Seoul Independent Film Festival (SIFF) held its opening ceremony with the screening of the opening film at the CGV Apgujung on December 1st. The festival will continue until December 9th. The opening ceremony was hosted by actor KWON Hae-hyo and broadcaster RYOO Si-hyun, who have been emceeing the event for 13 years.

The opening film is Ash Flower, the last work of PARK Suk-young’s “Flower Trilogy”. Director PARK made his debut with Wild Flowers (2015) and received the Grand Prize and Independent Star Award (JEONG Ha-dam) for Steel Flower from the last year’s SIFF. Ash Flower depicts a girl who goes to search her family, starring JEONG Ha-dam of his previous movie, Steel Flower. 

The 114 films will be screened in five theaters, the largest in scale ever, including CGV ARTHOUSE in Apgujung, INDIE SPACE and Seoul Art Cinema. Awards are given in the following categories: the Grand Prize, Best Film Prize, Excellent Work Prize, Jury Prize (two films), Independent Film Star Prize, and the Passionate Staff Member Prize. In addition, New Choice Prize and New Perspective Prize are awarded among films screened in the New Choice section, while the Strong Will Prize and Audiences’ Choice Prize (two films) are endowed as the special award format.