The 15th annual Seoul International Youth Film Festival is opening this week for eight days of diverse screenplays from around the globe.
The upcoming film fest will be held Aug. 22-29 and will feature 142 films from 40 countries, including 23 world premieres including that of Canadian film “Hold Fast,” which follows the story of a 14-year-old boy named Michael who is forced to live with his uncle Ted after his parents die in a tragic car accident. The two do not get along and Michael ends up deciding to run away into the wilderness with his cousin Curtis.
The films featured in the upcoming SIYFF are coming-of-age tales targeting children and young adults. The film fest will include several different screening categories, in both competitive and noncompetitive sections, such as “Kid’s Eye,” “Teen’s Eye” and “Strong Eye,” three competitive sections for 9-, 13- and 19-and-above audiences, respectively. There will also be two special programs for screenplays on multiculturalism and sexual violence against youth.
A scene from the Seoul International Youth Film Festival‘s opening film, “What Maisie Knew”
This year’s opening film introduction and screening is U.S. film “What Maisie Knew,” which will be showing in Korea for the first time. Directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, “What Maisie Knew” is based on the eponymous novel by Henry James about a 7-year-old girl named Maisie who is caught in the middle of a custody battle between her mother, an aging rock star, and her father, a major art dealer. The movie stars young actress Onata Aprile as Maisie along with Hollywood star Julianne Moore and English actor Steve Coogan.
The opening ceremony of the 2013 SIYFF will take place on Thursday at Korea University’s Inchon Memorial Hall. The festival’s main screening will be held at various venues around Seoul including the Arirang Cine & Media Center in Seongbuk-gu, the Seongbuk-cheon Baram-Madang, the Seongbuk Art Hall and Hansung University.
Established in 1999, the SIYFF is the nation’s largest youth film festival and aims to promote and establish a venue for youths to share ideas and culture while also learning about filmmaking and the media.
In order to promote broader international exchange among young film buffs, the festival also conducts forums and camps as well as hosting lectures led by various international film directors, critics and producers.
By Julie Jackson (
juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)
