Korea Short Drama Awards Launches Inaugural Event Highlighting Vertical Content on the Big Screen
The inaugural Korea Short Drama Awards kicks off its opening ceremony on August 29 at the Korea Film Archive in Sangam-dong, Seoul, according to event organizers. The ceremony highlights the shift of mobile-first vertical dramas onto traditional cinema screens. Director Lee Jun-ik’s short drama project opens the festival’s screening program, introducing a new viewing experience for serialized mobile content.
According to event organizers, the opening screening follows the project’s recent appearance at the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Festival (BIFAN). At BIFAN, the platform showcase section presented vertical format titles on theatrical screens to industry-wide attention. The Korea Short Drama Awards aims to build on that momentum by spotlighting emerging creators and innovative storytelling models across digital platforms.
Father’s Housemeal Adapts Webtoon Roots for Vertical Screens
Director Lee Jun-ik’s opening selection adapts webtoon creator Gorita’s published series of the same name. The narrative follows Ha-eung, played by Jung Jin-young, who cooks his first family breakfast after his wife Soon-ae, played by Lee Jung-eun, falls ill. Ha-eung has never missed a morning meal in decades, relying entirely on his wife’s labor until her collapse forces him to confront domestic routines.
The ensemble cast features Byun Yo-han as the couple’s observant son and Park Ji-yeon as their daughter-in-law. According to production notes from Lezhin Snack, director Lee preserved the webtoon’s focus on food and familial intimacy while refining the pacing for vertical framing. “I wanted to capture the warmth of everyday life that we often take for granted,” Lee stated regarding the vertical format’s visual depth.
Competition Finalists and Festival Schedule Details
Co-hosted by Cineplay and the Korea Film Archive, the awards initiative drew nearly 200 submissions following its open call in May, backed by a 20 million won prize pool. A five-member judging panel—comprising director Min Kyu-dong, Korea Film Archive head Mo Eun-young, Yeondu Company representative Han Jeong-su, MCA Creative director Kim Won-jin, and actor Lee Yeon—evaluated entries ranging from live-action to AI-generated cinema and animation.
The 12 official competition finalists include projects directed by Kim Min-jung, Park Kyung-min, Shim Hyung-jun, Yang Ho-seok, Eom Se-hyun, Lee Saet-byeol, Lee Yu-jin, Lee Ju-seung, Jang Ji-won, Jung Sung-bin, and Han Su-ji.
The August 29 event is structured into two distinct ticketed blocks. Part one begins at 13:00 with the screening of the opening project followed by a live conversation with director Lee Jun-ik, moderated by film journalist Lee Hwa-jung. Part two starts at 17:00, featuring the main awards ceremony for categories including New Creator, AI Short Drama, Excellence, Acting, and the Grand Prize. Online ticket reservations open through the Korea Film Archive website.
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