The fifth edition of the One World, One Flower International Buddhist Film Festival wrapped up Saturday evening at Jogye Temple in central Seoul, drawing hundreds of attendees to the outdoor screening of the closing film "Mungyeong: More than Roads" at the plaza of Daeungjeon Hall. The week-long festival, which ran from August 23 through Saturday, showcased films centered on Buddhism while exploring fundamental questions about life, humanity, and universal truths.
Operating under the theme "Silence in Light," this year's festival attracted an impressive 1,637 film submissions from 111 countries worldwide. After going through preliminary and main screening rounds, 20 short films representing 16 different countries made it to the final competition stage. The international scope of the submissions demonstrated the growing global interest in Buddhist-themed cinema and spiritual storytelling.
This year's festival placed special emphasis on introducing Korean Buddhist practices to a broader international audience through various immersive experiences. Festival organizers offered temple food experiences that allowed visitors to learn about and sample traditional Buddhist cuisine, providing insight into the spiritual significance of mindful eating. Additionally, templestay programs gave participants an authentic taste of monastic life and meditation practices, while yoga meditation sessions were designed to cultivate mindfulness and create connections between body and mind through Buddhist-inspired techniques.
"I hope that watching Buddhist-themed films has offered a chance to share the Buddha's wisdom, compassion and moments of healing and inspiration. We look forward to welcoming you again next year with an even more enriching selection of Buddhist films," said Jung Won-ju during the closing ceremony. Jung serves as president of the Lay Buddhist Association of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and chairman of both Daewoo EC and Herald Media Group.
The festival opened with "The Monk and the Gun," directed by acclaimed Bhutanese filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji, which masterfully blends traditional Bhutanese culture with contemporary values. Set during the early days of democracy in Bhutan, the film follows a monk as he navigates the complex tensions between sacred and secular life, and between worldly power and spiritual practice. Through its unique combination of humor, meditation, and deep reflection, the movie delivers powerful messages about how the Buddha's silence carries more strength than weapons and how true democracy must spring from the human heart.
The closing film, "Mungyeong: More than Roads," was directed by Korean filmmaker Shin Dong-il and takes place in the scenic city of Mungyeong in North Gyeongsang Province. The film centers on the main character, Mun-gyeong, as she undertakes a transformative journey aimed at healing from past emotional wounds. As she encounters new people and visits peaceful temples throughout her travels, the movie invites viewers to explore core Buddhist themes including self-reflection, reconciliation, and the ongoing pursuit of inner peace.
Reflecting on this year's festival, director Shin described the event as "particularly meaningful" because it successfully brought together the spiritual essence of Buddhism with the powerful storytelling medium of cinema to create genuine human connections. He emphasized how the combination of these two elements created a unique platform for sharing wisdom and fostering understanding across cultural boundaries.
"The Buddhist film festival will continue to grow as a global platform, spreading the values of peace and compassion through films that transcend regional and generational boundaries," Shin stated, highlighting the festival's mission to use cinema as a vehicle for promoting Buddhist values and universal human understanding on an international scale.
