In a cinematic milestone that celebrates cross-cultural collaboration, the Korean-Pakistani short film ‘A Better Place’ will be showcased at the 8th Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF), scheduled from March 20 to 24,2025, in the Kathmandu Valley. Notably, it is the only Korean Pakistani short film selected for this year's festival- an achievement that highlights its unique voice and compelling narrative. The festival, recognized as Nepal's premier film event, will feature 87 films from 40 countries, showcasing a diverse range of storytelling.

The short film tackles sensitive themes such as illegal immigration, and the search for belonging. The short film manages to weave together multiple languages, such as Korean, Bengali, and English, and cultures, with a cast led by Bengali and Korean talent. 

At the heart of this thought-provoking production are two passionate producers - Ali Sohail Jaura from Pakistan and Lee Ye Jin from Korea. Together, they have created a powerful bridge between nations and human experiences.

As a Pakistani and a Korean culture enthusiast, I was thrilled to see this film selected and wanted to learn more about it.

In this exclusive interview, we delve into their creative process, the challenges of cross-border filmmaking, and the message they hope to share with a global audience.

1- What inspired you to take on a story about a sensitive social issue?

Ali - I was traveling to Korea to showcase my film Murder Tongue at a film festival when I realized I wanted to create another film during the trip. With time as our biggest challenge, we aimed to explore characters that resonate with Pakistani and Korean audiences. I reached out to Ammar Zafar, who had previously collaborated with me as the story and screenwriter for Murder Tongue. Together, we brainstormed ideas about a Pakistani perspective in a film made in Korea.
After discarding several concepts, June 2023 brought two global incidents—the Ocean Gate Submarine Incident and the Messenia Migrant Boat Disaster—occurring just four days apart. While the world focused on a few billionaires lost at sea during an ill-fated adventure, 500 people were neglected, with 80 confirmed deaths in the boat disaster. Given our history of exploring overlooked characters, we decided this was the story we wanted to tell. The challenge then was connecting it to Korean culture. Further research revealed a growing trend of child abandonment in Korea, which sparked our big idea: what if a child abandoned by her mother meets someone who has abandoned his motherland? This is the journey that transformed “A Better Place” into what it is today.

Lee - I found it very intriguing that this story is not just about a single socially disadvantaged individual, but rather about two such individuals meeting and the
events that unfold from their encounter. I thought this was a fresh approach and believed that the collaboration between the two cultures could create a great synergy. 

2- How did you both come together for this project?

Ali - In 2023, I visited Korea to attend a Diaspora Film Festival for my movie Mother Tongue, where I befriended filmmaker Ho-Beom Park. We quickly bonded over our shared passion for movies, and when I was selected again in 2024, I told Ho-Beom Park that I wanted to make a film in Korea. He introduced me to Lee Ye Jin, an exceptionally intelligent and dedicated film producer. We connected over Zoom, and from that moment, our collaborative journey began, Ho-Beom served as the bridge that connected me with Lee Ye Jin. Lee Ye Jin played a crucial role in producing this film, managing everything so seamlessly. Her fluency in English and professional approach eliminated any language barriers, and also often acted as our translator. It felt like we had worked together before, making the entire process smooth and collaborative.

Lee  - I had always wanted to collaborate internationally and work with foreign artists, and by chance, one of my colleagues met the director at a film festival and introduced us. That was the beginning of our journey in creating a film together. 

3- What challenges did you face while bringing this film to life, especially considering its multicultural aspects?

Ali - We faced numerous challenges in bringing this film to life—making a short film is a huge challenge in itself. Without grants or a budget, this self-financed passion project demanded careful fund allocation. I had always wanted to experience filmmaking in a foreign country, and although I got a glimpse of this in Thailand in 2018 during a four-day film festival, this was my first full-scale project abroad with a professional native crew.

The script posed another challenge. We initially believed our draft was perfect, but once shared with our Korean team, many cultural inaccuracies were pointed out. They shared their experiences and taught us authentic nuances, helping us refine the script. Although the language barrier was a potential obstacle, most of our crew were filmmaking students fluent in English, and those who weren't managed to communicate effectively. Our interpreter, Gwon Yohan- whom I met just two days before the shoot, became an invaluable friend and liaison with the local artists.

Time was also a major constraint; we had only a few days in Korea to attend the film festival and shoot the film, which we completed in 15 hours. Additionally, finding a culturally well-versed South Asian actor in Seoul was challenging. We eventually cast Lee Mahbub, who, despite a short rehearsal period, delivered an outstanding performance and collaborated seamlessly with us. Despite all these hurdles, the experience was exhilarating, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that every filmmaker yearns for.

