Yoo Ji-tae holds a screening of the independent film 'So-young's Effort' in Gwangju

Actor Yoo Ji-tae's 14-Year Pilgrimage: This Time, Shining a Light on the Life of a Dancer with Cerebral Palsy in Gwangju

The independent film support project 'Watching Independent Films with Yoo Ji-tae,' which actor Yoo Ji-tae has been continuing for 14 years since 2012, is taking its 30th step. Gwangju Cinema announced that it has selected Director Oh Jae-hyung's documentary as the screening for this project on the 18th at 3 PM. This screening series is a project that Yoo Ji-tae has personally planned and sponsored whenever he completes his activities in commercial films or series. Every time he finishes a project, he selects an independent film and invites 100 audience members, continuing a pilgrimage that connects art cinemas nationwide.

In line with the project's purpose of introducing regional filmmakers, this 30th screening will feature the work of Director Oh Jae-hyung, who is from Gwangju. Immediately after the screening, a Guest Visit (GV) will be held with Yoo Ji-tae, Director Oh Jae-hyung, and the film's protagonists Kim So-young and Jeong Hee-jeong. Beyond a simple film viewing, it is expected to be a time where creators, actors, and the audience share records of life in one place.

The film is a 72-minute feature-length documentary that captures the process of So-young, a dancer with cerebral palsy, silently building her life while communicating with the world through dance. So-young's image of sweating profusely in the practice room every day to show a performance without regrets on stage is no different from any other dancer. As the title suggests, the film focuses on 'effort,' the core driving force that sustains So-young's life. Ahead of its official release on the 22nd, the work has already been recognized for its value by critics. It has proven its artistic quality by sweeping awards such as the Arts Award at the 16th DMZ International Documentary Festival, the Feature Film Audience Award at the 16th Gwangju Women's Film Festival, and the Best Jury Special Award at the 8th Seoul Dance Film Festival.

The World of Director Oh Jae-hyung with a Unique Perspective, Establishing Itself as a Documentary Asset

Director Oh Jae-hyung, who directed the work, is evaluated as a figure with a unique color in the Korean independent documentary scene. From the short film , which records a trip to Moscow, Russia, taken with his mother, to , released in 2023, he has built his own unique way of communicating with the world through the camera. While some say his way of expression reaches places others do not, there is no disagreement that his individuality is a precious asset to the Korean documentary scene.

Gwangju Cinema, where this screening is held, meets local audiences by introducing various independent art films in addition to . On the 16th, it will screen the animal rights documentary , which contains the 13-year record of five women who turned seemingly impossible things into reality. On the 21st, a Guest Visit featuring director Park Yi-yoon-jeong and ecology/climate crisis activist Son Eo-jin is also scheduled, suggesting that the cinematic vitality of the Gwangju region will continue.

Yoo Ji-tae's project is becoming an important channel to reveal the presence of independent films hidden behind the glamour of commercial films. This pilgrimage, which has continued without stopping for a long time of 14 years, acts as a force that supports the diversity of the Korean film ecosystem by connecting regional art cinemas and independent filmmakers. The screening held in Gwangju on the 18th also lies within this flow of connection.

Screening and Release Schedule

The documentary will be officially released on the 22nd. As part of this project, Gwangju Cinema will screen the film on the 18th at 3 PM.

Previously, Gwangju Cinema will screen the animal rights documentary on the 16th and hold a Guest Visit featuring Director Park Yi-yoon-jeong and activist Son Eo-jin on the 21st.