Nine-Year-Old Aspiring Speed-Reading Champion: Short Film "Speedy!" Invited to Berlin International Film Festival

Oh Ji-in Achieves Milestone with Columbia University Graduation Film
Invited to 'Generation Kplus' Section
"Tackles the Theme of Performance Pressure with a Light Touch"

A black comedy centered on the speed-reading craze that swept Korean society in the 1980s has been invited to the Berlin International Film Festival, one of the world's top three film festivals. The short film "Speedy!" by director Oh Ji-in will be screened next month in the Generation Kplus short film competition section.

On January 21, the festival organizers officially announced the invitation, highlighting the potential of this emerging Korean director. The "Generation" section introduces outstanding works depicting the growth and lives of children and adolescents, and operates as a competition after a rigorous selection process.

"Speedy!" tells the story of nine-year-old protagonist Jungmin, who struggles to become a speed-reading prodigy in 1989. The film features talented child actors such as Kim Gyuna from the drama "One Hundred Memories" and Lim Seungmin from the film "Past Lives," heightening the immersion of the story. Directed by Oh Ji-in, who holds an MFA in Film from Columbia University, this graduation project received production support from the renowned American studio Indian Paintbrush, earning praise for its high-quality mise-en-sc?ne.

The festival organizers gave high marks for the film's original narrative style. Sebastian Markt, head of the Generation section, commented, "The film's energy, sense of humor, and bold visual style are truly impressive. While tackling the heavy themes of 'expectations of achievement' and 'performance pressure' faced by the younger generation with a light rhythm, it never loses its warm perspective on the characters."

This year, several Korean films highlighting the harmony between new and veteran filmmakers have been selected for the Berlin International Film Festival alongside "Speedy!" Director Hong Sangsoo's latest work, "In Our Day," has been invited to the Panorama section, while director Chung Ji-young's "My Name Is" will be featured in the Forum section. Director Yoo Jaein's "On the Way to Erase" has also been invited to compete in the Generation 14plus section. The festival will be held in Berlin, Germany, from February 12 to 22.