'2030 Youth Film Festival' Opens Nov. 24, Showcases 40 Standout Youth Films Selected From Record 992 Entries

A vision of the future rising from reality…from domestic premieres to AI experiments, all in one place

The vivid voices of young creators poised to shape the next generation of Korean cinema will fill the screen. The 6th 2030 Youth Film Festival, which has championed the distinctive perspectives and potential of young filmmakers, opens Nov. 24 for a five-day run through Nov. 28 at the Arirang Cine Center in Seoul’s Seongbuk District.

The festival’s organizers said this year’s slogan is “HOPE.” A total of 40 films will meet audiences, capturing the intense struggles and inner lives of young creators who refuse to be defeated by difficult circumstances, as well as their hopes for the future.

Three distinctive films will launch the festival. Kim Yeon-woo’s visually striking animation “Finger Bang,” “Mutant,” an animated film by Jang Hyung-yoon, known for his singular directorial style, and Lee Geon-hee’s fiction film “Y.A.G Fitness Shop,” a sharp portrait of everyday life for young people, have been selected as opening films.

This year’s festival has drawn a record number of applicants, underscoring the intense interest. The competition received a record 992 entries since submissions began, with 10 films selected for the final round after a rigorous review. The films are expected to draw interest for their varied approaches to the real-world challenges facing young people—including housing and employment insecurity, grueling working conditions and a rapidly aging society—through genres ranging from black comedy and psychological thriller to heartfelt documentary.

The “Preproduction Support” program, a key initiative to strengthen the foundations of filmmaking, also received a record 295 submissions. The project provides emerging creators with little or no directing experience with one-on-one mentoring from working directors, production funding and hands-on support through every stage of postproduction. Eight short films completed through the program will premiere at this year’s festival.

Special programs broadening the festival’s global perspective and exploring cutting-edge technology are also drawing attention. The “Swedish Spotlight” will present four carefully selected Swedish short films in South Korea for the first time, in close collaboration with the Swedish Film Institute. The “AI Showcase” will explore the potential of generative artificial intelligence as a new creative tool, screening four films, including “I’m Not a Robot.” and “House of Mirrors,” alongside an in-depth discussion featuring experts from the related industries.

Actor Kim Jung-young, known for her reliable acting, has been named the festival’s official ambassador. “Young creators who refuse to give up despite difficult circumstances and keep making films with hope are the surest and strongest hope for Korean cinema,” Kim said, calling on audiences to show young filmmakers warm support and stand with them.