The Only One Earth Film Festival, Korea's first film festival dedicated to the climate crisis, will be held at its largest scale ever this year. More than 2,700 works from 148 countries around the world were submitted, in what observers see as a sign of growing international interest in the climate crisis and the festival's rising status.
According to the Only One Earth Film Festival organizing committee on Wednesday, a total of 2,764 works from 148 countries were submitted for the fifth edition of the festival, to be held at the Busan Cinema Center from September 3 to 7. That is an increase of 461 works, or 20.0%, from 2,303 works from 138 countries last year, and the largest number of submissions since the competition section was created in 2023.
This year, works across diverse genres including feature films, short films and animation were received from countries around the world, spanning Asia as well as Europe, North and South America, Africa and Oceania.
The themes of the submissions have also deepened, according to the committee. Rather than simply exposing the severity of the climate crisis, there was a sharp increase in works highlighting the social costs and sacrifices behind climate crisis responses such as renewable energy and green industries.
"There were many works capturing the point that someone's life is being sacrificed to sustain a lifestyle packaged as 'eco-friendly,' such as renewable energy," said Jang Young-ja, the head programmer. "The efforts of creators to expand the sense of problem so that we view the climate crisis more fundamentally were impressive."
The 17 works from 10 countries that passed the preliminary screening to reach the competition section will meet audiences during the festival.
"The increase in submissions shows that the festival is establishing itself as an international platform that captures the diverse perspectives of people around the world on the climate crisis and sustainability," said Jin Jae-woon, the festival's executive committee chairman. "We will create a festival that expands the climate discourse."
The official screening lineup and detailed programs for the fifth Only One Earth Film Festival will be announced in stages.
