The 18^th Seoul Eco Film Festival Official Poster  

Poster and Film Still of the Opening Film, Who We Were

(Top: from left) I am Greta and Watson 

(Bottom: from left) 66 Metres, The Future of Flight, and At War with the Dinosaurs 

<ECOvolution : The 18^th Seoul Eco Film Festival Starts Off on June 3”>

The Seoul Eco Film Festival (“SEFF”) starts off its 18th edition this year with the slogan “ECOvolution,” a combination of the word “eco” for the ecosystem and ecology, and the word “(r)evolution” for social changes. Going through the pandemic sparking unprecedented challenges and an all-stop pause of the world, a variety of films in the 18th edition shares the message that a large-scale environmental action is immediately needed. Marc Bauder’s Who We Were was selected as the Opening Film to set the tone for this year's message. Six renowned contemporary thinkers and scientists make their diagnosis on the current state of the world in Who We Were and test the possibility and hope for changes. Alexander Gerst (astronaut), Matthieu Ricard (molecular biologist, monk), Felwin Sarr (economist, sociologist), and Janina Loh (philosopher) explore outer space, the ocean, a Tibetan monastery, and the Fukushima region affected by nuclear contamination. The movie follows their perspectives and experiences as they visit these sites and attend international summits to examine the relationship between climate change and the world economy. Doeun Seo, programmer of SEFF, says “seeing human history in the context of massive crisis” was the main reason the movie was chosen as the opening film. The festival will show along with the opening film a total of 64 films from 25 countries. The lineup for this year’s festival offers a diverse range of environmental films, including movies about how one person can create a world-changing ripple effect (I am Greta, Watson), a film analyzing the rise of sea level (66 Metres), and documentaries about a new alternative energy source (At War with the Dinosaurs, The Future of Flight). 

As film titles of the 18th edition has been crafted about not only human efforts and analysis of solutions against the climate change, but also critical views of civilizations, food justice, the ecosystem and animal rights, the festival offers its much-anticipated lineup of films in a hybrid format combining online and in-person. 55 of the 65 films are available on Digital Cinema at the SEFF website for the audiences in Korean territory, and 16 in-theatre screenings will take place at MEGABOX Seongsu following strict COVID-19 prevention protocols. This year, partnered with MBC, some films will be also featured on the MBC channel. Visit the SEFF website and social media channel for more details.

The 18th SEFF is already creating a buzz with its Opening Film and featured films, which will become available online and in-person from Thursday of June 3rd to Wednesday the 9th, as well as on MBC. Festival-goers can also access the “No More Plastic” event to be held at Under Stand Avenue in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, Korea, which will feature a series of partnered events including fashion shows, a marketplace, and educational activities from June 4th to 6th.