Screenshot from "Dani: the Portrait of a Beauty" (Korea Heritage Agency)

By Kim Seon Ah

The Korea Heritage Service and the Korea Heritage Agency on Aug. 12 said the virtual reality (VR) short film "Dani: the Portrait of a Beauty" has received an official invitation to the Melbourne International Film Festival of Australia in the XR (extended reality) category.

The film reinterprets 15 paintings by Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) painter Hyewon Shin Yun-bok (1758-1814) through digital technology to allow the public to experience the world of such works through VR.

Through pansori (lyrical opera) and dance, the film shows the protagonist Dani's journey to seek true beauty. The director Cooper Sanghyun Yoo is an assistant professor at Seokyeong University in Seoul.

The film is being screened from Aug. 12-17 at ACMI Swinburne Studio in Melbourne

Launched in 1952, the festival is Australia's largest of its kind and screens original works from around the world.

Director Yoo said, "I'm glad to globally share Korean beauty by combining tradition and technology."

sofiakim218@korea.kr