The Seoul International Women¡¯s Film Festival began in 1997, and to celebrate its 20th anniversary last year the International Competition section was added to the program. Receiving favorable reviews from audiences and critics alike, the section features first or second feature films by up-and-coming female directors in order to tackle the inequality within the film industry, and provide a level-playing field to showcase works by women exploring feminist and gender equality themes. The second edition of the International Competition is filled with daring and controversial films. The eight films include The Best of Dorien B. (Anke BLONDÉ), a delightful but serious reflection on love and the female form; Hormigas (Antonella SUDASASSI), a quiet exploration on the right not to give birth; Ladyworld (Amanda KRAMER), an exploration of the fantasy of girlhood through the story of teenage girls trapped in a house; Leakage (Suzan IRAVANIAN), a metaphor examining modern Iranian society through a woman who leaks oil from her body and her attempts to leave the country; Lush Reeds (YANG Yishu), a calm depiction of the confusion between marriage and labor, and the development of modern-day China; Orphans¡¯ Blues (KUDO Riho), a journey into the past for a woman suffering from memory loss; Summer Survivors (Marija KAVTARADZE), an unpredictable tale of people with psychological disorders; and Take Me Somewhere Nice (Ena SENDIJAREVIĆ), which presents the story of a kitsch young woman with the desire to never stop moving. The films made by these intrepid female directors will compete for Best Film, Best Director, and Special Jury Prize, respectively.
BAE Juyeon / Programmer