Kicking Toward Tomorrow!
Produced as the Grand Prize Winner
of the 2025 Busan International Short Film Festival(BISFF) Short Project
A recreational soccer team run by a small Christian church — David and Goliath FC. For the team’s star player, Dongchan, soccer isn’t just a hobby — it’s his entire life. Fueled by an unrelenting desire to win, Dongchan throws himself into rough challenges and risky tackles without hesitation.
Each time he charges across the field, the referee’s whistle pierces the air again and again, and the opposing team rarely escapes without injuries. Unable to stand by any longer, team captain Jeonghwan decides it’s time to take action.
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Hanjung LEEKey Cast"GU Dongchan"
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Woojin YANGKey Cast"KIM Jeonghwan"
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Jungyull LEEKey Cast"HWANG Yeongbae Pastor"
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Chanyong PARKKey Cast"YANG Yunbin"
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Yunbin ANDirector
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Woojin YANGWriter
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Yunbin ANWriter
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Kanghwan SHINProducer
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Yeonyi NAMGUNGAssistant Director
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Doohyun MINDirector of Photography
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Chaehyun KIMProduction Designer
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Jiyeoung CHOISound Supervisor
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Seungwoo RYUEditor
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Yeonjin CHOIVFX Supervisor
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Jaejun LEELine Producer
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Chanyong PARKTalent Assistant Director
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Jaewon MOONGaffer
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Myeonghyeon PILArt Director
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Jeongmi GUMakeup Artist
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Jiin LIMMakeup Artist
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Daehyeon PARKSpecial Makeup Effects
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Riwoo YOOSpecial Makeup Effects
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Kangho KIMProduction Sound Mixer
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Sunghoon JEONGDigital Intermediate Colorist
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Project Title (Original Language):내일을 향해 차라!
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Project Type:Short, Student
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Genres:Drama, Comedy, Coming-of-age, Youth, sports
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Runtime:30 minutes
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Completion Date:April 6, 2025
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Production Budget:7,000 USD
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Country of Origin:South Korea
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Country of Filming:South Korea
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Language:Korean
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:2.39:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:Yes - seoil university, Department of Film, Television and Performing Arts
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Digital Cinema Package:Unavailable
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42nd Busan International Short Film FestivalBusan
South Korea
April 25, 2025
World premiere
Grand Prize Selection of the '2025 BISFF Short Film Project' -
3rd GyeongJu Hwarang Youth Short Flim FestivalGyeongJu
South Korea
June 7, 2025 -
12th Incheon Independent Film FestivalIncheon
South Korea
August 9, 2025 -
28th Urban Film FestivalSeoul
South Korea
October 1, 2025 -
2nd Seoul Whislter Film FestivalSeoul
South Korea
October 25, 2025
Best Narrative Short -
13th Jagran Film FestivalMumbai
India
November 14, 2025
India premiere -
15th Sogang Youth Film FestivalSeoul
South Korea
November 25, 2025
AN Yunbin is a film director based in South Korea, born in 2000.
He began his filmmaking career with <The Unusual TV Wiki: Searching for Eccentrics in the Country!> (2021), which was selected for the BIFAN 2020 Goedam Short Films Production Support program. The film premiered at the 25th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, and he later participated in the 2022 NAFF Fantastic Film School as a mentee.
His second short film, <Kicking Toward Tomorrow!> (2025), was produced through the 2025 BISFF Short Film Project and premiered at the 42nd Busan International Short Film Festival.
His third short film, <August 32nd> (2025), is an AI-based short film produced through the Fantastic Film School: SF AI Anthology Film Course at the 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. The film received the Hypatia Silver Award (Special Jury Prize) at the 12th Alexandria Short Film Festival and was screened at various film festivals worldwide.
<Night Shift> (2026), his fourth short film, will premiere at the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.
<Kicking Toward Tomorrow!> is a story about youth caught in a quiet kind of despair. It reflects their anxiety about the future, the repeated setbacks in job hunting, and the emotional toll of broken relationships. While youth is often associated with passion and challenge, for many young people today, words like helplessness, isolation, and structural exclusion seem more accurate.
That’s why I approached this film with the thought that a lighthearted, romantic sports comedy might ironically expose the harsh realities that today’s youth face.