Plastic Girls at Cinequest 2018
PLASTIC GIRLS is the final film in my Korea-based trilogy exploring space and architecture. I made the film while living and working in Seoul, where everyday environments continue to shape how I think about images and stories. In 2018, the film was selected for the Short Film Competition at the CINEQUEST & VR FESTIVAL in San Jose, California.
Cinequest & VR Festival Selection
PLASTIC GIRLS screened at the 28th CINEQUEST & VR FESTIVAL, which took place from February 27 to March 11, 2018, in Silicon Valley. The festival selected the film from more than 1,700 submissions representing over 120 countries. Cinequest has built a strong reputation for supporting independent voices and new forms of storytelling, which made this selection especially meaningful to me.
About Plastic Girls
Plastic Girls follows mannequins commonly found in Korean public space. These figures become stand-ins for larger questions around gender, visibility, and the commercialization of bodies. Rather than judging or accusing, the film observes. It uses distance and subtlety to invite reflection on how public space is shaped and who it is shaped for.
The Film Trilogy
Plastic Girls completes a trilogy that began with BIKINI WORDS and continued with LAST LETTERS. All three films engage with space and architecture, but each approaches its subject differently. While the earlier films focus on language and memory, Plastic Girls turns toward gender and representation through a quieter, more abstract lens.
Behind the Film
I spoke in more detail about the ideas behind Plastic Girls in an interview with DIRECTORS NOTES. The conversation touches on the film’s audio-visual approach and my interest in blending documentary and fiction. That balance has become central to how I work, especially when dealing with sensitive topics.Extended Information
Screening Times at Cinequest
Plastic Girls screened multiple times during the festival at the 3 Below Theaters & Lounge in San Jose and at Century 20 Redwood City. CINEQUEST provided a generous platform for the film to reach diverse audiences across several screenings.
Sat, Mar 3, 12:25 PM at 3 Below Theaters & Lounge (formerly Camera 3 Cinemas) – 288 S 2nd St, San Jose, CA 95113
Mon, Mar 5 8:15 PM at Century 20 Redwood City (Screen 10) – 1627, 825 Middlefield Rd, Redwood City, CA 94063
Sat, Mar 10 10:00 AM at 3 Below Theaters & Lounge (formerly Camera 3 Cinemas) – 288 S 2nd St, San Jose, CA 95113
Sun, Mar 11 10:45 AM at Century 20 Redwood City (Screen 11) – 1627, 825 Middlefield Rd, Redwood City, CA 94063
Observations from Seoul
Living in Seoul since 2005 has made questions around gender and public space hard to ignore. Plastic Girls grew out of these observations. Although the film is rooted in Korea, the issues it raises extend far beyond one place. The aim was always to open a wider conversation rather than frame a local critique.
Closing Thoughts
I’m grateful that Plastic Girls found a place at Cinequest 2018. Festivals like this create space for slower, observational films to exist alongside more traditional narratives. For me, Plastic Girls marks both the end of a trilogy and the beginning of new questions about how we see people, space, and each other.
