서울국제여성영화제

In this section, we select important feminist issues or notable cinematic agendas each year, present them, and organize related screenings and discussions. This year, under the theme Squares and Sites of Action, we explore the expanding significance of the square (as a public space) from a female perspective—looking into how the meaning of squares has been vigorously reactivated since the end of last year. We also explore our sites of action that connect with or fail to connect to the square. It will be a time and space to examine the history of women’s struggles and street protests. How can we understand and speak about the square—a temporary yet powerful open space—not only through the lens of democracy but also through the language and perspective of feminism? This is a question many have pondered when reflecting on the public squares that have marked pivotal moments in South Korean history.

While there are various points of debate, this section focuses on the importance of our capacity to historicize the resistance and participation of women who are continuing the struggle across different places. Accordingly, films from South Korea, Japan, Sudan, and Afghanistan have been gathered to highlight these heated sites of action.

The Sharp Edge of Peace captures the embodied struggle of Afghan women, showing how the abstract ideal of peace takes shape through fierce negotiation and arduous activism. Horoomon which follows third-generation Zainichi (Korean residents in Japan) Korean Shin Sugok, traces her confrontations with violence and discrimination while powerfully conveying her urgent social questions and the potential for friendship and solidarity. Sudan, Remember Us approaches the voices of young people at the center of the pro-democracy protests against military rule in Sudan from multiple angles. The Murmuring, directed by Byun Young-joo and celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, bears witness to the relationship between the camera and the surviving victims of the Japanese military “comfort women.” The film not only portrays the persistence of resistance but also invites reflection on the meaning of recording it. Kintsugi provides a close look at everyday sites and society through the lens of responses to sexual violence in schools and reflections on those moments. Lastly, the short films Pink-Femi and 60dB Feminism – “Feminist by your side” present the voices of contemporary women who confront and traverse countless squares and sites, in search of our feminism.