The Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival (MSFF), recognized as one of Korea's premier competitions for emerging filmmakers, is making its highly anticipated return with its 21st edition opening Thursday after a four-year absence. The festival's comeback represents a significant milestone for Korea's film industry during a period of major transformation and challenges.
The five-day event will run through Monday at CGV Yongsan IPark Mall in Seoul, marking the end of a suspension that began after the festival's 20th edition in 2021. The hiatus was caused by operational difficulties stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, but the festival has been revived through the collaborative efforts of dedicated filmmakers who joined forces to bring it back to life.
Since its inaugural edition in 2002, the MSFF has established itself as Korea's only short film festival dedicated to showcasing works across multiple genres. The festival has gained particular recognition for its role as an incubator for discovering and nurturing next-generation filmmakers, with backing from prominent industry figures including acclaimed directors Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook.
The enthusiasm surrounding the festival's return has been overwhelming among young filmmakers. Organizers received a record-breaking 1,891 submissions across five distinct genre categories: social commentary, romance and melodrama, comedy, horror and fantasy, and action and thriller. From these entries, a total of 65 films were carefully selected for the competition section, demonstrating the high level of interest and participation from emerging talent.
Public excitement for the festival has been equally intense, with movie fans demonstrating remarkable enthusiasm for the event's return. When ticket sales opened on October 1, 24 out of the total 35 screening slots sold out within just two hours, highlighting the strong demand and anticipation for the festival among cinema enthusiasts.
The revival of MSFF has attracted significant attention due to high-profile participation from established industry figures. Popular actors Kim Go-eun and Koo Kyo-hwan appeared in the festival's official trailer, which was directed by Um Tae-hwa, showcasing strong support from the entertainment industry for the festival's return.
The opening ceremony will be hosted by popular comedian Jang Do-youn, while actor Joo Hyun-young will take on hosting duties for the closing ceremony. Notably, the closing ceremony will be held at Naver 1784, the headquarters of tech company Naver located in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Naver serves as the main sponsor of this year's festival, providing crucial financial support for the event.
Organizers have made significant efforts to heighten public interest by securing participation from A-list actors as honorary judges. The distinguished panel includes Ju Ji-hoon, Park Jeong-min, Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Tae-ri, and Kim Da-mi, all of whom are well-known figures in Korean cinema and will lend their expertise to evaluate the competing films.
This year's festival operates under the slogan "What's Next?," which reflects the organizers' commitment to exploring new narratives and innovative cinematic language. The theme is particularly relevant given the rapidly changing environment of the film industry and the need for fresh perspectives and storytelling approaches.
Among the noteworthy entries in this year's competition is "Toe-Tapping Tunes," which marks the directorial debut of singer-actor Lee Jung-hyun. The film represents one of many diverse selections from talented directors that organizers promise will captivate movie fans and showcase the breadth of creativity among Korea's emerging filmmakers.
