Students at the University of Seoul (UOS) have witnessed various events on the campus. Major events, such as academic seminars, are organized mainly by the faculty and staff. However, there are events for which students must take responsibility. In November 2021, there will be an event each prepared by the students from the College of Public Affairs and Economics and the Department of Urban Sociology.
The students from the College of Public Affairs and Economics were invited to participate in the Debate Battle beginning October 15. The topics of the upcoming debate competition are “Is truth a complete defense to defamation?” and “Should the members of the National Assembly keep their qualifications as members of the cabinet?” These topics relate to law and politics, and reflect the host college’s discipline. The event is open to teams of two, with at least one student mandatorily from the College of Public Affairs and Economics.
The 24th annual Urban Film Festival (UFF), the event organized by the students of the Department of Urban Sociology, will take place from November 4 to 6, 2021. UFF is a cultural festival dedicated to expressing one’s views about the city through videos. Although the event is hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the students are responsible for the entire planning and management. UFF will be held at the Centennial Memorial Hall, the Birch Hall, and the Natural Science Building. On the second day of the festival, at 6 p.m., a screening session outside the campus is planned at Café Kkotgalpi. The following is an interview with Choi Da-yoon (Dept. of Urban Sociology ’18), and the Head of Siseondri, the UFF planning team.
Q. What is the theme of the coming UFF?
A. The theme of this year’s UFF is “Urban Dialogue,” which literally translates as “the story of the city.” The theme was chosen at the first Siseondri meeting. We selected the one that best reflects the current state of society from the various ideas proposed by 21 members. Most of the film festivals this year have picked a theme in relation to “continuance” in the pandemic. UFF has also taken on the responsibility of continuing despite the COVID-19 distress and connected it to our theme. “Urban Dialogue” embodies the desire to embrace all the stories of urban dwellers. Furthermore, we intend to demonstrate the human connection notwithstanding COVID-19 through films and festivals.
Q. Can you tell us the schedule of UFF in detail?
A. After the opening ceremony on the first day, the main events will commence on the second day. This year, 25 film competition and 17 films non-competition are shown to the audience. Numerous events, in addition to the screenplay session will be available. Academic lectures on films and guest visit sessions with directors and actors will also take place. Many exciting events will be held throughout the second and third days of the UFF, and booths will be set up in front of the main auditorium to give out UFF goods.
Q. How can the students participate in UFF?
A. Every program at UFF is free and open to everyone. All students are welcome to watch the carefully selected films and participate in various event sessions. You can also partake in a special program that teaches you how to make videos, offers you equipment on rent, and provides you with a variety of other resources and support to help you make films. Furthermore, if your work is highly valued, you may be awarded prize money. Although the recruitment of participants for this year’s program has ended, you can apply for the next year in June!
Q. Please tell us the precautions prepared regarding COVID-19.
A. First, the planning team members who will serve as event staff will get fully vaccinated before the event starts. We set each theatre’s capacity in accordance with the current social distancing policy. Furthermore, we have planned to monitor the temperature, sanitize hands, and record the entrance at every door. We have also planned to sanitize and ventilate the venue after every screening session.
Q. Are there any tips for those who want to participate in UFF?
A. The first piece of advice I would give is “Make sure to book in advance.” Booking can be made on our website (https://uff.modoo.at/) from October 20 to November 1, 2021. The capacity of each theater is limited, and offline ticketing was unavailable last year because the tickets were sold out before the event. You have nothing to worry about if you book the tickets in advance. In addition, the participants who book early may be eligible to win UFF goods or sponsored products. This year, we have a lot more sponsors, and we have a variety of goods that are both attractive and useful. The second tip is to keep the Birch Hall screenplay in mind. Last year, we installed bean bag chairs in the Birch Hall theater. The use of comfortable bean bag chairs in place of hard wooden chairs has significantly increased the audience's satisfaction. We will decorate Birch Hall to create a warm ambiance in harmony with the UFF, so please visit us and create special memories.
As mentioned earlier, students meticulously plan events. These events usually reflect the subjects that students study, and also include interesting activities to ensure that the event is a success. However, due to COVID-19, the participation was lower at the last year's events. Therefore, in order for such events to “go on” successfully and promote student culture, the care and support of the students are indispensable.
