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27th Jeonju International Film Festival Opens Call for Entries for 2026

  • By Hood Mahadi
  • Dec 1, 2025
  • 3 min read

The Jeonju International Film Festival (JEONJU IFF) in Korea has officially opened its call for entries for the upcoming edition, seeking submissions until the deadline of January 19, 2026.


The JEONJU IFF is dedicated to promoting a spirit of independence and rigorous experimentalism within cinema. The festival actively seeks to discover new aesthetic and technological frontiers for the contemporary moving image, enthusiastically introducing audiences to progressive trends and the forward-looking directors who shape modern film culture. The organizers aim to foster a rich and diverse film culture while contributing significantly to the sustained growth of Korean cinema.


Festival Programming and Submission Categories

The festival is structured into competitive and non-competitive sections, each designed to highlight distinct forms of cinematic excellence:


Competitive Sections:

  • International Competition: This category is reserved for emerging directors, accepting only their first or second feature-length films. To be eligible for this section, the film must guarantee at least an Asian Premiere status, an International Premiere, or a World Premiere during the festival's designated period, and must have been completed after January 2025. A notable exception to the Asian Premiere rule applies to submissions from Asian countries that have not been screened outside their home country. Furthermore, all co-directors must adhere to the rule that the film is their first or second feature.

  • Korean Competition: This section features the first or second feature-length films from emerging Korean filmmakers that offer critical perspectives on contemporary Korean society.

  • Korean Competition for Shorts: This segment is dedicated exclusively to showcasing short films that demonstrate aesthetic challenges and innovative expression.


Non-Competitive Sections (Showcases):

  • JEONJU Cinema Project (JCP): This program highlights feature-length films that have been financed and produced by the JEONJU IFF itself.

  • Frontline: A curation of imaginative and unique films that provoke innovative arguments and raise important societal questions.

  • World Cinema: This section introduces audiences to the year’s most significant fiction films and documentaries that represent current global filmmaking trends.

  • Masters: A distinguished showcase dedicated to influential and highly celebrated directors.

  • Korean Cinema: This section aims to reflect the current trends within Korean filmmaking through new works by Korean directors or films that achieve a singular artistic perfection.

  • Expanded Cinema: Dedicated to the latest trends in experimental films that employ an original and innovative cinematic language.

  • Cinema Fest: A collection of films that successfully balance popular appeal with artistic merit, intended for viewing by various generations.

  • Midnight Cinema: A selection of films characterized by individualistic styles, often featuring strong genre elements, radical imagination, clear subject consciousness, and free-spirited expression.

  • Cinephile JEONJU: A section that introduces restored films and historical works that prompt deeper reflection on the nature and history of cinema itself.

  • Special Focus (Special Program or Retrospective): A special, annually projected program focusing on a specific artist, country, or subject.

  • J Special: Programmer of the Year: A unique section curated by invited guest programmers who bring their own distinct cinematic perspectives to the festival.


Submission Guidelines

The festival accepts all genres—including documentary, fiction, experimental, and animation—across both short and feature formats.


  • Length Requirements: The festival accepts only Korean short films (under 40 minutes) and feature films exceeding 40 minutes in length (applicable to both Korean and Non-Korean films).

  • Premiere Status (International Competition): As noted, films must guarantee Asian, International, or World Premiere status, and must have been completed after January 2025.

  • Exclusions: Films that have been released on SVOD, VOD, DVD, or Blu-ray are ineligible for any official JEONJU IFF section. Graduation or private screenings are the exceptions to this rule.

  • Technical Requirements: If the original language of the film is not English, the preview screener must contain embedded English subtitles.

  • Process: International submissions can be made via FilmFreeway or FestHome. The submission is considered complete only after the entry form is finalized and the online screening link for previewing the film has been successfully uploaded.

  • Fees and Dates: A submission fee of $30 USD is required. The notification date for selected films is scheduled for March 31, 2026.


Filmmakers and producers are strongly advised to review the full Rules & Regulations available on the festival's official website for comprehensive details.

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