23rd EIDF Opens on the 24th, Screening 64 Films That Probe the “Truth of Images” in the AI Era

EBS 'EIDF 2026' — the only documentary festival in South Korea to spotlight 64 films and uncover the truth

Held simultaneously online and offline from the 24th to the 30th, including newly launched special exhibitions, with screenings across a total of nine categories

Hosted by EBS, the '23rd EBS International Documentary Film Festival' (hereafter 'EIDF 2026') will kick off from the 24th to the 30th with a glamorous opening. This year's core slogan is 'Portraits of the Times', and 'documentaries' from 28 countries—64 films that explore the fundamental truth of images in an era led by artificial intelligence—will meet audiences.

Beyond hatred, solidarity—our real faces reflected on the screen

At a press conference held at 'Seoul Film Center' on the 6th, EBS laid out the festival blueprint. 'Kim Kwang-ho', executive commissioner of EIDF, said, "In today's society, where hatred of difference and conflict are widespread, I hope that 'difference' itself will be respected as an indispensable element for completing the portraits of the times," adding that the organizers have selected standout works that 'capture' the raw, unfiltered side of the present era through the camera lens.

'EIDF' is the 'only' documentary festival in South Korea that spans TV broadcast (EBS 1TV) as well as offline screenings in theaters and outdoors. Theater screenings will be held at 'Megabox Baekseok Bellacita' and 'Seoul Film Center', while romantic outdoor screenings will take place at 'Ilsan Lake Park'. The opening ceremony will be held on the 24th at 5 p.m. at 'EBS Digital Integrated Headquarters' in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. The opening film is 'You (Love Won’t Be Tamed by the Bird That Doesn’t Get Domesticated)', co-directed by filmmakers Anna Fitch and Banker White.

From probing truth in the AI era to spotting emerging creators, the evolving landscape of documentary films

This year's festival features a total of nine distinct 'sections', designed to spark audiences' intellectual curiosity. The most notable highlight is the special exhibition 'Vision of AI', which takes an in-depth look at the reliability of documentary images amid the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. In addition, the newly launched 'Docu-Fil' section spotlights four masterpieces that left a mark on film history under the weighty theme of 'Images That Create Truth: Power, Propaganda, and Illusions.'

In the sole competitive category, 'Festival Choice', 12 works that have passed a rigorous preliminary screening line up, setting expectations for an even fiercer battle than in previous years. Beyond that, screenings also feature a variety of viewpoints from around the world, including 'Art & Culture', sponsored by the Korea Arts & Culture Education Promotion Agency (ARTE); 'Anthology of Shorts', which captures the aesthetics of short films; and 'World Focus Cinema', 'Asia Currents', and 'Korean Wave', among others.

During the festival period, 'Customized Creator Support Program' will also run in parallel, driving both practical funding for promising emerging creators and strengthening their capabilities. An EBS official said, "This year, the 'festival' will be one where we ask deep artistic and ontological questions like never before and connect with audiences," expressing strong confidence.

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