We continue with our list of recommended short films from the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, which will take place from July 4 – 14, 2024, in Bucheon, Korea.

To see the first part of this article please go HERE

Pollock by You Isu – Korea | 2024 – 29 minutes

The pollock drying site where Yeong Hwa works and the apartment construction site where his son Seok Hun works are bustling. As the protagonist learns of the disappearance of Jin-chul, the son of her colleague Ok-soon, she becomes increasingly suspicious of her son Seok Hun the more she tries to help Ok-soon. Featuring strong actors like KANG Ae-sim, BYUN Junghee, and KIM Beom Su, the film showcases stylish cinematography with intense close-ups and characters’ backs, demonstrating a refined sense of what to reveal and what to withhold. It’s a movie with a striking final blow! (HYUNG Seulwoo)

Sound of the Divine Bell by Hwang Ji-eun – Korea | 2024 – 29 minutes | World Premiere

Susanna is about to become a nun in three days, and she finds herself sharing a room with an older nun, Teresa. This situation leaves her feeling confused and uncertain about whether she can successfully go through with the profession rite. The movie doesn’t rely on common genre tropes like jump scares or direct gimmicks. Instead, it progresses through subtle metaphors and an atmospheric tone. At the heart of the film is actress OH Woori, whose presence embodies the genre and whose performance is profoundly impactful. (HYUNG Seulwoo)

Trailer:

Suzuki by Ahn Jung-min – Korea | 2024 – 24 minutes | World Premiere

In 2009, during the summer break when the Jisan Valley Rock Festival was held for the first time, Blur announced their reunion, and Oasis declared their breakup. For Su-min, a middle school student living in the countryside, Suzuki, who had introduced her to a wider world, suddenly disappeared. Su-min’s journey to find Suzuki is a coming-of-age film filled with the nostalgia of the 2000s that makes your heart race from the opening scene. (Isabelle Hyejin PARK)

The Perpetrator by Kim Hye-jin – Korea | 2024 – 27 minutes | World Premiere

When the perpetrator is a family member, the family that should be angrier than me, and forgiving the perpetrator is also family. From the moment the family’s secret is revealed, the tension surpasses any horror or thriller movie. Actress JUNG Mihyeong skillfully captures the complex psychology of the victim. The best-ever ending and title, it’s perfect! (HYUNG Seulwoo)

The Wanderers by Moon Hae Jun – Korea | 2024 – 23 minutes | World Premiere

Inyeob returns to her long-abandoned hometown to find her mother, who suddenly stopped contacting her. As she arrives at the distant island, rumors about a missing girl spread. Inyeob discovers a bloodied girl in her mother’s wardrobe. The islanders are hostile towards Inyeob. Inyeob searches for clues to her mother’s disappearance on the mysterious and isolated island. And she forms a bond with the girl who holds those clues. (Isabelle Hyejin PARK)

Town: Nokbeon-dong by Kim Phile-su – Korea | 2024 – 34 minutes | World Premiere

On the day of move-in cleaning, Jeonghye’s husband disappears and the mood of the cleaners becomes increasingly strange. An uncomfortable dynamic forms between the new residents who have moved into the neighborhood and the hired cleaners. The horror that slowly builds in these relationships is eerie in that it’s not just a nightmare, but a cold reality. (HA Myungmi)

TRAP by Oh Eun-young – Korea | 2024 – 16 minutes | World Premiere

Taxi driver Young Ho picks up Min Jung and heads towards the reservoir. Both the destination and Min Jung are mysterious. This is a confined-space psychological thriller gradually uncovering the past of the two characters, featuring a meticulously crafted plot and clever direction. The clash between a man transitioning from a somber face to a cold demeanor and a woman shifting from a cold appearance to a boiling expression creates a gripping narrative. The genre’s elements make it quite intriguing. (HYUNG Seulwoo)

Unexpected Passenger by Hsia Jui-chien – Taiwan | 2023 – 11 minutes | Korean Premiere

On a rainy, eerie late night, a taxi driver picks up a passenger. The moment the identity of the passenger is revealed, the horror genre collapses instantly. The passenger is none other than his daughter, now a ghost. He drives and chats with her as usual. They don’t talk for long, but soon, just as she appeared, his daughter disappears again. The longing between a parent and child cannot be divided by the realms of the living and the dead. An associated screening with the Taipei Film Commission. (Kani KIM)

Trailer:

Unseen by Shin Zi-in – Korea | 2024 – 26 minutes | World Premiere

Ki-yeon, A-ra, Seon-ju, and Ji-an have been friends since their school days. For Seon-ju’s bridal shower party, Ki-yeon, A-ra, and Seon-ju gather, and Ji-an arrives late, sharing a story about a woman she met at a retreat. When the secrets hidden deep in their hearts, or perhaps their guilt, materialize, who is there to witness them? (MO Eun-young) Goedam Short Film Production Support 2023

Trailer:

When Mushroom Blooms by Lee Jongseo – Korea | 2024 – 22 minutes | World Premiere

Nine-year-old Hyunseo witnesses the disappearance of the elderly neighbor who always stayed in the same place, only to find a stranger burying something in the apartment garden. Soon, a foul smell emanates from the garden. Movies are excellent mediums for preserving memories. They capture the air and sounds of irretrievable time. A graceful film that allows contemplation without forcing emotions through intense characters or storylines! (HYUNG Seulwoo)

To see the first part of this article please go HERE

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