The 2nd annual KWebFest delighted and amazed attendees this year at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Centre in Seoul, South Korea. Featuring over 100 web series from Korea and around the globe, the event program saw screenings, panels, speeches and workshops in abundance.
The festival official selection included high production quality web series, with A list actors/actresses such as Data Darancharas, Sandra Park, Kim Jeong Hoon, Sista Bora, AOA Mina and Seolhyun, Neoz boys, and a dozen K-pop stars gracing screens.
Festival founder Young Man Kang says that the new media of web series will soon join Korean culture next to entertainment and Kpop.
“Whilst web series is still new in Korea, the market is rapidly growing.” says Young Man Kang, founder and director of KWebFest.
“The Korean lifestyle and culture has completely changed from a family gathering to that of an individual lifestyle; young people don’t watch TV, they’re watching a smartphone with a TV dinner alone.
On the other side, however, amateur and student creators are now also making web series to show their story to tell to audiences. Through KWebFest they’re starting to reach out and be recognised in a global audience.”
The international web series event boasted 27 awards across different categories, in which Daniel James Tenni, producer, writer and actor of Australian web series Greenfield, went along for the experience.
“Just being in Korea was absolutely mind blowing. It’s the first time I’ve been in Asia and it’s so promising that they are looking to build this giant platform that will bring content creators not only in Asia but all over the world from every country.
It’s building a community that could potentially, once large enough, bring back some revenue for us poor content creators, which is super exciting because it means we get to keep creating and sharing our content with the world. I don’t want to jinx it, but I really think this could be a game changer.”
Tenni, who took home the award for Best Australian Drama at this year’s Melbourne WebFest, saw his hard work rewarded once again at KWebFest.
“It was humbling to get a gong for both best actor and best supporting actor and to be acknowledged for another craft of mine that I’m extremely passionate about, a nice little boost to keep going.
We wear so many hats these days in this new wave of up and coming creators so it’s nice to acknowledge that we aren’t just producers or writers or actors, a lot of us actually share and balance many of these roles together.”
Webfest founders from around the world traveled to Seoul for the festival, including our very own festival Director Steinar Ellingsen and LA WebFest Director, Machael Ajakwe Jr. As well as a notable influx in the number of overseas creators and actors attended the event this year, says Kang.
“Though international in scope, KWebfest retains a distinct Asian/Korean sensibility that effortlessly pulls you in,” says Ajakwe Jr.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the festival. It was fun, the shows were excellent (especially the Korean web series that I checked out) and the festival itself was very culturally enriching.
After it was over, a group of about 20 of us stuck around for an extra two days and were taken to the ancient city of Damyang, which is over 1000 years old and we received a wonderful crash course in Korean culture and customs. It was fabulous,” says Ajakwe Jr.
“The digital wave is here,” says Greenfield’s Tenni.
“It’s time to start paddling so we can surf this thing, catch some awesome barrels and ride it all the way to the shore, then we can have a break in the sun and sip on some mojitos while we contemplate our next ride.”
Source:KwebFest
Earlybird Submissions for KWebFest 2017 are now open!
The festival will be held in May 2017. Be part of KWebFest’s 3rd anniversary and submit now @ https://filmfreeway.com/festival/Kwebfest