Inaugural CJ & TIFF K-Story Fund Selects Promising Filmmakers for Development Program

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced the selection of eight up-and-coming filmmakers for the inaugural CJ & TIFF K-Story Fund, a program designed to support the development of first or second feature films.

Among the participants are writer-directors Junsung Kim with ‘California Rolls’, Justin Kim WooSŏk with ‘Dances With Cranes’, Michelle K Cho with ‘First Day Of Spring‘, Helen Lee with ‘Go-Stop GO’, Lloyd Lee Choi with ‘Prodigy’, Arom Choi with ‘Soledad And Faith’, Thomas Percy Kim with ‘The Untitled Busan Project’, and Joanne Mony Park with ‘The Windiest Day’.

Selected through a competitive process, these filmmakers will engage in a comprehensive four-month story development program where they will receive guidance and support from industry experts at CJ ENM.

As part of the program, three mentees will be awarded C$10,000 each to aid in the advancement of their feature projects, giving them the financial backing needed to bring their creative visions to life.

The CJ & TIFF K-Story Fund, a joint initiative between TIFF, CJ Cultural Foundation, and the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), aims to foster diverse storytelling and provide a platform for emerging voices in the film industry.

TIFF’s Chief Programming Officer Anita Lee expressed the festival’s commitment to showcasing talent from around the world and emphasized the importance of mentorship in nurturing projects that resonate with global audiences.