Just 1,000 won…Seoul City holds “FHFP Film Festival” with 23 universities nationwide

A Z-generation challenge transplanted onto the screen, asking what comes next for Korean cinema

A seismic shift in the Korean film industry has already begun. The “FHFP 2026 Film Festival,” hosted by Seoul City at the Seoul Film Center on the 26th, is more than a simple coalition event for college students—it is a provocative debut stage for the next generation of cineastes. Film clubs from 23 universities across the country have come together to throw a fresh perspective onto the screen that breaks the rules of existing commercial films.

The program goes beyond deep conversations where audiences and creators clash and connect, and its level of planning is standout—including merchandise sales that lead to support for culture and the arts for vulnerable groups. The fact that major companies such as Watchedpedia and Daehang Naeil have come on as sponsors is proof of their potential.

Seoul City plans to use this festival as a springboard to upgrade the Seoul Film Center into a “youth creation hub.” For just 1,000 won in admission, it offers a chance to witness the future of Korean film. Lee Soo-yeon, head of the Office for Economic Affairs, vowed the continued inflow of top talent and a major expansion of the “content industry ecosystem.”