baek Ho) and the Seoul International Short Film Festival Association, with Shinhan Card as a sponsor, concluded with an awards ceremony on September 27.

The awards ceremony held on the 27th at CGV Yeongdeungpo was attended by distinguished guests including Baek Ho, President of Seoul Metro, Moon Seong-ho, member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council’s Transportation Committee, Choi Jae-hoon, Vice President of Shinhan Card, Lee Jang-ho, Chairman of the Seoul Film Commission, Min Byung-rok, Chairman of the Short Film Festival, and actors Han Sun-hwa and Chae Jung-an who appeared in ‘E-CUT’.

At the ceremony, six final award-winning works were announced, including the grand prizes for the international and domestic competition categories.

The grand prize for the international competition was awarded to director George Schwitzgebel’s 'Han Jang-ui Geurim-eseo' (From One Picture), and the grand prize for the domestic competition went to director Han Min-kyung’s 'Mulgogi, Mukrye' (Fish, Silent Salute).

Notably, 'Mulgogi, Mukrye' also won the domestic competition Audience Award, decided by on-site audience voting, making it a double winner.

The excellence award in the international competition was given to director Claire Fleming’s 'Uridului Saeng-gak' (Our Thoughts), and the excellence award in the domestic competition was awarded to director Hwang Dong-seok’s 'Yong-gi-ga Pilyohae' (Courage Needed).

In the ESG special competition category, the Shinhan Card ESG Award was presented to director Choi Chang-gyu’s 'Eomma-ui Pyeonji' (Mother’s Letter).

The final awardees were selected through approximately 32,000 online citizen votes and on-site audience votes. This year, QR codes were provided for direct access to the online screening room, enhancing accessibility for online voting.

This year’s International Subway Film Festival began accepting submissions in June, receiving a total of 1,669 works from 59 countries. Subsequently, 50 finalists were selected and screened throughout various Seoul subway stations from August 29 to September 25.

Last year’s ‘E-CUT’ production support project, director Heo Seong-wan’s 'Geogiseo Mann-a' (Meet You There), achieved the remarkable feat of being screened at the Cannes Film Festival and the Moscow Film Festival, drawing significant attention to this year’s ‘E-CUT’ production support projects as well.

‘E-CUT for Directors’ is a project aimed at nurturing and discovering new filmmakers and enhancing the film festival’s recognition, featuring 10-minute short films themed around the ‘Seoul Subway’.

This year’s ‘E-CUT’ production support works, 'Saekki Son-garak' (Pinky Finger), starring actor Chae Jung-an and directed by Kim Tae-woo, and 'Gae-reul Wihan Love Letter' (Love Letter for a Dog), starring actor Han Sun-hwa and directed by Han Hye-in, were unveiled to the audience for the first time along with behind-the-scenes footage. Both works received enthusiastic applause from the full audience, raising expectations for screenings at international film festivals.

Baek Ho, President of Seoul Metro, said, “For the past 50 years, the Seoul Subway has connected our daily lives, creating scenes of various life stories like frames in a film. Through the International Subway Film Festival, I hope the Seoul Subway will not only connect our daily lives but also serve as a bridge connecting the hearts of citizens around the world.”