Seoul festival explores AI and international exchange at 18th edition

The 18th Seoul International Extreme-Short Image & Film Festival concluded on October 28 at CGV Yeongdeungpo, featuring 119 selected films from 3,004 global submissions. The event included an AI film hackathon and a special exhibition celebrating 140 years of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France.

The Seoul International Extreme-Short Image & Film Festival held its official six-day schedule from October 23 to 28 at CGV Yeongdeungpo. A total of 3,004 films were submitted from 74 countries, with 119 films selected for the main competition.

Under the theme "Short Films Beyond Imagination, AI," the opening ceremony was hosted by SOLJI, who served as the "Actor of the Year." Four films were screened as opening works, including "Limit Down" directed by Jeon Yeong-hyeon—a result of the production support project E‑CUT 2026—and the joint project between South Korea, Indonesia, and Colombia, "Korinko's Stamp."

During the event, "AI Film Night" was held, bringing together domestic filmmakers and representatives from the Chinese AI video platform TapNow, as well as officials from Sichuan University of Media and Communications, 四川传媒学院 and the Sichuan International Communication Center, 四川国际传播中心. Attendees discussed the impact of generative AI on film production and explored possibilities for future cooperation within the Asian video industry. Additionally, an AI film hackathon was conducted, featuring an experiment where AI-based short films were completed within 32 hours, allowing participants to experience the changing creative environment.

To mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France, a special exhibition titled "Two Cities, 17 Years of Exchange" was presented in collaboration with the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, showcasing major short films from France and South Korea to broaden international exchange. This festival is evaluated to have established itself as a venue for international video culture exchange through diverse programs spanning extreme-short, short, and AI categories.

Read the original (Korean)