These are ten short documentaries you shouldn’t miss at the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival which will take place from September 14 -21, 2023 in Goyang and Paju, Korea.

An Asian Ghost Story by WANG Bo – Netherlands, Hong Kong | 2023 – 37 minutes | Korean Premiere
This film is about haunting memories of Asia’s late 20th century modernization. The story departs from a 1965 United States embargo on the hair trade, known as the ‘Communist Hair Ban’. In every wig resides a ghost from the imperial past. (DMZ Docs 2023)

Burial of This Order by Jane Jin KAISEN – Denmark, Korea | 2023 – 26 minutes | Korean Premiere
In an abandoned resort on the South Korean island of Jeju, a group of non-conforming people – from musicians, artists and poets to anti-military activists, environmentalists and diasporic, queer and trans people come together at an abandoned resort in Jeju Island to perform a symbolic funeral ritual to end a world built on hierarchies, division and destruction. Time and place begin to lose their stability and the group, in a revolutionary moment, overthrows and dismantles the prevailing order. (DMZ Docs 2023)

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My Body My Proof by YU Hyemin – Korea | 2023 – 21 minutes | World Premiere
An article is shared in an online community suggesting the use of **’s sanitary pads when traveling due to a perceived reduction in menstrual flow. KWEN conducts an investigation into volatile organic compounds(VOCs) found in menstrual pads, which can potentially affect women’s health. Subsequently, a legal notice arrives from the court stating that the menstrual pad manufacturer has filed a compensation lawsuit against KWEN seeking 1 billion won in damages. (DMZ Docs 2023)

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My First Funeral by LEE Eunhye – Korea | 2023 – 38 minutes | World Premiere
Being a lesbian in Korea is hard. Marriage, a happy future, or even one’s own death seem far away. So this unique woman makes an unconventional choice – she arranges her first funeral! This act challenges Korea’s patriarchal funeral norms and paves the way for me to face death on my own terms. (DMZ Docs 2023)

Sea of Transition by JANG Hyun – Korea | 2022 – 11 minutes | World Premiere
Ulsan is a well-known industrial city in Korea. Ulsan’s rise to metropolitan status was closely linked to its development as an industrial center. In its pre-industrial days, Ulsan was primarily defined by its expansive sea. Before its industrial transformation, the people of Ulsan lived by harvesting marine resources from the sea. Over time, this practice has continued, and the people of Ulsan continue to engage with the sea. The film aimed to capture the events that have unfolded over time in the waters of Ulsan. (DMZ Docs 2023)

The Shooters by YANG Jihoon – Korea | 2022 – 31 minutes | World Premiere
Ji-hoon comes across an article that reveals that his grandfather, Seo-ok, was a victim of the “Jeju Uprising.” Intrigued, he grabs his camera and pays an impromptu visit to Seo-ok. Though initially reluctant to talk, Seo-ok gradually opens up and shares parts of the story that Ji-hoon is eager to hear. One evening, under the influence of alcohol, Seo-ok accidentally reveals that he was also part of a punitive force during the Jeju Uprising. (DMZ Docs 2023)

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The Stinging Foot by JANG Juyeong – Korea | 2023 – 21 minutes | World Premiere
Where is a child destined to go? If the whole world revolves around the child’s direction, how brave must his steps be? (DMZ Docs 2023)

The Time of Walking in the Forest Path by KIM Dana – Korea | 2023 – 12 minutes | World Premiere
The memories of the mother are enshrined along the forest path of Gyeongui Line, which is in front of her house. With each daily walk along this path, her mind returns to the precious moments she spent with her mother. (DMZ Docs 2023)

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Their Own Ways by PARK Seoeun, KIM Siyeon – Korea | 2022 – 36 minutes | World Premiere
This documentary delves into Mara, Jeju, and Chagwi Island, showing encounters with people and objects. It intricately depicts the journey of transplanting deceased tree roots from Mara Island to the Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art. Throughout the film, it encourages contemplation on themes such as the intimidating allure of the ocean, the lure of solitude, and the reverberations of isolation. These roots, washed ashore by a typhoon, resided on Mara Island for nine years before finding their place in the museum. The film deftly captures the passage of time, the change of place, and the moments of isolation. (DMZ Docs 2023)

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Tito by Kervens JIMENEZ – Haiti | 2023 – 15 minutes | Korean Premiere
The 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince Haiti gave way for the escape of all prisoners of the National Penitentiary. Most were rearrested by 2011, including Kervens “Tito” Jimenez, originally imprisoned at the age of 17 for an unfounded crime. In this undercover, self-shot, and cerebral diary, we see the inner workings of the prison from Tito’s perspective. An intimate and ominously beautiful memoir, in honor of the late Tito who was ultimately murdered at the age of 25. 

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For more information, please visit: https://dmzdocs.com/eng/