Seoul International Youth Film Festival
About SIYFF& Opening Ceremony
Established in 1999, the Seoul International Youth Film Festival is an annual film festival for discovering and supporting talented individuals and developing various culture programs through media. Through the SIYFF, there is an aim to introduce new world’s coming-of-age films, provide media education for future generations and expand the media culture base for domestic and international youths. The SIYFF targets 20,000 people from 40 countries and this year, it opened its 14th film festival from August 23rd (Thu) ~ 29th (Wed). With various categories, the Seoul International Youth Film Festival screened 141 films of 41 different countries.
The opening ceremony was held in Inchon Memorial Hall, Korea University, on August 23rd 2012. On the red carpet, some famous Korean filmmakers and actors such as Im kwon Taek(임권택), Lee Joon Ik(이준익), Ahn Sung Ki(안성기) and Ha Jeong woo(하정우) showed up. With a great number of people, the ceremony really did look like one of the world-wide film festivals such as the Cannes Film Festival or the Venice International Film Festival. Young filmmakers who had taken part in the festival also appeared on the red carpet, crowded by many cameras and flashlights.
Soon after, the opening ceremony commenced with a performance of ‘풀림 앙상블’, a new-age music group. After the congratulatory message, the opening film, ‘Kauwboy’ was screened. As a
movie made in the Netherlands, the film impressively pictured a boy’s growth in a lonely environment.
Screening Program
The screening program of SIYFF was categorized into different groups. Such groups included Kid’s Eye, Teen’s Eye, Strong Eye, Competition 13+, Competition 19+, Pyeong Chang Special Olympics Program and Clermont-Ferrand Kid’s Special Program.
Kid’s Eye program
This section targets preschoolers, lower grades and their parents to show 13 feature films and 14 short films. Such films are shown to be critically acclaimed or internationally recognized. Short films are divided into two sections, Kid’s Eye Shorts 1 and 2. The former introduces mainly animations while the latter introduces adventures and the lives of children.
Teen’s Eye program
‘Teen’s Eye’ section is devoted to teenagers and mainly focuses on the lives of teenagers in different countries as well as the problems they are facing. This section introduces 15 feature films and 7 short films. Some themes that films have are secretive first love, teenage stereotype, school bullying, etc.
Strong Eye
This unique section introduces 14 feature films and 7 short films that have the characteristics of R-rated films. Films of this section contain themes of sex, drugs and violence. This section aims to allow teenagers to communicate with adults by seeing films which show their reality.
Competition 13+
This section is composed of films which are made by teenagers of 13 to 18 from Korea and other countries. Consisting of 14 Korean films and 10 foreign films, the young directors talk about stories of their lives through their own filming techniques.
Competition 19+
Competition 19+ contains films about kids, youth or maturation. This section has 10 Korean films and 10 foreign films which are mostly about kids, maturation of young adults and multiculturalism.
PyeongChang Special Olympics Program
With the support of the United States Embassy in Korea, SIYFF created a PyeongChang Special Olympics section to wish the success of the Special Olympics that will be held in 2013. This section includes films which deal with the success of disabled individuals.
Clermont-Ferrand Kid’s Special Program
Among the unique and fascinating short films of the ‘Kid’s Section’ that the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival provides, SIYFF has selected 23 shorts for children and youths.
As a teenager myself, it was an interesting experience to see films that were made by directors of my age. Since the films related well with my life, it was easy to get focused and sympathize with characters’ situations. Seoul International Youth Film Festival provided its audience with great and creative films and it gave a great chance for intelligent individuals to present their works to the public. Through SIYFF, more and more youths who wish to succeed in filmmaking will be able to take a closer step toward their dreams.
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How to participate in SIYFF
-For filmmaking participation
1. Register on the SIYFF homepage. (www.siyff.com)
2. Send documents related with the film in a CD with a DVD copy to the address below.
-For film judging participation
Register on the SIYFF homepage. (www.siyff.com)
-Visiting SIYFF
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