STARTLINE, 5min, South Korea, Animation/Drama
Directed by Ryu Sihyun
In the dreams of Joe, a teenage girl who is sad that she was eliminated in the track and field event, her difficult beginnings strangely happen. In her dreams, she goes through the struggles of adolescence: exams, nagging parents, first love, appearance stress, friends drifting away, pressure from people around her, and a drop in her self-confidence. She does, but as she faces herself, she eventually realizes that the difficulties she goes through because she started and that there are things she can do because she started.

https://www.instagram.com/ryusun0130/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
-At the time I planning this film, I was going through the onset of puberty and had a lot of emotional changes.
It was difficult because it was the beginning, but I thought I wanted to make a work that would sincerely capture that feeling.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
-I started envision this film when I was 14. And It finally finished at the beginning of this year which I turned 16!

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
-I would describe by film with 'start' and 'overcome'

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
-I was really struggling with making 'good directing' . It was hard to express Joe's feelings in an animatic way.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
-I got so impressed and touched by their reactions. This was my first time receiving a reaction to my film. It was one of my memorable moments!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
-When I was 14!

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
-I think I've seen the movie 'Soul' over 7 times! It's absolutely my favorite film.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
-This festival motivates the passion to make better films in the future. What a great festival!

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
-It was my first time using it so it was difficult, but I found it very useful.

10. What is your favorite meal?
-Banana oatmeal cookies with latte! It's makes me happy all the time:)

11. What is next for you? A new film?
-I have a dream of becoming an animation director someday. And also, I have a dream of making animations that make people happy, so I am thinking of making a short animation about a 'happiness'!