The wait is over! Meet the Finalists of Terafty’s 4th Korean Short Film Scenario Contest. After reviewing numerous captivating submissions, we are delighted to present seven exceptional scenarios with the potential to light up the big screen.
Now, the big question: Which story will win the opportunity to be Terafty’s next original film? The decision is yours! Your vote helps decide which story makes it to the screen, which makes you an integral part of Terafty’s film adaptation process.
Read the finalists’ scenarios, cast your vote, and help decide the next Terafty original film!
🗳️ Voting Process
We’ve created a simple and seamless voting system to gather your preferences. Here’s how it works:
- Review the scenarios: Take your time to explore each scenario. Each one offers a unique story that will take viewers on an unforgettable journey.
- Pick your favorite: Choose the scenario that speaks to you the most. Consider the story, characters, and themes that stand out.
- Access the Google Form: Open the provided Google Form to participate in the voting process.
Finalists Voting – The 4th Terafty Korean Scenario Contest - Cast your vote: Follow the instructions in the form to submit your vote.
- Stay tuned: We’ll announce the winning scenario and share the exciting news once voting ends. We’ll evaluate the scenarios based on their creative potential and feasibility. The final decision will be made from a combination of audience votes (50%) and Terafty’s evaluation (50%). Your vote is essential in helping shape our next film, and your voice will be heard alongside our expert assessment. We can’t wait to share the results and take this cinematic journey together.
🏆 The Finalists
Here are the seven finalists, standing out as the strongest submissions. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve included a brief overview of each scenario below. Please note that, due to copyright reasons, only part (approximately 60-75%) of each scenario is shown, but enough for you to evaluate them fairly.
Note: We’ve recently updated our policy and will remove all finalist works after each edition, except for those to which we hold rights
1. Adelphi
(1) Writer: Chris Bernardo
(2) Genre: Drama, Family, Science Fiction
(3) Logline: A gifted aerospace student takes credit for his younger brother’s overlooked idea that saves a lunar mission. Their family fractures until a public challenge gives the forgotten brother a chance to rise, forcing both to rediscover loyalty and humility before Korea’s first moon landing.
(4) Unique Points:
- Clear tech hook: Unsynced sensors, drift, and lag are explained in simple terms, so viewers grasp why the lander fails and how buffering fixes it.
- Rivalry to recognition: The overlooked younger brother goes from invisible at home to the key problem-solver in public, shifting family dynamics.
- Open challenge catalyst: A nationwide call for solutions raises the stakes and credibility, leading to a live fix and a shared win.
2. If They Knew
(1) Writer: Natalia Bordotti
(2) Genre: Romance, Drama
(3) Logline: A struggling writer and a typecast actor keep sharing the same café without knowing it. Her blog gives him the courage to take Hamlet, his posters and posts lift her during setbacks, and a windblown script finally brings them face to face.
(4) Unique Points:
- Parallel lives in one place: Near-miss encounters in the same café build tension and charm across multiple visits.
- Online to real-world spark: A supportive blog comment and quiet social posts guide their choices before they ever meet.
- Seasons as story engine: Winter to autumn frames their setbacks and growth, ending with a simple, satisfying meet-cute.
3. Jajanga — The Lost Lullaby
(1) Writer: Mareta Widyawaty
(2) Genre: Drama, Family, Coming-of-age
(3) Logline: A lonely seven-year-old installs an AI voice on his tablet and starts calling it “Eomma,” forcing his overworked single mother to confront her absence and fight to reclaim their bond before a health scare makes the stakes real.
(4) Unique Points:
- AI as surrogate comfort: A child’s attachment to an AI lullaby highlights how tech can fill emotional gaps, but cannot replace real care.
- Working-mom dilemma: The mother’s overtime and guilt are treated with empathy, showing the tradeoffs many families face.
- Simple, high-impact set pieces: Bedtime lullabies, a fever-night hospital scare, and a Han River day anchor the story in vivid, everyday moments.
4. Kongjwi and the Gen Z God
(1) Writer: Helin Marlina
(2) Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Coming-of-Age
(3) Logline: Two bickering classmates are pulled into a glowing script and dropped inside the Kongjwi and Patjwi folktale. Cast as Kongjwi and a powerless “helper god,” they must finish the story and stay alive to get home, discovering courage, respect, and unexpected feelings along the way.
(4) Unique Points:
- Folklore remix: A portal into the Korean Cinderella legend refreshes familiar beats with modern teen attitudes and set pieces like hanbok, kotshin, and a rule-scroll.
- Rivals to partners: A hot-headed archer and a soft-spoken sewist evolve from balcony insults to mutual trust and rescue, giving the romance earned momentum.
- Reframing the “evil sister”: Patjwi is portrayed with agency and doubt, shifting her from stock villain to a girl trapped by expectations, which deepens the finale.
5. Not Yet Due
(1) Writer: John Axel Orencia
(2) Genre: Thriller, Drama
(3) Logline: A recent graduate drowning in app-loan debt discovers his own employer is running a psychological debt experiment on him, forcing a choice between staying silent or leaking proof and igniting a nationwide scandal that frees him to rebuild.
(4) Unique Points:
- Hidden experiment twist: The debt apps and the protagonist’s workplace are secretly linked, revealing he’s a monitored test subject.
- Now-issue relevance: Explores microloans, social media pressure, anxiety, and how algorithms can push young adults to the edge.
- Whistleblower payoff: A targeted leak sparks protests and policy attention, ending with a small but credible personal reset instead of a fairy-tale win.
6. The Imperfect Duet
(1) Writer: Simba Brenda
(2) Genre: Drama, Romance
(3) Logline: A perfectionist aerial silk soloist is forced to duet with a warm, free-spirited dancer; their clashing styles turn into trust, and an imperfect but heartfelt performance frees her from loneliness and fear of failure.
(4) Unique Points:
- Aerial-silk stage world: A fresh, visually striking dance setting that raises real stakes around timing, grip, and trust.
- Perfection vs sincerity arc: Her obsession with flawlessness meets his belief in honest expression, creating clear chemistry and growth.
- Mistake as meaning: A small onstage slip becomes the turning point, showing how vulnerability can deepen art and connection.
7. The Worn Pair
(1) Writer: Hyung Ju Lee
(2) Genre: Drama, Family
(3) Logline: A daughter and her estranged mother sort through a late grandmother’s apartment and, after fights with relatives and each other, unlock a hidden room where a burial shroud, a pair of saved sneakers, and a simple note help them reconcile and say a proper goodbye.
(4) Unique Points:
- Everyday stakes, real catharsis: Grief, errands, and family sniping build toward a small but powerful release that feels true to life.
- Object-driven storytelling: Worn shoes, a locked door, the shroud, a ring, and a handwritten note carry memory and meaning without speeches.
- Tight two-hander energy: Most scenes trap mother and daughter in cars, corridors, and a cluttered flat, keeping tension focused and intimate.
✨ Your Vote Brings Stories to Life
As you explore each scenario, we invite you to vote for the scenario that truly captivates you and sparks your imagination. This process is more than just picking a favorite; it is a chance to influence the next Terafty film we create together. Voting will be open from Nov 5 until 11:59 PM (KST) on Nov 14, 2025, so make sure to cast your vote during this period!
To keep this process genuine and fair, we’ll be keeping a close eye on any suspicious or fraudulent activity. Only real votes from real fans will count. Let’s make this competition fair, and stay tuned to see which story comes to life on screen!
Terafty 
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