We present the list of winner of the Docs Port Incheon 2017 that took place from November 2nd – 5th in Incheon, Korea.

Best Korean Project (30,000,000 KRW)

The Inescapable Mountain by Director Moon Chang-yong | Producer: Moon Chang-yong
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production

Nadia is 12 years old. She and her friends live in the trash village. They spend 17 hours a day collecting plastics from the trash mountain. Most of their daytime activities, including sleeping and eating, occur in the mountain. Their families owe money from the trash mountain boss and collecting trash that worth something is the only way to repay the debt. In this inequitable system, it is only the boss who becomes richer while the families’ debt never gets smaller. One of Nadia’s friend even lost his arm in the mountain because he approached too close to the excavator while attempting to collect ‘good’ trash. There is no promise for better future in the mountain. Nadia wants to become a doctor. It is apparent to Nadia that she won’t be able to go to a college and live up to her dream in the mountain. She has to, somehow, escape the mountain and pursue a path that will take her to better life. (DPI Catalogue)

Best Asian Project (each 15,000,000 KRW)

Flickering Light by Anupama Srinivasan, Anirban Dutta | Producer: Anirban Dutta
Country: India – Production Status: Production

Far from the mainland and mainstream consciousness, in a region ridden with uncertainties, Tora is quaint and beautiful, but with bad roads, erratic transport service, a dysfunctional school, no hospital, no power supply, no mobile network and no job opportunities, the only source of income being illegal marijuana cultivation. In a place where promises are seldom kept, can people actually believe that anything will change and electricity will indeed come? In this unpredictable world, humour is the only constant. Over a period of two years spanning the electrification process and beyond, the film will flow with the lives of the three principal characters: JASMINE is a feisty entrepreneur trying to make a place for herself in a deeply patriarchal society. She wants to give her children a good education and so, sends them to an expensive boarding school in the next district. ASHANG is the young, dynamic, city-bred Village Chief who left his law practice in Delhi and returned home two years back to follow his destiny and his hereditary duty as chief. KHAMRANG, the 96-year-old grandpa, is the oldest person in Tora and a former insurgent. He lives on his own, cooks his own food, and occupies himself by doing carpentry, and listening to the radio every evening. He does not believe that electricity will arrive in his village. He has seen it all before.

Through these three different perspectives, we understand the ethos of the community, their preoccupations, and priorities. The film will alternate between the lives of the people and the electricity work, two threads that move together, at times intersecting; the aspirations of the people chafed by the apathy and absurdity of the state machinery. Will electricity actually arrive in Tora? And if it does, will it stay to transform the lives of the people. The film waits to see. (DPI Catalogue)

No Boys Land by Nontawat Numbenchapol | Producer: John Badalu, Komtouch Napattaloong
Country: Thailand – Production Status: Production

Jai Sang Lod, a 21 year old boy from the Shan State dreams of having a normal life, but being a refugee and living in Doi Kor Wan Hill at the border of Myanmar and Thailand has put certain restrictions for his future. In this stateless territory, every Shan Refugee has to undergo training for a life time of military service. This is enforced by the Shan State Army (SSA) that controls and protects the territory in order to achieve the Shan liberation from the Myanmar government. His plan to live in Chiang Mai to follow his older brother has shattered after the passing of his mother and being an undocumented person puts him in greater risks in the city. His only option is to submit his life to the SSA without knowing if there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. (DPI Catalogue)

Best Rough Cut Project (20,000,000 KRW)

For Vagina’s Sake by Kim Bo-ram | Producer: Oh Hee-jung
Country: Korea – Production Status: Completed

Women eat, sleep, and bleed. This bleeding has been symbolized as mystery, impurity, and inferiority, but this long-lasting taboo around menstruation started to cracking up. Women all over the world voiced up and NPR crowned 2015 as the Year of Period. This big wave has arrived in Korea. The wall of information collapse, and women demand their right to choose how to bleed. For Vagina’s Sake follows the history of bleeding and social issues happening in modern societies. With colorful animation and fast-paced editing style, it is nicknamed as “Period Wikipedia.” (DPI Catalogue)

Doc Spirit Award (10,000,000 KRW)

Becoming Ordinary by Kim Dong-bin | Producer: Kim Dong-bin
Country: Korea – Production Status: Pre-Production

At the end of metro line four stands a city known as the ‘workers city.’ Workers’ rights movement was prominent in the 80s and 90s and Mother settled down while being part of the movement. She raised her children like raising flowers in a desert. Her life changed completely when she lost her daughter. She isolates herself and grieves alone. Suffering from trauma, she does not know if she can live any longer. She wants to live and wants to live well without feeling lost in the universe. How many more years must she endure? Grieving mother’s another step towards life. (DPI Catalogue)

