Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
Dropped by sponsors, indie short film festivals cancel annual events
Posters for 2020 Asiana International Short Film Festival (AISFF) / Courtesy of AISFF organizing committee
By Kwak Yeon-soo
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Indie and short film festivals, which have served as a crucial gateways to success for entry-level filmmakers, are being canceled this year as major sponsors pull out due to the COVID-19-triggered crisis.
The Asiana International Short Film Festival (AISFF) announced on Wednesday it will cancel this year's event after Asiana Airlines decided to drop its sponsorship. The carrier's decision came after it suffered financially due to the suspension of most of its international flights since March last year as countries strengthened their travel restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. Recently, Korean Air announced its plans to take over the debt-ridden carrier in 2024 after completing a takeover process next year.
“The AISFF closes its doors as the sponsorship of Asiana Airlines has been discontinued due to various circumstances such as COVID-19,” the AISFF said in a statement.
“We would like to sincerely thank Asiana Airlines who have sponsored the AISFF for the past 18 years and all the filmmakers, members of the media and partners who have stood by us. Most of all, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to all of you who have been preparing for this year's film festival and the audiences for your warm support throughout the years.”
Launched in 2003, Korea's first international short film festival has been at the forefront of discovering, promoting and supporting short films and filmmakers. It has been a cradle for creative filmmakers such as Kim Han-min of “Roaring Currents” (2014) and Lee Kyoung-mi of the Netflix original series, “The School Nurse Files” (2020).
It gained a strong following from short film filmmakers in Korea and abroad, and over 5,000 films were submitted.
Two other renowned film festivals Mise-en-scene Short Film Festival (MSFF) and Seoul Independent Documentary Film Festival (SIDOF) will not hold their annual festivals this year, according to the organizers.
The 19th MSFF was held online from June 25 to July 1 last year, while the 20th SIDOF was held online from May 28 to June 3.
“We will terminate the form of a film festival at a time when the MSFF marks its 20th anniversary this year,” the MSFF said in a statement. “Amid the year-long COVID-19 pandemic and the upheaval in the movie theater industry, we need to take time to think about the roles of short films and film festivals.”
Starting in 2002, the MSFF has been acclaimed as a cradle of creative filmmakers, with director Na Hong-jin of “The Chaser” (2008) and “The Wailing” (2016) awarded the top prize in 2005 before advancing to mainstream cinema.
The SIDOF decided to temporarily halt the annual event and close its secretariat. The festival's organizers said they need to obtain new dynamics that help them ride out the fast-changing industry landscape triggered by the pandemic.