Here are my thoughts on “Phototherapy” by CHOO Kyeong-yeob, screened during the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), which took place from July 2 – 12, 2026, in Bucheon, South Korea.

Phototherapy by CHOO Kyeong-yeob – Korea | 2026 – 15 minutes | World Premiere
Section: Fantastic Shorts 7

As the cherry blossoms fade, so does the romance between Min-gi and Hwi. Left with nothing but heartbreak, Min-gi uses his photographs to confront the painful ghost of their past, ultimately learning how to cherish a love that has already ended.

Phototherapy is probably one of the most wholesome shorts in the “Fantastic Shorts” section. The film features actors Kim Min-gi (True Beauty, Racket Boys, and Our Beautiful Summer) and Shin Se-hwi (Sweet Stranger and Me, Solomon’s Perjury, and 20th Century Boy and Girl), and both feel like a perfect match for this sweet and emotional story.

With a simple love story that could easily be part of a Netflix romance series, this colorful and visually striking short film manages to create genuine emotions in just a few minutes. Although it was produced as an official brand collaboration with Canon Korea to showcase the EOS R6 V camera, Phototherapy never feels like a mere advertisement. Its non-linear structure gives the story an additional emotional layer, allowing the film to explore love, loss, and hope in a more thoughtful way. The film works because of its charming narrative, beautiful cinematography, and the natural performances of its two leads. What is most impressive is how the director manages to tell a complete story within such a short runtime, creating several truly heartwarming moments along the way.

The good news is that the entire film, along with behind-the-scenes footage and the OST music video, is available on the Canon Korea YouTube Channel, allowing more viewers to discover this lovely short film.

Full Short (No English Subs)