Bikini Words at the Sedicicorto International Film Festival

In October 2017, BIKINI WORDS screened at the 14th Sedicicorto International Film Festival in Italy. The film looks at the language that emerged among South Korean factory workers during the rapid industrialization of the 1970s and 1980s. I’m grateful to share this work in a festival setting that values experimentation and personal storytelling.

About the Sedicicorto Film Festival

Founded in 2004, the Sedicicorto International Film Festival focuses on short films from around the world. The festival creates space for experimental and unconventional work. BIKINI WORDS screened in the Experia section, which brings together films that explore form, language, and structure in different ways.

Language and Industrial Change in Korea

BIKINI WORDS focuses on a vocabulary that developed during Korea’s industrial growth. These words helped factory workers describe new forms of labor, housing, and daily life. Set in Geumcheon, Seoul, the film connects language with space and shows how words reflect social change.

How the Project Began

The project started with an invitation from Geumcheon District Office. I worked closely with Design Studio Kerb and Urban Intensity Architects as part of a larger exhibition on the district’s development. The film draws from the G-index, a collection of words used by workers at the time. I selected a small number of terms, including “Bikini Closet,” to build the narrative.

Filming and Trust Building

Filming in Geumcheon came with challenges. Many former factory workers felt hesitant at first. Building trust took time and patience. I wanted to move away from familiar clichés and listen carefully to their experiences. Even when small setbacks happened, the process stayed focused and grounded.

Space, Absence, and Meaning

I chose to film empty spaces rather than people. This absence allows viewers to imagine the past on their own terms. The stripped locations reflect a period of transition and uncertainty. The title Bikini Words points to this sense of exposure and change, both in language and in lived space.

Screening Details at Sedicicorto

BIKINI WORDS screened out of competition in the Experia section alongside works by Werner Biedermann, Tim Weimann, Eileen Byrne, and Benjamin Bardou. The screening took place at Biblioteca Aurelio Saffi in Forlì on Wednesday, October 11th at 5 pm.

I appreciate the opportunity to present the film in this context and to continue the conversation around language, labor, and memory.