[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] The independent film screenings hosted by actor Yoo Ji-tae are expanding nationwide.

Yoo Ji-tae has been hosting the “Watching Independent Films with Yoo Ji-tae” event for 14 years, since 2012. At the screening to be held at 3:00 p.m. on the 18th at Gwangju Theater, the documentary “So-young’s Efforts” will be shown, followed by a Q&A session with actor Yoo Ji-tae, director Oh Jae-hyung, and cast members Kim So-young and Jeong Hee-jeong.
Prior to the event, actor Yoo Ji-tae and the Korea Art House Cinema Association plan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and announce the launch of a collaborative project connecting independent films with art house cinemas.
“Watching Independent Films with Yoo Ji-tae” is an independent film screening project personally planned and sponsored by actor Yoo Ji-tae. Whenever he finishes work on a commercial film or TV series, he selects an independent film, invites 100 audience members, and has been connecting independent films with audiences through screenings and post-screening Q&A sessions.
In particular, this 30th screening marks the official launch of a nationwide art house cinema tour project in collaboration with the Korea Art House Cinema Association. The project will tour regional art house cinemas to introduce upcoming local films and filmmakers to audiences. The Korea Art House Cinema Association will support the initiative by coordinating with participating theaters and assisting with the screening schedule and post-screening Q&A sessions, ensuring that “Watching Independent Films with Yoo Ji-tae” reaches audiences nationwide.
Yoo Ji-tae was awarded the “Kang Soo-yeon Award” at last year’s 26th Women Filmmakers Festival in recognition of his contributions to connecting independent films with audiences through “Watching Independent Films with Yoo Ji-tae.” In his acceptance speech at the time, he stated, “I will work even harder to support these theaters, as this award is a call to preserve them.” This collaboration holds added significance as it extends that commitment to art house theaters nationwide.

“So-young’s Efforts,” which opens on the 22nd, is a documentary by director Oh Jae-hyung, a native of Gwangju. It was selected as the first film to be screened as part of this tour project, in line with its mission to introduce local filmmakers. This film, which captures the journey of So-young—a person with a disability—as she communicates with the world through dance and expresses her life, has been recognized for its artistic merit, winning the Art Award at the 16th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in 2024, the Feature Film Audience Award at the 16th Gwangju Women’s Film Festival in 2025, and the Best Jury Special Award at the 8th Seoul Dance Film Festival.
General admission for “Watching Independent Films with Yoo Ji-tae” is available through online and on-site ticket sales at Gwangju Theater.
Yoo Ji-tae delivered a powerful performance as Han Myeong-hoe in the film *The Man Living with the King* (directed by Jang Hang-jun), which was released last February. *The Man Living with the King* surpassed 10 million cumulative viewers within a month of its release. With *The Man Living with the King*, Yoo Ji-tae joined the ranks of actors with 10 million viewers—a milestone he achieved 28 years after his debut.