News

The feature film Cruel Optimism (잔인한 낙관), produced by the Art & Technology Lab (AT Lab) at the Korea National University of Arts (K-ARTS, President Pyun Jang-wan), has been officially invited to the Korean Competition section of the 27th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF).

                                                                                                                         Poster of the 27th Jeonju International Film Festival

The ‘Korean Competition’ is a cornerstone of JIFF, dedicated to discovering and introducing independent and art-house films that offer bold and original perspectives to a global audience.

■ Tech-Driven Storytelling: From Virtual Production to the Big Screen

Cruel Optimism originated as a winning project of the 2024 contest co-hosted by K-ARTS and NATIVE (CEO Seong-wook Kim), a leader in Virtual Production. The film was realized through an industry-academic collaborative project course.

Directed by Shin Mok-ya, a graduate student in the Department of Broadcasting & Image at the K-ARTS School of Visual Arts, the film provides an intimate look at a rising artist’s preparations for a solo exhibition. With a sharp and delicate lens, Shin captures the complex desires and tensions of the various figures orbiting the art world.

                                                                                                                                                ⟪Cruel Optimism⟫ Steel Cut

■ A Milestone in Convergent Arts Education

Professor Seung-moo Lee, Director of AT Lab, commented on the invitation: "This selection at JIFF is the fruitful result of merging Virtual Production technology—a medium students rarely access—with deep artistic contemplation. AT Lab will continue to fully support innovative creative challenges where art and technology meet."

■ AT Lab: A Global Hub for Innovative Creation

The producer of the film, K-ARTS AT Lab, is a premier creative research institute leading the way in immersive media, including VR, immersive theatre, and advanced cinematic technologies. Its portfolio includes:

Global Recognition: Awards and invitations from Sundance, Cannes, Tribeca, and Venice (8 PM and the Cat).

Industrial Leadership: Executing the ‘Global Culture Technology (CT) Talent Development Project’ supported by the Ministry of Culture and KOCCA, leading R&D in AI-driven storytelling.

The 27th Jeonju International Film Festival is scheduled to take place from April 29 (Wed) to May 8 (Fri), 2026, across the Jeonju Film Street and the Jeonju area.