The Future Cries Beneath Our Soil by Pham Thu Hang | Producer Jewel Maranan
Country: Vietnam – Production Status: Production

The intangible yet haunting consequence of the Vietnam-American war is sculpted in the relationship of love and hatred among men living in a village right at the boundary of North and South Vietnam. Chased by detonations of bombs that continue being excavated from their village’s soil, they reminisce the war they never fought but defined the bounds of their lives. In this village tricked by time, Thanh, Hoang, Phuong, Dinh and Loc, wait out the winter with songs of love and war, wine stolen from Loc’s wife, stories of youth and questions of how much longer they can survive. (DPI Catalogue)

Best Young Korean Director’s Project (10,000,000 KRW)

Flame Feminist Action! by Yun Ga-hyun | Producer: Ma Min-ji
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production

As feminism boom rose recently in Korea, new feminism groups were born in a row: One of them is ‘Flame Feminist Action’. Its issue highlights women’s body and sexuality, especially making social actions for pro-choice, menstruation, etc. These feminists protest by using shocking and showing strategies like shaving their hairs, letting their armpit hairs, and taking off bras in public. But it ended up in layoff and criticism in their routine. Even though they took an action for their better life, there is no way for them to reluctantly wear a cap on their shaved head for living. Furthermore what they faced in their activity is serial arguments and conflicts, following after an arrangement committee for forming a feminist party whose value is even equality and diversity, ironically. What was worse is that one feminist ran out from the meeting with skepticism. Eventually, they ended up in a starting point question: ‘what makes a woman’. As feminism says ‘Be yourself’! Can they be themselves against self-censorship and internal struggles? (DPI Catalogue)

CGV Arthouse Award (20,000,000 KRW)

Counters by Lee Il-ha | Producer: Lee Il-ha
Country: Korea – Production Status: Post-Production (80%)

In Japan, hate speech has gained significant public attention in recent years, even being elected as the most popular term in 2013 because of the hate speech rallies led by extreme rightists. One of the leading right-wing groups is Zaitokukai, meaning the “Association of Citizens Against the Special Privileges of the Zainichi Japanese”. Against them, there are also groups who oppose all sorts of discrimination in Japan. These anti-hate speech protestors are called “Counters.” This film features a group of Counters named the Otoko-Gumi, who clash against the Zaitokukai regularly by using the special talents of their unique members. (DPI Catalogue)

Daemyung Culturewave Award (5,000,000 KRW)

Mommy and Me by Yeon Wang-mo | Producer: Yeon Wang-mo
Country: Korea – Production Status: Pre-Production

She had to give up her son for adoption before, and after 40 years of separation, her son returns home and decides to live with her because his mother is dying soon. The problem is that she only speaks Korean, while her son only speaks English.

They want to get compensated for lost years so much that they often go back 40 years when she had to give up her 3-year-old son for adoption. The middle-aged son acts like a baby for her, while his mother tries to take care of everything about him. He doesn’t know how much longer she could live, but until his mother stays with him, he has many things to do for her. (DPI Catalogue)

DocedgeKolkata Award
Hotel accommodation for a director or a producer of the project to participate in Docedge Kolkata 2018

The birth of resonance by Lee Jeong-jun | Producer: Kim Na-rae
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production

Sun-bin Lim, Gyeonggi intangible cultural asset, has been making traditional drums for 56 years despite his hearing impairment and paralysis of the lower body. His last wish is to make a grand drum with his lifetime know-hows and skills and to pass them down to his son, Dong-guk Lim, who is also his apprentice. Sun-bin is now ready to complete his grand drum with his son.

However, Dong-guk can never understand Sun-bin’s obsession for traditional drums, which doesn’t pay but gives a hard work. Meanwhile, Sun-bin’s life has been enduring suffers to come to where he is now. Sun-bin doesn’t like his son who never tries things hard enough. These two very different people are now trying to reach for one sound. (DPI Catalogue)

Where the Peach Is in Bloom by Jiang ChunHua | Producer: Ruby Chen
Country: China – Production Status: Production

Taohua (peach blossom) Work-Study School is a juvenile reform school where boys and girls are strictly kept separate. It is divided into two segments; the Upstairs and Downstairs. The former contains students who are sent here by their parents, while the latter contains students sent by Public Security Bureau for criminal offenses. The two segments are separated by a path. Any kind of interactive is strictly forbidden between boys and girls. The story follows Li Wenjun’s journey of becoming the class leader, Leigong and Chanjuan’s puppy love; they are in love and yet are separated by the separation rule. The two storylines converge by the time of New Year celebration and each takes a dramatic turn. Here Where Peach Is in Bloom is about friendship and love to find their own place. (DPI Catalogue)

