An intimate and quietly uplifting documentary, School for Defectors follows a group of 20 teenagers, children of North Korean defectors, as they adjust to life and education at Jangdaehyun School in Busan, South Korea. Shedding light on the lives of people from North Korea who made the difficult and courageous decision to escape — often driven by the hope of securing a better future for their children — the film provides access to a world rarely spoken of, while offering a glimpse into the next generation that will shape South Korea.
By focusing on what’s to come rather than what’s been, director Jeremy Workman (Secret Mall Apartment, VIFF 2024) shifts the narrative from trauma to resilience and lets his subjects be seen as individuals with their own hopes, dreams, friendships, and ambitions. Through the lens of youth and education, the film explores how these children navigate their identities and build a sense of belonging within the school, which becomes the emotional core of the film.
Content Considerations: Several intense emotional scenes that mention bullying, suicidal ideation, familial separation, racism
The Oct 4 screening comes with an extended Q&A!
Join director Jeremy Workman and producer Daniel Dae Kim as they explore the development of the project, and the impact they hope to achieve.
Oct 5: Filmmaker Q&A
Oct 4 Screening Supported by
Showcase Series Supported by
Media Partner
Songyi Baek, Yoojung Bae, Joowoong Bang, Sooyeon Choi, Yoohwa Jang, Ryewon Kim
South Korea/USA
2026
In Korean with English subtitles
At Lindsay Family Stage at Granville Island
At Fifth Ave
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits & Director
Executive Producer
Daniel Dae Kim, John Cheng, Hannah Song, Blaine Vess, Esther Paik Vess
Producer
Sona Jo, Jeremy Workman
Cinematography
Chul-Nyung Heo, Jinsil Lee, Jeongkeun Kim, Jeremy Workman
Editor
Jean Rheem
Original Music
Brian H. Kim
Jeremy Workman
Jeremy Workman has been praised for creating his own genre of uniquely cinematic character portraits that bring you deep inside extraordinary worlds. His documentaries have garnered significant recognition, playing at major film festivals and seeing global releases in theaters, on television, and on streaming platforms including Netflix, Discovery HBO MAX, Prime, IFC Films AMC+, and The New Yorker.
Filmography: Lily Topples the World (2021); Deciding Vote (2023); Secret Mall Apartment (2024)
Photo by Michael Lisnet
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