Seoul turns film center into permanent base camp for young directors

Seoul is betting on student directors to secure the future of its cultural exports. By transforming the Seoul Film Center into a permanent base camp equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) training tools, free workspaces and a massive 23-university film network, municipal authorities are launching a major initiative to institutionalize the independent film sector. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday a major expansion of the Seoul Film Center, positioning the newly opened facility as a permanent, fully subsidized base camp for the next generation of filmmakers. To anchor this strategy, the city will host the Film House Film Project 2026 Film Festival from Friday to Sunday, a collaborative showcase bringing together student creators from 23 universities across the nation. Operating under the slogan “Beyond the Frame: Reconstructing Romance,” the three-day event bridges the gap between raw student enthusiasm and the commercial film market. Instead of relying on isolated student showcases, the festival links student directors from major institutions — including Y