Seoul Metro International Subway Film Festival (서울교통공사 국제지하철영화제)

Seoul Metro International Subway Film Festival

서울교통공사 국제지하철영화제

Also known as: SMIFF, Seoul Metro International Film Festival
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The Seoul Metro International Subway Film Festival (SMIFF) turns subway journeys into screenings of very short films designed to communicate without sound. Its programme presents international and Korean competitions alongside a special competition focused on safe public transport. Films reach passengers through train monitors and station screens as well as an online cinema. The festival dates back to 2010 and is co-organised by Seoul Metro and the Seoul International Extreme-Short Image & Film Festival. Its international links include Barcelona’s Subtravelling festival.

The 17th edition runs from 24 September to 23 October 2026 in Seoul’s subway network and online. Its international programme includes animation, fiction and documentary films, while guest programmes introduce work from Barcelona’s Subtravelling and Copenhagen’s 60Seconds festivals.

Country

South Korea

Categories

Animation, Documentary, Short

Awards and prizes

2026 prizes: International Competition — Grand Award, KRW 2 million and a trophy. Korean Competition — Grand Award, KRW 3 million and a trophy; Best Award and Audience Award, KRW 1 million and a trophy each. Safe Transit Culture Special Competition — Grand Award, KRW 2 million and a trophy; Best Award, KRW 1 million and a trophy. International and Korean Grand/Best awards use online audience voting; the Korean Audience Award uses on-site voting. Safe Transit Culture awards combine a special jury assessment and online audience voting equally. Award details may change.

Festival rules

2026 entry requirements: films must be suitable for public screening and understandable without sound or dialogue. The running time limit is 210 seconds, excluding end credits. There is no restriction on production year. International and Korean competitions accept any subject and genre. The Safe Transit Culture Special Competition covers subway safety, public transport etiquette, public order and awareness of passenger safety; entries may also enter the international or Korean competition. Submissions use FilmFreeway. A preview with non-English dialogue requires English subtitles and must be the same version as the screening file.

Contacts

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