Before the Call

This film will be screened in-person only as part of a shorts-feature combination screening,  during which it will be preceded by the short film, FIRST SUMMER. Click the BUY TICKETS button to proceed.

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.

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

Writer: James Choi

Cinematographer: Subin Park

Music: Gong Haim

Color: Ryan Croft

Sound Mix: Jeon-gui Suk

Plays in

First Summer / Before the Call

Come join us for this in-person combination screening of the New York City premiere of the short FIRST SUMMER followed by the East Coast premiere of BEFORE THE CALL.