JESA

Directed By Jee Hoon Seo

USA, South Korea | Narrative | 13 min

World Premiere

JIN YOUNG, 10, a Korean American boy who lives in the States with his mom and brother, strives to reconnect with his estranged dad and his relatives when they visit to perform the annual Korean ancestral rite called Jesa. As Jin pays respects to his ancestors and learns about his Korean roots, his older brother TAE YOUNG, 18, grows frustrated at the so-called tradition that subjugates women, particularly his mom, to the kitchen. As tensions boil over, Jin finds out that his mother has made the ultimate sacrifice—staying in a loveless marriage with her chatting father—in order to preserve his innocence and sense of family.

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    Film Details

    1. Korean, English

    2. English

    3. World Premiere

    4. 2024

    5. 13 minutes

    6. Coming-of-Age, Drama, Family

    7. Narrative

    8. USA, South Korea

      9. Jee Hoon Seo


      "Jee Hoon Seo is a Korean filmmaker from Seoul and based in NYC. Having grown up in Boston and served in the Korean army, his films cater to both a Korean and an American audience. He’s a 2024 HRTS Foundation Fellowship Program finalist and a Top 50 Writer in ISA’s Fast Track Program. His previous works have screened at the Micheaux Film Festival and the DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon. His next projects include a feature rom-com script about a Korean NYU soccer team, a TV pilot on Korean surfing instructors on a dating reality show, and a feature adaptation of a Korean history novel."

      10. Kailynne Lee Chiu

        Anna Pettersson

      11. Jee Hoon Seo

      12. Esther Moon

        Sung Chul Choi

        Romo Lee

        Hee Sunwoo

      13. Mariko Takai

        Tadashi Mitsui

        Youlim Nam

        Jude Kim

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