Following a four-year hiatus, the 21st edition sets a record for submissions yet awards no grand prize
The 21st Mise-en-scene Shorts Film Festival, long regarded as a launching pad for some of South Korea’s most celebrated filmmakers, ended its four-day run Monday, spotlighting the latest and most inventive short films from the country’s emerging directors.
Founded in 2002, the festival has been Korea’s premier short film showcase, launching directors such as Jang Jae-hyun ("Exhuma," "The Priests"), Um Tae-hwa ("Concrete Utopia"), and Na Hong-jin ("The Yellow Sea," "The Wailing"). After pausing in 2021 under former sponsor Amorepacific, it returned this year with Naver as the sponsor.
This year's edition screened 65 films, selected from a record 1,891 submissions, at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall.
The finalists competed for seven awards, judged by a jury of 10 directors and five actors, including jury president and film director Kim Sung-soo ("12.12: The Day") and actors Ju Ji-hoon, Kim Tae-ri and Park Jung-min.
Reflecting the festival’s long-standing ethos, Kim Sung-soo described the judging process as “subjective and highly biased."
"True to our tradition, we never reached a consensus in any of the sections. The lengthy debates and discussions ended up taking over 12 hours," Kim said during the awards ceremony held at the Naver headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Monday.
He also expressed disappointment with this year’s submissions.
"To be honest, the results were somewhat disappointing. We were hoping for fresh, ingenious, highly entertaining and tightly structured contemporary Korean films — bold, provocative works that leap out and make your heart race — but there weren’t that many of them," he said, noting plans to tighten selection criteria next year.
Additionally, a notable trend among this year’s entries was the abundance of animated works, Kim noted.
"Not only were (the animated works) full of personality, but they also showed a high level of craftsmanship. As jurors, we could really feel that the future of Korean animated films is very bright," Kim said.
Like many previous editions, no grand prize was awarded this year. The festival’s grand prize is reserved for the best film winners in each category, and must receive unanimous jury approval. A notoriously stringent process, only four grand prize winners have been announced in 20-odd years of the festival’s history.
Meanwhile, the festival's second-highest honor, the best film awards, were distributed across five categories, each named after a landmark Korean film and distinguished by a unique color.
Under the Take Care of My Cat section, which highlights films addressing social issues, "Those Who Leave Buy Fowers" took the top honor. "Fake Lies," a romance film about a girlfriend who suddenly declares herself an alien, won in the Jealousy Is My Middle Name category. Comedy films were recognized under Conduct Zero, with "The Mountain Between Us" taking the prize. "Planet Spoilia" won in the horror/fantasy-focused Kidam section, while action/thriller "The Cheat" claimed the Nowhere to Hide award. Each winner received a prize of 5 million won ($3,500).
During his acceptance speech, Kim Keon-woo, director of "The Cheat," reflected on challenges the Korean film industry faces today.
"Especially now, it is very difficult for first-time directors to make their debut with a feature film, much like threading a needle. Of course, it’s true that, statistically, it has actually become more difficult," said Kim.
"I want to express my thanks to the invited directors who have given us hope and shown possibilities ... They have shown us why we should not give up on filmmaking," he added.
Other awards included best cinematography, which went to Lee Jung-hong for "Those Who Leave Buy Flowers," while best actor and best actress awards were given to Lee Hak-joo for "The Cheat" and Shim Hae-in for "The Mountain Between Us," respectively. "Hansel: Two School Skirts" earned the jury’s special award and "Blossom Graduation" took home the audience award.
Following the festival, from Nov. 15 to 21, special programs will feature award-winning films from the 21st Mise-en-scene Shorts Film Festival, as well as short works from the seven executive directors of the festival. Screenings will be available on Naver Chzzk Channel, with in-person viewings at Megabox Guui on Nov. 15 and 16.
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