ABOUT THE FILM
Seoul Switch is a whimsical, fun-loving short film that explores Asian American identity like you’ve never seen before.
It’s The Prince and the Pauper set in modern-day Korea but written through a smart, comedic, satirical lens. Historically, the switch trope hasn’t been known for its elevated themes or nuanced characters but this movie pushes the envelope, tackling class, race, and privilege while playing inside this fun premise.
Photo by: Matt Infante
executive producer margaret cho
Comedian. Actor. Musician. Advocate. Entrepreneur. Five-time Grammy and Emmy nominee. Margaret Cho’s strong voice has been lighting the path for other women, other members of underrepresented groups, and other performers to follow. Her recent television appearances – guest star on Season 2 of The Flight Attendant (HBO Max), guest star on Season 2 of Hacks (HBO Max) and two Netflix is a Joke comedy specials: Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration and Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin: Ladies Night Live – have expanded an already wide-ranging career, and her role as the ‘mother hen’ in the well-reviewed movie Fire Island solidifies why we all love Margaret in the first place. As a comedian, Margaret has been named one of Rolling Stone magazine’s 50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time, one of Vogue magazine’s Top 9 Female Comedians of all time, while CNN chose her as one of the 50 People Who Changed American Comedy.
STARRING KEVIN WOO
Most recognized as the main vocalist in the K-Pop group U-KISS, Kevin was born in California and moved to Seoul when he was 15. Woo debuted, recorded chart-topping abums, and toured the world from 2008 to 2017. Since then, Woo has since been pursuing solo music and acting, recently making his Broadway debut in KPOP: The Musical (2022). He most recently booked a major role on eight-time Grammy winner Anderson .Paak’s upcoming film, K-Pops!
Photo by: Matt Infante
FOLLOW SEOUL SWITCH
Film Festival Run
3/9 - DisOrient Film Festival - WINNER - Best Narrative Short
4/3 - Korean International Short Film Festival - NOMINEE - Best Actor
4/3 - Incheon International Short Film Fest - WINNER - Best Short Film
4/21 - Hollywood Shortsfest - WINNER - Best Actor & Best Editing
6/7 - Short Shorts Asia - Academy Award Qualifying
6/12 - Bentonville Film Festival - Curated by Geena Davis
7/18 - New York Asian Film Festival - Lincoln Center
8/3 - Asian American International Film Festival - Regal Union Square
8/8 - Greenpoint Film Festival - ELM Foundation
8/31 - RiverBend Festival - Goshen Theater - WINNER - Next Gen Auteur Award
9/17 - Brillia Short Shorts - Brillia Short Shorts Theater Japan
10/11 - Hawaii International Film Festival - Academy Award Qualifying
10/13 - LA Asian Film Festival - Let Live Theater
10/18 - Proof of Concept Film Festival - American Cinematheque
10/19 - Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival - Sunnyvale AMC Theaters
10/19 - Boston Asian Film Festival - Emmerson College - WINNER - Audience Award for Best Narrative Short
10/19 - Lowell Asian American Film Festival - Middlesex Community College
11/2 - 88 Rising’s Night Market - Guess Jeans Campus - Los Angeles
11/8 - Cannes Indie Short Awards - Olympia Cinema de Cannes
11/12 -Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival - Asian Arts Initiative
11/16 - UNICA Korea International Film Festival - CGV Gyeongsan
Photo by: Matt InfanteHelp our team cover festival entry fees, travel, lodging, social media, marketing and more.
Read all about Seoul Switch in the news!
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LIANN KAYE
WRITER/DIRECTOR
Seoul Switch examines the minority experience through a cross-cultural lens. It also looks at K-pop through the female gaze, which is not about objectifying men, but making the audience feel what women experience, in this case, in response to Asian men. As a filmmaker who cut my teeth on music videos, I have the style and polish to create epic musical set pieces, the technical knowledge of motion control and the narrative chops to coax the humanity out of my characters, no matter what language or nationality. As the editor and VFX artist of the short, I composited all the takes myself.
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KEVIN WOO
LEAD ACTOR / ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
“As a former idol, I’ve read numerous KPOP screenplays over the years, none of which truly resonated with my experiences in the industry. Seoul Switch is a masterclass deep-dive into the KPOP world, written with razor-sharp wit and remarkable attention to detail. Liann clearly did her research. As a Korean American, I deeply resonate with these themes of grappling with Eastern vs. Western views on artistry, identity, and masculinity.”
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NICOLE PALERMO
PRODUCER
Nicole Palermo is a NY-based Producer in both the narrative and documentary worlds. She primarily partners with Imagine Documentaries, where she has worked on the much anticipated Disney+ feature JIM HENSON IDEA MAN directed by Ron Howard, Peacock's STORMY, Apple TV+’s THE SUPER MODELS, and Bryce Dallas Howard's PETS.
Nicole is currently the Co-Producer on TENDER THOUGHTS written and directed by Anndi Jinelle Liggett as part of Indeed’s Rising Voices Program in co-production with Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad. Tender Thoughts will have its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2024.
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CHARLENE KAYE
SCORE & POP SONGS
As former frontwoman of the critically acclaimed New York-based group San Fermin, KAYE (Charlene Kaye) has played network television and has toured with St. Vincent, Arctic Monkeys, alt-J, and others. Her most recent full-length album, Conscious Control, has earned praise from Rolling Stone, NPR, FLOOD Magazine, and more. Previously she has collaborated with Liann by scoring her mini-series, The Blessing. Liann, in return, has directed over 15 of her music videos.
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JESSE SANCHEZ-STRAUSS
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Jesse Coyote Sanchez-Strauss is a Director of Photography and Steadicam Operator based in New York City. Originally from Ohio, she earned her BFA in Film from UNCSA, specializing in Cinematography. Since moving to NY, she has also trained as a Steadicam Operator (SOA).
Her work can currently be seen in festivals around the world. Her short film Engaged (DoP) has recently screened at over 20 film festivals, including ‘Outfest’ and ‘Hollyshorts’. Her Steadicam work can be seen in the feature film “Black Bear” starring Aubrey Plaza, Christopher Abbot, and Sarah Gadon, directed by Lawrence Michael Levine.
Contact
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