The 8th Yecheon International Smartphone Film Festival kicks off on the 9th. Finalist entries will be screened for free at the Megabox Gyeongbuk Provincial Office Branch through the 11th.

Gyeongsangbuk-do and Yecheon-gun will hold the opening ceremony at 7 PM on the 10th at the Provincial Office New Town Family Park. Around 1,000 people, including film industry figures and visitors, are expected to attend.

Launched in 2019, the Yecheon International Smartphone Film Festival is South Korea's only international smartphone film festival. Anyone can create and submit a work as long as they have a smartphone.

This year's festival recorded its largest scale ever, with 1,317 entries submitted from 87 countries worldwide. A large number of works were also submitted to the 'short-form' category, which was newly established last year.

The official opening film is 'Moebius'. It depicts a coming-of-age story in which a young delivery rider meets an experienced mechanic and a female racer who recognize his sincerity, communicating with them and stepping forward onto a new starting line in life.

At the opening ceremony, Chief Judge Kang Dae-gyu will announce the review evaluation. Following this, awards will be presented to 26 films, including four best actor/actress awards, and special awards will be given to 5 individuals each in the student and general divisions. Awards for the senior division and short-form category will also be held together.

A 'fleamarket' offering sights and foods to enjoy will be operated at the venue. Singer Lee Jae-hoon from Cool, Delight, and Epictrevers will stage celebratory performances, and a lucky draw event has also been prepared.

Park Chan-woo, Director-General of Culture, Tourism and Sports at Gyeongsangbuk-do, said, "This Yecheon International Smartphone Film Festival will serve as a meaningful venue where creators from around the world share borderless cultural communication through just a smartphone." He added, "We will support provincial residents to enjoy culture in their daily lives and ensure that the region's original video content secures global competitiveness."

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