Director Heo Kayoung's 'First Summer' Wins Korea's First La Cinef First Prize at Cannes Film Festival

"Grateful to My Grandmother Who Inspired the Story"

The short film 'First Summer,' directed by Heo Kayoung, achieved a meaningful accomplishment at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where Korean feature films were notably absent.

Still cut from the short film 'First Summer'

On May 22 (local time), the Cannes Film Festival Executive Committee announced this film as the winner of the first prize at the 'La Cinef' awards ceremony held at the Bu?uel Theatre in Cannes, France. La Cinef is a section dedicated to discovering the next generation of filmmakers by showcasing medium and short films made by students from film schools around the world. This year, sixteen films were selected from among 2,679 entries submitted by 646 film schools.

'First Summer,' which was screened at the Palais des Festivals Bu?uel Theatre, depicts the journey of an elderly woman as she retraces her past life. The film explores her inner conflict and reflection as she faces a choice between attending her granddaughter's wedding or the 49th-day memorial service for her boyfriend.

Director Heo, who made the film as her graduation project at the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA), shared her thoughts, saying, "Many colleagues put their hearts into making this film, and I am happy to receive such a wonderful result. I am especially grateful to my grandmother, who inspired the story." She added, "As a Korean filmmaker, I will continue to make many more films in the future."

Director Heo Kayoung

This is the first time a Korean film has won the first prize in this section. Previously, 'Cicada' (2021) and 'Hole' (2023), which also competed, received second prizes.