Before the Call

This film is part of an in-person shorts-feature combination screening and will be preceded by the short film, FIRST SUMMER.

BEFORE THE CALL follows Jinwoo, a Korean American who voluntarily enlists in the Korean military despite being exempt from service. For Jinwoo, it’s a deeply personal decision, an attempt to reconnect with a homeland he’s always struggled to call his own. But as South Korea prepares to send troops to a war-torn region, his decision becomes harder to justify. As news of the humanitarian crisis grows impossible to ignore, his enlistment shifts from a search for roots to a search for meaning in a fractured world. 

James Choi is a Chicago-based filmmaker whose producing credits include MADE IN CHINA (SXSW Grand Jury Award) and SAINT FRANCES (SXSW Audience Award; Gotham and Independent Spirit Award nominee). His feature as writer/director, BEFORE THE CALL, premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival in 2025. His screenplay, “All Things Considered,” was a Tubi × The Black List finalist. He also founded Indie Studio, which supported 2023 Slamdance Grand Jury Award Winner, WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE.

Main Cast: Andy Koh, So-yi Kang, Seong-guk Ha, Gwang-rok Oh

Producer: James Choi, Judi Krant, Jee soo Lee, Diane Suh

Writer: James Choi