Creative Passion Unstoppable Despite Investment Drought: Jeonju Film Festival Draws 1,785 Entries Amid Adverse Conditions

Despite Shorter Submission Period and Industry Contraction, Entries Decrease by Only 2.7%
More Experimental Films and Numerous Works Utilizing AI Emerge

Although the Korean film industry is experiencing a "cold spell" due to an extreme investment drought, the passion of creators for independent and art films remains strong.

The Jeonju International Film Festival Organizing Committee announced on January 23 that 1,785 films were submitted to the Korean film section, following the close of submissions on January 19. While this is a decrease of 50 films (2.7%) compared to the record high of 1,835 last year, it is actually an impressive result given the circumstances. This year, the submission deadline was moved up by ten days for a more in-depth review, and production conditions across the film industry have rapidly deteriorated. Despite the contraction of the commercial film market, the foundation and creative drive of Korean independent cinema remain solid.

A closer look at the submissions shows that the festival's unique identity of "experimental spirit" has become even more pronounced. In the Korean Short Film Competition, which received 1,498 entries, the proportion of experimental films increased slightly. Many works also incorporated artificial intelligence (AI)-a recent hot topic in technology-into their production process. The Jeonju International Film Festival explained, "This reflects a new trend in contemporary cinema that goes beyond simple storytelling to explore the essence of the medium and experiment with the fusion of technology and art."

Meanwhile, the International Competition section, a gateway for emerging overseas directors, received 421 entries from 70 countries. Submissions from North America, including the United States (44 films) and Canada (22 films), increased notably, and the number of films eligible for judging actually rose compared to last year.

With submissions now closed, the Jeonju International Film Festival will announce the finalists in March and welcome audiences to the Jeonju Cinema Street area for ten days starting April 29.