Highlighting the Global Competitiveness of Korean Short Cinema

Three Korean films have been selected for the competition sections of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, often called "the Cannes of short films." The 48th edition of the festival runs from January 30 to February 7 in Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Park Hae-oh's "Broken Dawn" and Baek So-hye's "Mogwa" have been selected for the International Competition, while Lee Se-eun's animation "Boundary" will compete in the Lab (Experimental) Competition. This year's International Competition features 64 films from the UK, France, Belgium, the Philippines, Singapore, and beyond.

Established in 1979, the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival is considered one of the world's top three short film festivals, alongside Germany's Oberhausen and Finland's Tampere. It presents 144 competition titles annually and serves as a qualifying platform for the Academy Awards, BAFTA, European Film Awards, and César Awards.

"Broken Dawn" follows Young-ok, a woman in her 60s working as a designated driver during late-night hours. She has returned to the driver's seat to endure the loneliness of old age, but what greets her are rude remarks and uncomfortable silences. Director Park employs restrained direction to delicately portray labor, dignity, and the weight of silence, leaving a profound impression within its 16-minute runtime. The film stars Kang Ae-shim, who captivated global audiences as Player 149 Jang Geum-ja in Netflix's "Squid Game" Season 2.

Director Park previously worked as production supervisor on "Space Sweepers" and appeared as an actor in "Seeds of Violence." "Broken Dawn" is his directorial debut and has earned recognition in Korea, including the Grand Prix at the Seoul International Extreme-Short Image & Film Festival and the Bronze Award and Audience Award at the Unica Korea International Film Festival. Lead actress Kang Ae-shim is a veteran performer with over 100 credits across 40 years since her 1986 debut. Her recent work includes "Squid Game" Seasons 2 and 3, "Wonderland" (2024), and "Concrete Utopia" (2023).

"Mogwa" portrays the lives of Su-geon (Park Jong-hwan), an aspiring poet, and Hui-ji (Oh Ji-hu), an unknown actress, as they navigate life as lovers and middle-aged "aspirants." "Boundary" is an animation depicting a bus journey that takes an unexpected turn when a seat is reclined to its maximum.

Significance and Outlook

The simultaneous selection of three Korean films at Clermont-Ferrand demonstrates the growing international competitiveness of Korean short films. Notably, all three works translate specific issues in Korean society—the daily life of an elderly worker, the struggles of middle-aged artistic aspirants, everyday boundaries and discomfort—into universal cinematic language.

For "Broken Dawn," it is noteworthy that lead actress Kang was invited to a major international festival for artistic merit immediately after gaining global recognition through a hit series. This exemplifies how Korean actors are increasingly pursuing both commercial success and artistic achievement. Additionally, the fact that all three films are either directed by women or center on female narratives carries significance in terms of diversity.

Beyond screenings, Clermont-Ferrand operates the Short Film Market where global film industry professionals gather, and award-winning works often lead to international distribution and feature film opportunities. It will be worth watching how these three films are received and what doors open next for their directors.

Sources

• Hankook Ilbo, “Exclusive: Kang Ae-shim’s Broken Dawn Selected for the Clermont-Ferrand Competition,” 2026.01.02

https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/A2026010209220005594

• KMDb (Korean Movie Database) Film Details: 'Broken Dawn' Accessed: 2026.01.02

https://www.kmdb.or.kr/db/kor/detail/movie/K/40117

• KMDb (Korean Movie Database) Filmography: Park Hae-oh Accessed: 2026.01.02

https://www.kmdb.or.kr/db/per/00232552/filmo

• KMDb (Korean Movie Database) Filmography: Kang Ae-shim Accessed: 2026.01.02

https://www.kmdb.or.kr/db/per/00045293

• Cineuropa "Clermont-Ferrand announces its 2026 programme", 2025.12.08

https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/486845/

• News21,“Three Korean Short Films Selected for the Competition at France’s Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, the ‘Cannes of Short Films’.”, 2026.01.05

http://www.krnews21.co.kr/news/354025