18th Seoul Eco Film Festival to highlight pandemic, climate crisis, ecological destruction

Courtesy of the 18th Seoul International Eco Film Festival

By Ko Dong-hwan

The Seoul International Eco Film Festival, an annual film festival that screens movies about contemporary environmental issues across the world, released its promotional poster and slogan on April 26.

An official statement from the 18th Seoul International Eco Film Festival (SEFF) said they dubbed this year's event "ECOvolution," a compound of "eco," "revolution" and "evolution." The statement said that the slogan reflects, "Global society currently, where people's daily lives have been brought to a standstill due to the unprecedented global pandemic. It implies that the current pause can be a turning point. The slogan contains the message that efforts to achieve an immediate and large-scale transformation of the environment are needed."

"We wanted to convey the message that, although people everywhere are suffering in various ways amidst both the current pandemic and the global climate crisis, this situation could also become a motivating force for us to move forward and make their future better, especially if our awareness and attitude about the environment changes," an SEFF official said.

The SEFF also created a cartoon poster that tries to reflect the dangerous current situations for wildlife under the threat of the climate crisis. A polar bear, a seal and an otter next to a girl looking listless, but whose eyes are fixed on something, meant, according to the festival, "how humanity is reflecting on the present moment, but at the same time is contemplating how to move forward with a strong sense of purpose."

Running from June 3 to 9, the SEFF ― Asia's biggest environmental film festival and one of the world's three most prestigious eco film festivals ― this year is co-hosted by nonprofit environmental organization Korea Green Foundation and broadcaster MBC. The Ministry of Environment and the Seoul Metropolitan Government are sponsoring the event.

From left, 18th Seoul International Eco Film Festival Organizing Committee President Lee Myung-sae, MBC President Park Sung-jae and Korea Green Foundation President Choi Yul pose at the MBC building, Mapo District, Seoul, on April 15, after signing an agreement to co-host the event this year. Courtesy of the 18th Seoul International Eco Film Festival

MBC President Park Sung-jae, Korea Green Foundation President Choi Yul and 18th SEFF Organizing Committee President Lee Myung-sae met at the MBC headquarters in Seoul on April 15 to sign an agreement to co-host the event.

"It is my pleasure to co-host this year's SEFF," Park said at the signing event. "Despite anticipated difficulties due to safety measures regarding COVID-19, we will provide all the support we can to make the event safe for all audience members."

This year's SEFF has invited 60 movies from 25 countries on the topics of ecological destruction, climate change and marine pollution, among other pressing environmental issues. Having begun to screen movies online last year, this year's SEFF films will also be viewable via its homepage (en.seff.kr) and via MBC. It was undecided at the time of publication whether or not the festival will proceed with in-theater movie screenings.

Taking place alongside the movie screening during the 18th SEFF is an offline campaign titled, "No More Plastic," that encourages visitors to use less plastic through an exhibition and eco-friendly bazaar. The campaign will showcase videos introducing fashion and other items that were made using recycled plastics, and hold a bazaar selling eco-friendly products made by small-to-medium enterprises committed to sustainable businesses.

"All of the materials to be distributed prior to and during the event, such as pamphlets and other information booklets, will only be in digital format, while all waste produced will be minimized as much as possible," an organizer said.

The last version of SEFF was held in July 2020 under the slogan, "Eco Us, Eco Earth." It screened 57 films from 27 countries.

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