ASD (Asian Side of the Doc) Award
A round-trip air ticket and hotel accommodation for a director or a producer of the project to participate in Asian Side of the Docs 2018

Mommy and Me by Yeon Wang-mo | Producer: Yeon Wang-mo
Country: Korea – Production Status: Pre-Production – Category: Ethnography

In-Kind Support [Post-production]
KT&G Sangsang Madang Cinelab (Supporting 50% of digital post-production cost)

Cats’ Apartments by Jeong Jae-eun | Producer: Jung Hee-tae
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production

Doonchon apartment complex in Seoul, which opened in 1980, is scheduled for demolition in 2018. Residents are worried about the future of cats living in a peaceful neighborhood. For cats who freely lived at apartment complexes, the reconstruction is a great threat to life spaces and life. Residents gather for the migration of cats. And the time of parting is approaching. In the brutal demolition process, can residents help cats to escape the apartment complex safely? (DPI Catalogue)

Postfin (Supporting DCP mastering)

We are HongRean by Kim Ki-min | Producer: Kim Ki-min
Country: Korea – Production Status: Post-Production (40%)

I’ve traveled countless times from Seoul to Hong Kong to see my Chinese girlfriend throughout our seven year relationship. This story covers our romance alongside another couple’s; my best friend and his wife’s – my girlfriend’s twin sister. Full of romance, our earnest love story navigates through daunting trials and obstacles leading to an international marriage. However the dreams of a happy wedding start falling apart; cultural differences, communication and economic hurdles, and other small misunderstandings start to cause friction. Can we break free from a generation whose decline in marriage and childbirth are notorious and fulfill our own happy ending?

The Sea of Itami Jun by Jung Da-woon | Producer: Kim Jong-shin
Country: Korea – Production Status: Post-Production (20%)

“Hello, I’m Itami Jun.” An old architect introduces himself to a class of students in murmuring Korean. The architect’s lifetime achievements had been recognized by numerous prestigious awards including French Arts Medal, Japan’s most prestigious architecture award, Murano Togo Award. He was the first generation Korean architect who gained an international acclaim under his own brand. He did not get recognition from neither the Korean nor the Japanese architecture world until in his 50’s. Throughout his life, he lived as a ‘stranger’ who was never fully integrated into the Japanese nor the Korean society. The young foreign student who graduated from a small university in Tokyo found his first job in the field after much difficulties. He then, travelled around the world developing perspective in architecture. At the same time, he studied traditional art of Korea. The soft and curvaceous lines of the traditional white pottery can be found in the roof design of Podo Hotel. Through the water, wind and stone museum, the viewers experience the space that is an art in itself, that transforms with the changing seasons. The people who personally knew and worked with Itami give their accounts of the architect in the space he created.

Counters by Lee Il-ha | Producer: Lee Il-ha
Country: Korea – Production Status: Post-Production (80%)

**The birth of resonance by Lee Jeong-jun | Producer: Kim Na-rae
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production – Category: Ethnography

(**Supporting DCP mastering and supported 100% of Color Grading cost)

[English Subtitle Translation & Captioning]
Furmo DT (English Subtitle Captioning Support)

Rage: The Voice of the Voiceless by Ahn Hae-ryong, Ito Takashi | Producer: Hwang Hei-rim
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production

For 25 years, Japanese journalist and photographer ITO Takashi has been tracing the lives of North Korean “comfort women”. His report reveals outrageous truths about the survivors of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery through their voices. You’ll never silence the voice of the voiceless.

Cats’ Apartments by Jeong Jae-eun | Producer: Jung Hee-tae
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production

[Full package Sound Design Support]
mediACT (Supporting all stage of sound work)

Host Nation by Lee Ko-woon – Producer: Lee Ko-woon
Country: Korea – Production Status: Completed

The film chronicles Maria’s hopes, dreams, and crucial reality for two years to lay bare the legalized system of sex trafficking between South Korea and the Philippines. Maria has been dreaming about escaping from her slum neighborhood in Davao, Philippines, and getting a job abroad. When Maria was introduced to a talent manager, Madam Yolanda, her dream was about to come true. Manager Yolanda operates a training center and a temporary boarding house in Manila for women like Maria. Yolanda has witnessed the ups and downs of the sex industries of neighboring Asian countries and sees the openings in the industry as job opportunities for poor Filipino women.

