‘Gil Bok-soon’ ‘Miss Baek’ Kim Si-a’s Queer Coming-of-Age Story ‘Summer’s Camera’ Opens June 24

The coming-of-age queer story of a girl shining most honestly this summer, recognized first by leading film festivals around the world, 〈Summer’s Camera〉 has confirmed its June 24 release and has unveiled a teaser poster that has drawn attention.

The revealed 〈Summer’s Camera〉 teaser poster shows “Summer,” played by the girl Kim Si-a, who captures a first love in a camera, and the “Summer” and “camera” are portrayed refreshingly—just like the movie title—drawing the eye. The English title “SUMMER’S CAMERA,” rising like clouds in a blue sky, harmonizes with “Summer,” holding a film camera, heightening curiosity about the film. In particular, around “Summer,” who is looking at something through her father’s camera and taking a photo, and “Summer” who waves brightly to say hello after taking and viewing the photo, as well as “Summer” sitting with a backpack on her back—different moments of “Summer” are captured, sparking expectations for Kim Si-a’s intensely honest first-love queer coming-of-age story that shines so openly.

Meanwhile, 〈Summer’s Camera〉 is the first feature-length debut work of Seongseong, director, and a work that has generated buzz with invitations and wins at 34 major film festivals worldwide, including the 26th Jeonju International Film Festival’s Nongshim Shin Ramyun Prize (Directors’ Award) in the Korea Competition section, winning the Wave Maker Award at the 51st Seattle International Film Festival, and a Hearts-category invitation at BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival’s 39th edition.

In explaining her vision, director Seongseong said, “We wanted to create a world where characters can talk comfortably about their own identities and LGBTQIA+ people can feel safe—even if it’s just a small space in a little film.” And 〈Summer’s Camera〉 adds a sense of distinctiveness by depicting a teenage girl’s first love in a candid and warm queer universe, unlike existing queer films.

Here, Kim Si-a, who has been writing stories of growth through countless works starting with 〈Miss Baek〉, followed by 〈Our House〉, 〈Gil Bok-soon〉, and even the Netflix series [Giyigo], which has recently drawn attention, has been cast as “Summer,” delighting movie fans. Through 〈Summer’s Camera〉, Kim Si-a captured with delicacy a girl’s feelings as she records a first love in a camera, while also conveying the fresh, wholesome spirit of a teenager. It also raises curiosity by marking a totally different acting transformation from her previous works. In addition, 곽민규 (Kwack Min-gyu), an icon recognized in the independent film world who is active through films and dramas, plays “Maru,” completing the warmth of the story with the face of an adult who feels like a friend. And the rising star Yoo Ga-eun plays “Yeon-woo,” Summer’s first love, delivering a boyish, neutral charm and crisp freshness, building anticipation.