Radu Jude's films have consistently explored the history of his native Romania and broader Europe. However, with I Do Not Care If We Go Down in History as Barbarians (2018) and Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn (2021), his work has shifted focus toward capturing our tumultuous present. This evolution appears not only in the story itself but in his storytelling and formal approach as well. In Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World (2023), for instance, the protagonist's use of TikTok demonstrates how Jude embraces smartphones beyond mere cameras, actively employing them as a narrative form. Kontinental '25 continues this artistic trajectory. Far from sacrificing visual beauty, Jude's use of smartphones in filmmaking pursues an aesthetic more attuned to contemporary sensibilities. Perhaps most significantly, he has discovered a path to creative freedom outside the limitations of conventional large-scale production.

Kontinental '25 serves as both a tribute to and reinterpretation of Roberto Rossellini's Italian neorealist masterpiece Europa 51 (1952). Both films feature protagonists who, following traumatic events, begin questioning societal norms and contradictions. Yet, despite these parallels, the works diverge in numerous ways. Rossellini and Jude, nonetheless, share the quintessential artistic impulse to craft films that provoke questions rather than prescribe answers.

Since its inception, the JEONJU IFF has been guided by the principles of ‘alternative' and ‘independent' cinema, embracing its mission to discover new possibilities amid changing times. We are delighted that Jude's latest work—which so thoroughly embodies the festival's ethos—offers an opportunity to articulate what the festival continues to champion.

Jude seamlessly integrates the immediacy of digital media into cinematic language while addressing "our stories" about contemporary issues. He stands as a defining filmmaker of our era, one who pursues new narrative forms and steadfastly engages with political and social challenges facing the world. We are particularly honored to present Kontinental '25 as the Opening Film of the 26th edition of JEONJU IFF. (Sung Moon)