Seoul International Children’s Film Festival unveils ‘BirdBoy,’ caps six-day run

From audience members to cultural leaders: The festival’s 14th edition sparked dialogue across generations

The 14th Seoul International Children’s Film Festival, where children and teenagers connect through films from around the world, successfully completed its six-day run.

The Seoul International Children’s Film Festival said on the 16th that it successfully held this year’s event from the 10th to the 15th at Lotte Cinema Eunpyeong, the Eunpyeong Culture and Arts Center and other venues across Seoul’s Eunpyeong-gu district.

The festival’s biggest change this year was its expanded range of participation. Moving beyond its traditional focus on children, the event significantly broadened opportunities for teenagers to attend and take part. It elevated them from mere audience members to “cultural leaders,” presenting a wide range of programs that used film to foster deeper communication among different generations and cultures.

The opening film, “BirdBoy,” an Asian premiere, captivated audiences. It led a lineup of original films for children and teenagers from around the world. Beyond simply screening films, the festival offered a packed schedule of “talks with audiences” (GV sessions), “participatory and educational programs,” special events and more.

This year, in particular, the festival greatly expanded its “participatory programs,” earning praise for giving future generations a chance to experience the event firsthand and make their voices heard. It also stood out for its tailored programming for families attending over the weekend.

The closing ceremony on the 15th featured awards for the competition categories and served as a meaningful opportunity to look back on the festival’s six-day journey. Jeong Dae-cheol, chairman of the Association of Former Members of the National Assembly, and several lawmakers attended to celebrate the festival’s successful launch, while the rookie group “NEWBEAT” brought the event to a close with a dazzling performance.

Kim Han-ki, executive director of the Seoul International Children’s Film Festival, said, “This was a meaningful year in which we expanded the festival’s scope from children to teenagers and confirmed the limitless possibilities of bringing more generations together to talk through film.” He added, “We will continue building a strong foundation where future generations can freely encounter film as cultural leaders and develop their own philosophies.”