Seoul International Cine-Media Festival ‘Nemaf’ opens on the 21st, unveiling 7-hour epic 47 years in the making

Nemaf opening film ‘Star Spangled to Death’ is a 435-minute epic 47 years in the making

Festival opens on the 21st in Seoul’s Hongdae area, with more than 90 films from 42 countries and integrated AI and VR exhibitions

The Seoul International Cine-Media Festival, known as Nemaf, which seeks to erase the boundaries between video art and advanced technology, opens on the 21st. Now in its 26th year, the festival changed its name from the Seoul International Alternative Film and Video Festival, declaring an explosive expansion of visual art beyond simple screenings.

Beyond the screen: A showcase of video art unfolds in Hongdae

The festival will run from the 21st through the 26th at Megabox Hongdae and the KT&G Sangsangmadang Hongdae area in Seoul, according to the Nemaf executive committee’s announcement on the 18th. More than 90 innovative works invited from 42 countries will be presented to audiences. In particular, only 50 of the 635 submissions made it into the competition after a fierce selection process, adding to the program’s artistic depth.

Seven hours spanning half a century: The avant-garde essence left by a master

The opening film drawing the industry’s attention, ‘Star Spangled to Death’, is a landmark work by the late Ken Jacobs, a pioneer of American avant-garde cinema. The film took 47 years to complete, from when Jacobs first picked up a camera in 1957 to its completion in 2004. Meticulously weaving together travel footage, performances and other material, the 435-minute work offers an exhaustive dissection of America’s modern and contemporary history.

The Virtual Reality Art Special Exhibition, which reflects the changing times, is another highlight. It examines the current state of contemporary media art by incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR). Kim Jang-yeon-ho, the executive committee chairperson, stressed, “While carrying forward the values of alternative art that we have upheld for 26 years, we will present a new vision for the future of cinema at the intersection of cinema and media.” The festival also established the Outstanding Critic Award and the Outstanding Cine-Media Curator Award this year to drive qualitative growth in the alternative video ecosystem.