22 Short Films you cannot miss at the 11th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival (Part 1)

By Asian Film Festival on September 4, 2019 • ( Leave a comment )

We present a list of short films you shouldn’t miss at the 11th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival (DMZ Docs) which will take place from September 20th – 27th, in Goyang & Paju, Korea.

About the festival:
Over the past decade, DMZ International Documentary Film Festival has grown into the leading documentary festival in Korea and Asia. Now it presents its vision and direction more clearly with the documentary selections and program events. In overall, the number of Korean and Asian films has significantly increased in overall. Also, the quality and number of submitted Asian documentaries introduced in Global Vision and Showcase, as well as International and Asian Competitions, have increased considerably. DMZ DOCS intends to discover and introduce talented filmmakers and Asian documentaries that are actively progressing, and serve as a bridge between the world and Asia. It will be the year to confirm the status of DMZ DOCS as a significant platform to meet Asian documentaries and build partnerships. (DMZ Web)

Selected Films:

304 Stars by Yue Si-on – Korea | 2018 – 14 minutes
Section: Youth Competition

April 2014 reminds us of the Sewol Ferry incident. Even after five years, the truth hasn’t been revealed, and the incident becomes forgotten from people. The film speaks why we shouldn’t forget the tragedy and how we can remember it. Through the stories of bereaved families and young people, the film tries to help us not forget 304 victims who must have been loved by someone.

Schedule:
September 22nd | Sunday | Megabox Baekseok Comport 6 | 15:00 pm

A Man of National Merit by Sa Jinyoung – Korea | 2019 – 20 minutes
Section: Youth Competition

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of March First Independence Movement, I started to inquire men of national merits and heard from neighbors about my grandfather who used to be a veteran of the Vietnam War and passed away last year.

Schedule:
September 22nd | Sunday | Megabox Baekseok Comport 6 | 12:30 pm

AAGASWADI by Ramesh Holbole – India | 2018 – 18 minutes
Section: Short Competition

With neither sufficient drinking water nor irrigation facilities, out of desperation, Bhimrao digs a well to quench his own as well as his farm’s thirst. This documentary portrays the people of Aagaswadi and their confrontation with drought and other adversities, as well as relations affected by it.

About Q by Jeong Soo-in – Korea | 2018 – 8 mintues
Section: Youth Competition

I intend to talk about Q.

Schedule:
September 22nd | Sunday | Megabox Baekseok Comport 6 | 15:00 pm

Almost One by Cha Jeamin – Korea | 2018 – 28 minutes
Section: Short Competition

A camera is sitting in an acting class. Kids are learning how to act in a group. Without any sign of distress and doubt, they follow the instructor. Their compliant attitude may boost a learning process and is considered as talent. Sometimes, child actors and actresses don’t understand their characters’ situations or emotions.

Beyond the Fence by Arman Gholipour Dashtaki – Iran | 2018 – 18 minutes
Section: Global Vision

Behnaz is a talented football player. Her dream is to play for the Iranian football team and in the European leagues. But being a girl and living in a small town in Iran presents difficulties. A documentary about dreams, family and football.

Carlotta’s Face by Valentin Riedl, Frédéric Schuld – Germany | 2018 – 5 minutes
Section: Global Vision

When Carlotta looks in the mirror, she doesn’t recognize the image reflected back at her. This animated portrait explores the confusion that face blindness causes for a young child trying to make sense of her world.

Schedule:
September 21st | Saturday | Megabox Baekseok 7 | 15:00 pm

Dancing for you by Katarzyna Lesisz – Poland | 2018 – 18 minutes
Section: Global Vision

Wiktor is practicing for the annual show at the ballet school. His grandmother is his companion as he prepares for the performance, but his dream is that his father, who lives abroad, will come to the show.

Schedule:
September 21st | Saturday | Megabox Baekseok 7 | 15:00 pm

Finally Endless by Choi Ahram – Korea | 2019 – 32 minutes
Section: DMZ Vision – Inter-Korea

After the liberation, Koreans living in Japan built pro-North Korean schools for their children. In 1984, the Japanese government ordered them to close down. North Korea-aligned schools strongly resisted against the authorities. Seventy years later, the Japanese government provides high school education free of charge, except pro-North Korean schools. The schools filed a lawsuit against the government.

Schedule:
September 21st | Saturday | Lotte Cinema Paju Outlets 7 | 19:30 pm

Glow Worm in a Jungle by Ramana Dumpala – India | 2018 – 12 minutes
Section: Short Competition

If you go to Pune, you will find a house surrounded by trees and birds and lots of books. In it resides, Hema Sane, a retired botany professor and an established author. She is talking about her philosophy, her love for plants and animals, and her decision to not have used electricity ever in her life!

Goodbye Again, Macau by Kong Cheang – Macao | 2018 – 27 minutes
Section: Short Competition

This is a personal exploration of the Portuguese post-colonized city, Macau. By observational images and first person narrative, a married woman passing by the protagonist’s life while he is traveling through his hometown, one in which he was born and raised and yet has increasingly come to feel foreign to him.

For more information about the program and schedule please visit the official website of the festival: DMZ Docs Website

To see Part 2 of this article please go to this link: PART 2