'90 Seconds of Imagination' International Subway Film Festival Opens... 1,093 Entries from 63 Countries

Seoul Metro, Screening 90-Second Ultra-Short Films in Seoul Subway Until July 12
40 Selected Works to Be Shown, Final 4 Chosen by Online Voting

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metro Corporation, in collaboration with the Seoul International Short Film Festival, is holding the final competition of the 12th Seoul Metro International Subway Film Festival (SMIFF) from the 17th to September 12. Since its inception in 2009, this festival is now in its 12th year, and its official slogan remains the same as last year: "90 seconds, enjoy the subway!"

This year’s festival received a total of 1,093 entries from 63 countries during the submission period from May 10 to July 1. Despite expectations that the number of submissions would decrease due to difficulties in on-site filming amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the number of participating countries increased by 5 and the number of entries rose by 18 compared to last year, setting a new record for the largest scale ever.

After evaluation by a panel of five film experts, 40 works (25 in the international competition and 15 in the domestic competition) were selected as finalists. These finalists will be screened during the competition period on destination information displays installed inside trains and platforms of Seoul Subway Lines 5 to 8. They will also be available for viewing on the festival’s official website.

In the domestic competition category, which features the theme of the "Seoul subway," most entries in previous years were submitted by local students or the general public. However, this year, many video production teams using professional filming equipment and actors participated, resulting in an overall improvement in the quality of the works. Additionally, for the first time, a video featuring the corporation’s character "Ttota" was submitted. The international competition was open to "free themes," and many submissions reflected the ongoing global impact of COVID-19, focusing on themes of disease and quarantine.

Among the finalists, four final award-winning works (one international and three domestic) will be determined through an online audience vote held on the festival’s website. Participants who vote online and leave film reviews will be entered into a drawing to receive prizes.

This year’s festival is also co-hosted in partnership with the Barcelona Metropolitan Transport (TMB) in Spain. Winners will receive a total of approximately 7 million KRW in prize money and awards, and their works will be simultaneously screened on Barcelona’s subway, bus, and tram systems, providing an opportunity to gain international recognition.

The awards ceremony will be held online, reflecting social distancing guidelines due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as was done last year. It will be broadcast through the festival’s official website, just like the finalist screenings.

Jung Seon-in, head of public relations at Seoul Metro Corporation, said, "We are grateful for the interest and support shown for the 12th anniversary of the Seoul Metro International Subway Film Festival, which makes us realize its high status. We hope many subway users will enjoy art and culture by watching these short films."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.