School for Defectors

Receiving its European Premiere at LIFF 2026, this poignant observational documentary was filmed in Busan, South Korea, at a small school with just 20 students, all North Korean defectors.

American director and editor Jeremy Workman had unique access over the course of a year, recording the stories of survival and resilience that led the students to the school, alongside their dreams, ambitions and hopes for the future. An illuminating journey through the hardships of adapting to a completely new way of life and future.

“Workman crafts a deeply touching portrait of students building a future while contending with a past they had no control over.” — Stephen Saito, Moveable Fest

Content Guidance: Contains descriptions of trauma, death, descriptions of torture, and discussions of mental health.