36.5 by HWANG Yun | Producer: HWANG Yun
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production

In 2012, the first dolphin trial took place in Korea at the Jeju District Court. The fate of 6 dolphins, Jedol, Chunsam, Sampal, Taesan, Boksoon, and Haesoon who were caught from the Jeju offshore and forced to be on the dolphin shows at Pacific Land and Seoul Grand Park. While the trial was dragging on as Pacific Land lodged appeals, Haesoon died at Pacific Land. Finally, the Supreme Court ruled favorably on the dolphins. And Seoul City made an announcement for ‘the zoo without the dolphins’ and decided to send Daepo and Geumdeung back to the sea. Daepo and Geumdeung have been on the show for 20 years after they got caught when they were young. Many people who have worked at the different positions and have different thoughts, including a dolphin trainer, a dolphin liberation movement activist, a ecologist who researches dolphins, and many others, get united to execute the project of freeing the dolphins. It’s a challenge that you can’t predict the result, for the dolphins and the people as well.

[PR/Marketing Support]
Feel&Plan(Supporting Offline promotion and marketing for theatrical-released at a theater)

Counters by Lee Il-ha | Producer: Lee Il-ha
Country: Korea – Production Status: Post-Production (80%) – Category: Ethnography, Social political

[Promotion Design Support]
Studio Sek (Promotion Design Support)

The Sea of Itami Jun by Jung Da-woon | Producer: Kim Jong-shin
Country: Korea – Production Status: Post-Production (20%)

Cats’ Apartments by Jeong Jae-eun | Producer: Jung Hee-tae
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production

Becoming Ordinary by Kim Dong-bin | Producer: Kim Dong-bin
Country: Korea – Production Status: Pre-Production

The Inescapable Mountain by Director Moon Chang-yong | Producer: Moon Chang-yong
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production

[Supporting Music Production]
Studio Fame (Composing, arranging, and producing music)

Rage: The Voice of the Voiceless by Ahn Hae-ryong, Ito Takashi | Producer: Hwang Hei-rim
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production

[Theatrical Release Support]
CGV Arthouse (Minimum 2 weeks of screening guaranteed after completion of the project)

Logbook by Bok Jin-oh | Producer: Song Kyu-hag
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production

“Can I forget those memories? Do I have to be better?”
In March 2017, the ferry Sewol finally reveals its face after 1,073 days of being underwater. Civilian divers who brought up about 200 bodies in the poor conditions head to the venue where the ship is. On its way, they say that they have something to tell. Divers stand before a camera and ask, “Will I be really okay?”

Art Nine (Minimum 2 weeks of screening guaranteed after completion of the project)

Rage: The Voice of the Voiceless by Ahn Hae-ryong, Ito Takashi | Producer: Hwang Hei-rim
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production

Becoming Ordinary by Kim Dong-bin | Producer: Kim Dong-bin
Country: Korea – Production Status: Pre-Production

Art House Momo (Minimum 2 weeks of screening guaranteed after completion of the project)

Counters by Lee Il-ha | Producer: Lee Il-ha
Country: Korea – Production Status: Post-Production (80%)

Indie Space (Minimum 2 weeks of screening guaranteed after completion of the project)

Becoming Ordinary by Kim Dong-bin | Producer: Kim Dong-bin
Country: Korea – Production Status: Pre-Production

Arirang Cine Center (Minimum 2 weeks of screening guaranteed after completion of the project)

Rage: The Voice of the Voiceless by Ahn Hae-ryong, Ito Takashi | Producer: Hwang Hei-rim
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production

Milim Art Cinema & Culture Space (Minimum 2 weeks of screening guaranteed after completion of the project)

To Kill Alice by Kim Sang-kyu | Producer: Kim Sang-kyu
Country: Korea – Production Status: Completed

Eunmi, a woman who underwent intense anticommunist education as she grew up in South Korea, lives a normal life in America. However, after going on a trip to North Korea with her husband, her life begins to change. During an open forum event in South Korea that she was invited to speak at, she suffers the unimaginable and the more she tries to escape from the situation, the worse and worse it gets.

Jeonju Digital Indiep. Cinema (Minimum 4 weeks of screening guaranteed after completion of the project)

Logbook by Bok Jin-oh | Producer: Song Kyu-hag
Country: Korea – Production Status: Production

We are HongRean by Kim Ki-min | Producer: Kim Ki-min
Country: Korea – Production Status: Post-Production (40%)

Cinespace Juan (Minimum 2 weeks(all day) of screening guaranteed)

Becoming Ordinary by Kim Dong-bin | Producer: Kim Dong-bin
Country: Korea – Production Status: Pre-Production – Category: Ethnography