KOREA PRIDE

A section dedicated to discovering and 

presenting newly produced queer films from Korea.

 Shorts Non Competition

Programmer’s Recommendations: 

Cicadas, Monstro Obscura, Weaving, Through Her 

The Korea PRIDE – Non-Competition section brings together acclaimed queer short films that have already been recognized at major domestic and international film festivals, offering a broad view of the current landscape and diversity of Korean queer cinema. 

KANG Min-a(Director)’s Cicadas unfolds on the last day of a school trip, when Jae-young and Yoon-ji, who stray from their group, meet Hee-soo, a girl who no longer attends school. The film delicately captures the subtle emotional shifts and moments of growth among the three characters, portraying the complexities of youth with authenticity. 

HONG Seung-gi(Director)’s Monstro Obscura is set in Seoul in 1996 and tells the story of a “monster” awakened from photographic developing waste. Shot on film, the work’s distinctive analog texture and grain create a mysterious atmosphere where reality and fantasy intertwine. 

CHOI Min-ji(Director)’s Weaving captures the inner tremors that are far more complex than the physical fight inside the ring. Boxer Soo-hyun meets her sparring partner Min-kyung, and their encounters begin to fracture her sense of self, allowing unfamiliar emotions to seep in. The director skillfully interlaces the rhythm of training with waves of emotion, drawing out the delicate tension and distance within their relationship. 

AHN Da-seul(Director)’s Through Her quietly explores grief, empathy, and the redefinition of relationships through an encounter between Ga-young and her late mother’s partner. Within this meeting, the protagonist comes to face a side of family she never knew, revealing both sorrow and understanding through understated storytelling. 

This year’s Korea PRIDE section is filled with a diverse selection of films that will meet the expectations of audiences who love Korean queer cinema. 

We invite you not to miss 39 brilliant short films that showcase the boundless possibilities of Korean queer filmmaking.