The Jeonju International Film Festival is gearing up for its 26th edition with an annual call for volunteers. The festival, which celebrates indie and experimental film, is slated to run from April 30 to May 9 at Jeonju's Cinema Street.
The festival is seeking 400 volunteers to staff 12 departments, from Korean and international film programming to marketing and technical support. The festival welcomes applications from anyone 18 or older residing in Korea, including foreign residents proficient in Korean. A special "senior" category accommodates applicants over 40.
Applications close at 4 p.m. on March 5. Candidates under 40 can apply through the volunteer section on the festival's Korean-language website, while senior applicants should email their resumes using a form available for download. The festival will announce selected volunteers on March 26.
Volunteers will receive stipends for meals and transport, an official uniform, a participation certificate and a commemorative album. They may also receive credit for public service hours.
Despite headwinds in Korea's film industry, the festival received 1,835 Korean film submissions, up 234 from last year. The Korean competition section, which highlights first and second-time directors, attracted 165 entries, while the short film competition pulled in 1,510 submissions.
The regional competition category, exclusively for films with at least 50 percent of their scenes shot in North Jeolla Province, where Jeonju is located, received 46 entries. The noncompetitive feature section, open to feature-length films of all genres, drew 114 submissions.
The total submission count hit 2,497, including 662 international entries. Narrative films dominated both the feature and short categories, followed by documentaries as a strong second.
"Our industry faces challenges, yet filmmakers continue to trust us with their thoughtful work," Jeonju IFF programmer Moon Seok said. "We aim to uphold our tradition of films that connect with audiences and critics alike."
moonkihoon@heraldcorp.com
