[Edaily Reporter YUN GI BACK ] Domestic short films are expanding their opportunities to reach international audiences through online video services (OTT). Whereas short films were previously distributed primarily through film festivals, a new pathway is now emerging where they secure an audience via global OTT platforms and even advance to international film festivals. It is also noteworthy that works by emerging directors can lead to further creative projects rather than ending with a one-time screening.

According to Netflix on the 22nd, five award-winning films from the 22nd Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival were screened as part of a special program at the “1st New York Korean Independent Film Festival,” which has been taking place at the Korean Cultural Center in New York since the 15th. At this festival, which runs through the 25th, Netflix collaborated with the Korean Cultural Center in New York and the Korea Creative Content Agency’s New York Center to organize a special section introducing works by emerging Korean filmmakers to local audiences.
The films screened included “Aunt Sun-hee” (directed by Wi Eun-kyung and Son Gwang-min), “Missed Shot” (directed by Kang Seong-jun), “Vietnam Bodhisattva” (directed by Kim Geun-ho), “Noise Canceling” (directed by Choi Ji-hye), and “Carrying a Letter” (directed by Park Jeong-su), for a total of five titles. Following the screenings, the directors participated in Q&A sessions with the audience to personally share the production process and the stories behind their films.
What makes this event particularly noteworthy is that the works of emerging Korean directors have expanded beyond their OTT releases to include in-person engagements with international audiences. Netflix has been streaming award-winning films from the Mise-en-Scène Short Film Festival for two consecutive years since last year. This year, in addition to serving as the festival’s main sponsor, Netflix supported a special screening in New York, thereby broadening the distribution channels for Korean short films.
The results are already evident. Jang Young-yeop, Operations Director of the Mise-en-Scène Short Film Festival, stated at the event, “We have confirmed that collaboration with global OTT platforms can expand the reach of short films and create synergy with in-person screenings.” He added, “Since our collaboration with Netflix, we’ve attracted not only existing short film enthusiasts but also new audiences, and during the festival, we achieved a 97% seat occupancy rate at offline theaters.”
Creators are also experiencing significant changes. Director Son Gwang-min of *Aunt Sun-hee* said, “I’ve heard so many times from industry professionals that they discovered my work through Netflix, and I’ve been able to receive feedback from various perspectives.” He noted that while his previous short film received only 15 comments, *Aunt Sun-hee* garnered over 1,000. This is an example demonstrating that audience accessibility—long considered a chronic limitation of short films—can be improved through global platforms.
Director Kim Geun-ho of *Moon Nam Bosal* also said, “Personally, the happiest thing is being able to meet more fans through my films,” adding, “I’ve even started dreaming of one day presenting a Netflix series or a feature-length film.”
This trend aligns with the growing effort by global OTT platforms to actively recruit emerging creators. Netflix revealed that over 1,000 people participate annually in the Production Academy it operates in partnership with the Korea Creative Content Agency. It also noted that one out of every three Korean original works released over the past three years was created by a new director or creator.
It is worth noting that support for short films carries significance beyond mere cultural sponsorship. The process of releasing a new director’s work and gauging audience reaction can serve as an opportunity to discover new stories and production capabilities. For creators, it provides a platform to showcase their work, while for the platform, it creates a point of contact to meet new talent with whom to collaborate in the long term.
However, the release and international screening of short films do not automatically lead to feature-length productions or follow-up investments. It is crucial to establish a structure that connects production opportunities, investment, and distribution so that emerging creators can continue to produce work. Netflix stated, “We will go beyond simply discovering raw talent to provide opportunities for great stories to reach more fans and engage with the industry,” adding, “We will enable emerging creators to showcase their unique works and expand their reach to a global audience.”