Dir. Kim Hyojung Goes to Animafest Zagreb 2025 with First Breath (2025)

First Breath (2025) by Kim Hyojung (age 21), current student of the Department of Animation in the School of Film, TV & Multimedia, was officially invited to the Student Film Competition at the Animafest Zagreb 2025, the world-renowned animation festival.

Kim’s First Breath (2025) tells a coming-of-age story that one can only unfold by confronting reality and breaking out from one’s comfort zone, using 2D graphics and collage animation techniques. The film was produced as part of a workshop for an animation class in the School of Film, TV & Multimedia.

Kim Hyojung has already gained attention as an animation director early in her artistic career. In her first year of undergraduate studies, Kim advanced to the final rounds of Animate – Australia Animation Film Festival and the New York Animation Film Awards with Meal (2024). While in high school, Kim won several prizes at a few film festivals for Tail, including Gold at the 23^rd Korea Youth Film Festival.

“The Zagreb Animafest is the festival I’ve always aspired to since my high school years, and I can’t express how happy and thankful I am to be invited. From now on, I will strive to deliver warm and uplifting messages about life by capturing and portraying the moments of everyday life in my own style,” Kim said.

The Animafest Zagreb 2025 will be held in Zagreb, Croatia, for six days from June 2 to 7. The festival places greater emphasis on the artistic quality of a work than on its commercial aspects.