Actor Byeon Wooseok is sponsoring the Seoul Independent Film Festival.
On the 24th, the Seoul Independent Film Festival said it will hold a 15-day open call from Oct. 10 to 24 for the independent film production support project SIFF X Byeon Wooseok: Shorts on 2025, which aims to support the passion of talented creators together with Byeon Wooseok.
As the creative environment of Korean films and the ways audiences participate have rapidly changed recently, voices calling for seeking a new future for Korean cinema are growing. In particular, the 51st Seoul Independent Film Festival received a record-high total of 1,805 submissions (1,590 shorts, 215 features), showing a vitality different from the slump in commercial films. This shows that independent films, which continue to be created despite difficult conditions, are an important driving force leading the possibilities of Korean cinema.
Against this backdrop, the Seoul Independent Film Festival is launching a new production support project with the sponsorship of actor Byeon Wooseok. This effort, in which a widely beloved actor works directly with independent film creators to bolster the creative ecosystem, carries special meaning in building the foundation for the future of Korean cinema together.
Byeon Wooseok has drawn attention with his gentle looks and delicate acting in dramas such as drama "꽃 피면 달 생각하고", "힘쎈여자 강남순" and films such as "20th-century girl", "Soulmate." In particular, the drama Lovely Runner received great love and left an impression on fans both in Korea and abroad. Recently he was cast as the lead in the Netflix series "Solo Leveling," showing an acting range that transcends media and genre. His sponsorship of this project is expected to be a meaningful step showing Byeon Wooseok's commitment to supporting the growth of his career as an actor and the potential of independent film creators.
Since 2009 the Seoul Independent Film Festival has consistently supported independent film creation through various programs such as production support, distribution support and project development. Based on that experience, this project will be operated effectively as a one-stop program linking production, screening and distribution of independent films.
The open call theme is "love," and up to three short narrative films will be selected to receive production funding totaling 30 million won, distributed unequally. Actor Byeon Wooseok will participate directly in the final judging, and mentoring by Baro Entertainment and experts, along with collaboration with an executive producer, will be added. Completed works will be linked to screening and distribution through the Seoul Independent Film Festival.
The SIFF X Byeon Wooseok: Shorts on 2025 team will accept applications from Oct. 10 through Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. The final selections will be announced at the 51st Seoul Independent Film Festival in 2025 after document and interview reviews. Eligibility requires creators with short-film directing experience who have written a script fitting the theme (love) and can complete the work by Aug. 2026. Applications will be accepted via email and Google Form, and detailed guidelines can be found on the Seoul Independent Film Festival official website.
The 2025 Seoul Independent Film Festival, the largest incubator of Korean independent film, is scheduled to be held from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5.
[Photo] OSEN DB, Baro Entertainment, Seoul Independent Film Festival provided.
[OSEN]