Olleh International Smartphone Film Festival is hosting its third edition, with celebrated local filmmaker Bong Joon-ho as this year’s jury chief.

The festival, which was first established in 2011 by KT Corp., is an annual film competition where participants produce 10-minute shorts solely by using their smartphones. The first edition received a total of 470 smartphone-made films, many from amateur and teen filmmakers, and selected five for prizes.

This year, there are a total of three competition sections: local moviemakers, international contestants, and teen filmmakers. 

The number of prizes has been also increased, from the first edition’s five to 11, including the grand prize, best picture, best acting, best director and the audience choice award.

The grand prize winner will be given 10 million won ($9,200) in prize money, as well as a new smartphone. The best picture winner will be awarded 5 million won, while the best directing and acting winners will each be given 3 million won and 2 million won, respectively.

This year’s opener is a film created by children living on remote islands in the country, including Marado Island, an island 8 kilometers off the south coast of Jeju, south of the peninsula. They made the film using smartphones under the guidance of filmmaker Bong Man-dae.

Actress Yoo In-young and pop singer Narsha, from group Brown Eyed Girls, participated as students in the festival’s “mentor-school” program, where they made shorts with the help of filmmakers Kang Dong-heon and Lee Moo-young. Filmmaker Kang won third place for his short “Love in Basket” at the first Olleh festival back in 2011.

This year’s jury members include directors Yoon Jong-seok, Lee Moo-young and Im Pil-seong, and film critic Jason Bechervais.

“The message that we want to spread with this festival is to have a dream,” said filmmaker Lee Jun-ik, the director of this year’s festival.

“This festival is open to anyone as long as they have ideas and an imagination.”

The 3rd Olleh International Smartphone Film Festival runs from April 17 to 20. The venue for the event will be announced at a later time. Those who wish to participate can submit their works online from Feb. 1 to 28. For more information, visit www.ollehfilmfestival.com.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)