Five Titles Including "4°C," "Nan Hong," and "Unknown Seoul"
Special Guests and Guest Visit Sessions Await
Is it possible to watch OTT series in theaters? The opportunity has arrived.
The 2025 International Streaming Festival, co-hosted by the Korea International Streaming Festival (Co-Chairs Kim Bokgeun and Kim Sungcheol) and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency, will present OTT series screenings in cinemas for audiences.
Among the nominees for this year's International Streaming Festival Global OTT Awards, five titles have been selected for theatrical screening: "4°C," "Nan Hong," "Buksang," "Unknown Seoul," and "Classmate Girls, I Liked Them All."
The 2025 International Streaming Festival, which has garnered significant attention since the announcement of the Global OTT Awards nominees, will bring audiences a rich selection of immersive series from various countries. This is a unique opportunity to experience works that have generated buzz both domestically and internationally, as well as series that are not easily accessible elsewhere.
The series screenings at the 2025 International Streaming Festival will take place at the Medium Theater of the Busan Cinema Center over four days, from August 22 to August 25. Ticket reservations open at 2:00 p.m. on August 13 through the Busan Cinema Center website, and the full lineup and detailed schedule can be found on the official website.
The Best Asian Content and Best Actor (Male) nominee "4°C" (TV+) is a well-crafted work featuring leading Kazakh actor Berik Aitzhanov. The story follows a surgeon who becomes entangled with an underground crime syndicate while trying to save his daughter, who needs a kidney transplant. Director Kuanish Stakanov and actor Berik Aitzhanov will participate in a GV (Guest Visit) session to share various insights about the series.
The Best OTT Original nominee "Nan Hong" (Youku) was the biggest Chinese-language hit of the first half of the year. It tells the story of broadcast journalist Wen Yipan, who reunites with her high school crush, Shuang Yan, and rekindles old feelings as they navigate a series of events and fall in love. Bai Jingting, who plays Shuang Yan, is also nominated for Best Actor (Male). A GV session with director Gu Wuning is scheduled alongside the screening.
Nominated for Best Creative, Best Director, and Best Actress (Female), "Buksang" (iQIYI) depicts the lives of six boys and girls and their families living near the Grand Canal. Based on a novel of the same name, the series delicately portrays the changing history of the Grand Canal over approximately 20 years from 2000, capturing the lives of people who overcame numerous hardships during that time.
"Unknown Seoul" (tvN), which has attracted global attention beyond Korea, is a romantic coming-of-age drama about twin sisters who swap lives through a lie and ultimately discover true love and their real selves. The series is nominated in five categories, including Best Creative, Best Writer, and Best Actress (Female). Notably, it is the first time this work has been nominated at any domestic awards, with its debut at the 2025 International Streaming Festival Global OTT Awards heightening anticipation.
The Best Asian Content nominee "Classmate Girls, I Liked Them All" (YOMIURI TELECASTING) follows failed novelist Edamatsu Tsuneo, who plagiarizes a story found in a time capsule and wins the top literary prize, delving into his guilt, fear, and the choices he faces, adding to the immersive experience. Producers Toda Yosuke and Yabe Masato will hold a GV session to discuss the depth of the work.
The 2025 International Streaming Festival will be held from August 22 to August 25 at both the Busan Cinema Center and the Paradise Hotel. Centered around the Global OTT Awards, the festival will showcase a new wave of media services and technologies focused on OTT, including investment showcases, Media & Brand Day, the International Streaming (OTT·FAST) Summit, OST concerts, and series screenings.
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