52nd Seoul Independent Film Festival Announces ‘Local Cinema’ and ‘Festival Choice’ Lineups

The 52nd Seoul Independent Film Festival (SIFF 2026) has announced the official lineup for its Local Cinema section, which highlights the diverse possibilities of regional filmmaking (13 films), and Festival Choice, a section bringing together notable films from the past year (61 films). Film media outlet Cineplay is once again an official sponsor of the Cineplay Local Cinema Award, supporting the balanced growth of Korean independent cinema and the vitality of regional creative communities.

Established in 2022 through close cooperation between the Seoul Independent Film Festival and regional networks, the Local Cinema section spotlights directors outside Seoul and the Gyeonggi region who continue to make films with distinctive perspectives and steadfast commitment. Since the section’s launch, Cineplay has sponsored the Cineplay Local Cinema Award each year and presented prize money, helping ensure diversity in film and provide solid support for independent cinema. This year’s Local Cinema lineup includes 13 films: 11 narrative features, one documentary and one experimental film. Standouts showcasing the character of their respective regions will meet audiences, including the premieres 〈From You〉 (directed by Min Da-jung), 〈Looking for a Tornado〉 (directed by Kim Tae-hoon) and 〈Haegam〉 (directed by Hong Seong-hyun).

The special-invitation section Festival Choice, also announced today, features 61 films: 38 short-film showcases and 23 feature-film showcases. Including 17 premieres—10 shorts and seven features—the lineup offers a broad spectrum of work by both emerging and established filmmakers.

The short-film showcase includes 〈She Always〉 (directed by Park Jeong-bin), a production-support recipient of ‘SIFF × Byeon Woo-seok: Shorts on 2025’; 〈The Dead Imbal〉 (directed by Heo Ji-yoon); director Yoon Dan-bi’s 〈Class 3-6 Graduation Video_V14〉; 〈Rhapsody of a Bird〉 (directed by Choi Won-jung), invited to Cannes’ La Cinef; 〈Homeless Christmas〉, actor Lee Jae-in’s directorial debut; and 〈Voyager〉, actor Lee Joo-young’s second film as a director. The feature-film showcase includes a slate of major titles, among them 〈Mole Game〉 (directed by Jo Gyu-jun), a recipient of the Seoul Independent Film Festival’s post-production support; 〈Sun-hee’s Escape from the Closet〉 (directed by Lim Dae-hyung and Kim Min-jun); 〈In Search of a Lost Heart〉, actor Han Ye-ri’s directorial debut; 〈Gongsuni〉 (directed by Yoo So-young), winner of the New Talent Grand Prize at the Jecheon International Music & Film Festival; and 〈Recovery〉 (directed by Kim Myeon-woo), winner of the grand prize at the EBS International Documentary Festival.

Co-hosted by the Korean Film Council and the Korean Independent Film Association, the 52nd Seoul Independent Film Festival will run for 10 days, from Wednesday, Nov. 25, through Friday, Dec. 4, at CGV Apgujeong and CGV Cheongdam Cinecity.