Theatre Alumnus Jin Misong Wins Second Prize in La Cinef Section at Cannes Film Festival

Jin Misong, an alumnus of the Department of Theatre (Class of 2016), has won the Second Prize in the La Cinef section at the 79th Cannes Film Festival for the short film Silent Voices. La Cinef is the Cannes Film Festival’s official competition section dedicated to showcasing short and mid-length films made by students at film schools around the world. This year, 19 films from 15 countries were selected from a total of 2,750 submissions.

In an interview held on May 21 (local time) at the La Cinef Lounge inside the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, Jin reflected on the achievement.

“For directors invited to La Cinef, the ultimate goal is to make their first feature film,” Jin said. “Being invited and receiving this award will become both a major source of motivation and a valuable opportunity for my future work.”

Silent Voices is a 17-minute short film that follows a day in the life of a Korean immigrant family of four living in New York City. Through the stories of a father who left his parents behind in Korea, a mother who abandoned her dreams, and two daughters grappling with their own anxieties and uncertainties, the film delicately portrays the loneliness and emotional fractures experienced by immigrant families.

Explaining the inspiration behind the project, Jin said, “After moving from Korea to New York, I often experienced subtle feelings of distance and moments of intimidation in everyday life. Since New York is home to so many immigrants, I realized there were many people who shared similar emotions, and I wanted to express those experiences through film.”

Jin is currently pursuing an MFA in Film at Columbia University and plans to prepare a new project in Korea after completing the graduate program.

“I want to continue telling stories about my generation,” Jin said. “Although many young people today have grown up in relatively comfortable environments, they often feel lost and uncertain about their direction in life. I hope to portray those experiences honestly through my films.”