Three Korean Films Depicting Hardships of Life Selected for France's Top Short Film Festival

Selected for Competition at Clermont-Ferrand
Highlighting Marginalized Lives of Substitute Drivers and Aspiring Artists

Movie Poster for "Rude Dawn"

Three short films depicting the hardships of Korean society will be presented to French audiences.

The Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival announced on January 2 (Korean time) that it has selected "Rude Dawn" directed by Park Haeo, "Mogwa" directed by Baek So-hye, and "Boundary" directed by Lee Saeun as official entries in the competition section.

This selection reflects the festival's focus on stories that capture the lives of marginalized neighbors and everyday moments in Korea. "Rude Dawn," which has been nominated in the international competition section, uses the perspective of Young-ok (played by Kang Ae-shim), an elderly substitute driver, to reveal the raw face of Korean society. By vividly portraying the reality of labor-where one must endure drunken customers' verbal abuse and rudeness during the hours when everyone else is asleep-the film won the Grand Prize at last year's Seoul International Extreme-Short Image & Film Festival.

"Mogwa," another film competing at the festival, depicts the struggles of middle-aged individuals balancing between dreams and livelihood. Through the ironies faced by aspiring poet Su-gun (played by Park Jonghwan) and unknown actress Hee-ji (played by Oh Jihoo), the film powerfully highlights the reality that, even as one grows older, one may still remain an "aspiring" artist.

Movie Still Cut of "Mogwa"

The animated film "Boundary," competing in the experimental film section, explores the peculiar psychology that unfolds within the confined space of a bus. By portraying the situation of a passenger in the back seat whose space is encroached upon by the seat in front, the film uniquely unravels the tension inherent in human relationships.

Launched in 1979, the Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival is considered one of the world's top three short film festivals, alongside Oberhausen in Germany and Tampere in Finland. This year, the festival will be held locally in France from January 30 to February 7.