These are ten short films you shouldn’t miss at the Busan International Film Festival which will take place from October 4 – 13, 2023 in Busan, Korea.

21 Weeks Later by Nasrin Mohammadpour – Iran | 2023 – 14 minutes | World Premiere
At twenty-one weeks pregnant, a woman decides to have an abortion— which is both legally and religiously forbidden—despite her husband’s objections. She travels to different parts of the city to secretly bury the baby she miscarries, but she cannot find a safe place. (PARK Sungho | Busan2023)

Trailer:

Basri & Salma in a Never-Ending Comedy by Khozy Rizal – Indonesia |2023 – 15 minutes
Basri and Salma have been married for five years. Together, they run a small amusement ride for children. Their peaceful daily routines begin to reveal small cracks in their façade of happiness, which, in turn, reveals the true reason they do not have children of their own. (PARK Sungho | Busan2023)

Trailer:

Christmas in Summer by Lee Gahong – Korea | 2023 – 30 minutes | World Premiere
Soon to be married, Eun-su heads to Gangneung to see her long-lost father. The old seaside town has changed dramatically from the one in her childhood memories. Exhausted from the sweltering heat of August, Eun-su gets into a taxi. The compelling direction that evokes certain emotions and ambience and the nuanced performances of the actors creates this heartfelt journey through time. (KANG Sowon | Busan2023)

Trailer:

Fisher Boy by Nam Dong-hyun – Korea | 2023 – 25 minutes | World Premiere
In sweltering heat, a boy comes home from school and looks for water. Only his bedridden grandfather is home; his mother isn’t, and there is no water. After drinking up his grandfather’s water, the boy heads out to fill the water bottle. Through unaffected performance and concise directing, the journey of a boy with a two-liter bottle unfolds like a daydream. (KANG Sowon | Busan2023)

Trailer:

Home by Lee Hyebin – Korea | 2023 – 23 minutes | World Premiere
Fifteen-year-old So-min is upset that her family has to move after her father’s business flops. Her family arrives at their new home, but even before their possessions are unloaded, So-min and her younger brother head to their old home. This poignant tale of children having to part with something is beautifully captured within the minimalist framework. (KANG Sowon | Busan2023)

Trailer:

Lamb Lamb Lamb by Song Dongxu – China | 2023 – 14 minutes | World Premiere
In the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, a young couple secretly enjoys a date. The man is eager to spend one last good night with his girlfriend, who is about to leave for a city to find a job, but reality flows in an unexpected direction. (PARK Sungho | Busan2023)

Trailer:

MYDEAR by Jeon Dohee, Kim Sohee – Korea | 2023 – 25 minutes | World Premiere
In 2027, Ga-eul, a hearing-impaired college student, learns about the app MYDEAR and becomes immersed in conversations with an AI presence. The app’s features easily help her overcome her disability, and the AI is affectionate and considerate, like a boyfriend. Director Jeon Dohee’s performance, woven into the film’s steady rhythm, amplifies the audiences’ sense of empathy. (KANG Sowon | Busan2023)

Trailer:

The Rootless Bloom by Rein Maychaelson – Indonesia | 2022 – 15 minutes | World Premiere
Frustrated by their parents’ impending divorce, two sisters escape their oppressive home environment and spend time alone to reminisce about their childhood. The choice between mom staying in the city and dad returning to their hometown is not an easy one. (PARK Sungho | Busan2023)

Trailer:

Three Questions That Lead to Love by Eun-grace Ko – Korea | 2023 – 15 minutes | World Premiere
Two strangers have an argument in an empty field in the early morning. When the argument escalates, the two are sent to the First-Encounter Dispute Resolution Committee, where they are asked three questions. Seesawing between clichés and unpredictability, this marvelous drama is brimming with an unfamiliar yet exhilarating energy. (KANG Sowon | Busan2023)

Trailer:

Vania on Lima Street by BayuPrihantoro Filemon – Indonesia | 2022 – 24 minutes
Vania lives in a large Chinese medicine store. She wants to be helpful to adults but is too young. On a quiet night, she finds an injured thief running away from mobs. She invites the fugitive into the store and begins to treat her secretly. (PARK Sungho | Busan2023)

Trailer:

For more information, please visit: https://www.biff.kr/eng