Lee - Everyone involved was considerate and open-minded, so there were no major difficulties in production. However, the aspect we paid the most attention to was ‘authenticity.’ We were particularly focused on how to bring out the authentic Korean essence in the film, from location choices to props. Other than that, we didn’t face significant challenges. When the director was in his home country, we held meetings via Zoom, and when he came to Korea, we met in person to discuss the film. In today’s world, international collaboration is much more accessible. 

4- What was the most memorable moment for you during the production?

Ali - The most memorable moment for me was working with our child artist Park Ye Bom. She was phenomenal, her acting skills truly impressed me. Despite initial doubts about her ability to perform in a night shoot, she exceeded all our expectations. We auditioned several children, but she outshined them all with her natural talent and intelligence. I have worked with many child actors in Pakistan, but I’ve never encountered someone so gifted. I later learned that she even appeared in Squid Game Season 2, which was a delightful surprise. Her mother's cooperation further strengthened our team, making the experience truly unforgettable.

Lee - The most memorable moment was filming the final scene. We were shooting while eating Korean fried chicken on an empty stomach, with the magnificent Namsan Tower in the background and a young abandoned girl sleeping on a beautiful grassy field in the foreground. Watching that scene unfold, I thought, "Perhaps this one shot encapsulates everything our film is trying to convey." It was a chilly early morning and we were all pretty tired, but I will never forget the beautiful emotions of that moment. 

5- Ali what message do you hope audiences, especially in South Asia and Korea, take away from this film?

The message is very simple and straightforward – human emotions are universal and two individuals, who have been through similar experiences, can easily relate to each other, whether or not their culture, religion, race, and ethnicity are the same or not. It also explores the idea of the human spirit, and how it finds light in the darkest of places. It’s a very warm and sweet sentiment that we wanted to share with people, and we hope that we convey this message successfully.

6- Lee what was the most rewarding part of co-producing a film that bridges cultures and languages?

Although we all came from different cultural backgrounds, the fact that we united to create one piece of work was incredibly exciting and fulfilling. Despite the differences in language and upbringing, when we have a clear story to tell and a shared vision for the imagery we want to capture, we can come together and create something extraordinary. Witnessing this firsthand made me once again realize the greatness of art and films. 

7-  Ali you are an independent filmmaker, what were some unexpected challenges you faced in bringing this project to life?

We encountered many challenges, but they soon became insignificant thanks to the overwhelming support and dedication of our Korean crew. Their kindness, diligence, and honesty exceeded anything I had experienced in Pakistan, making every hurdle feel manageable.

8- Lee what unique perspective do you think Korean cinema brings to a story with South Asian themes? And how do you see this film fitting into Korea’s growing interest in international collaborations?

I believe that Korean cinema tends to have a highly personal and introspective perspective. This perspective is sharp and delicate. By merging this Korean
cinematic lens with South Asian themes, I feel that it expanded the perspective to be more global and universal. Korea has been increasingly engaging in international collaborations, and in that sense, this film is a very promising sign. Even though we come from different environments and face cultural barriers, this project has proven that with collaboration and sufficient communication, we can create deeply nuanced and refined films. I believe this is a great start for future international collaborations. 

9- Ali how was your experience filming in Korea, and what was it like collaborating with a Korean crew?

As a Pakistani filmmaker, it was an honor to work with a native Korean crew whose dedication exceeded all expectations. While I’m used to working with a familiar team in Pakistan, collaborating with this new crew—comprising passionate indie filmmakers and students—was truly mind-blowing. They worked selflessly, and their professionalism and perfectionism are unmatched.
I was particularly impressed by the balanced gender representation in the production department, a refreshing contrast to the male-dominated field in Pakistan. For instance, our focus puller and camera assistant were both female, which enhanced the creative and inclusive environment on set.
We made this film for the festival to share our unique story with the world—a portrayal of a South Asian man in a Southeast Asian country, a narrative rarely seen before. Despite the many challenges, the experience was exhilarating and has enriched my filmmaking journey.

10- Lee, as the film heads to its global premiere at the Nepal Film Festival, what are your hopes for its international reception?

I hope there will be greater international interest in Korean short films. While mainstream Korean content—such as Squid Game and K-pop—has gained
significant global recognition, Korean short films have yet to receive as much attention. I hope that through this film, more people will come to appreciate the charm
of Korean short films and develop a deeper interest in Korea itself. Most importantly, I hope that the social issues addressed in this film will resonate with audiences,
encouraging discussions and inspiring real change toward a more inclusive and livable society for everyone