Hyunseo Kong Wins 12th Annual Study Abroad Film Festival for “Wrong Way”

The IES Abroad Study Abroad Film Festival returned to Chicago this year, bringing student stories to the big screen for its 12^thannual celebration. Following last year’s international event in Vienna honoring IES Abroad’s 75^th Anniversary, the festival came home to its Chicago roots at the Chicago History Museum. 

Kyle Rodriguez, an IES Abroad Buenos Aires alum, the 2015 Film Festival winner, and an Emmy-nominated film composer, producer, and songwriter hosted the red-carpet event. 

This year marked a milestone for the Film Festival, with the Grand Prize going for the first time to a student from a host university outside the United States. Hyunseo Kong (Yonsei University, IES Internships London, Spring 2026) accepted the honor virtually for her film “Wrong Way.” Last year’s winner, Charlie Dermody, an IES Abroad Milan alum and recent Indiana University graduate, announced the award. 

As the Grand Prize winner, Hyunseo received $1,500 and secured the $5,000 IES Abroad Barbara Bobrich Annual Scholarship for a future Yonsei University study abroad student with financial need.

A student from Seoul, South Korea, studying Asian Studies at Yonsei University, Hyunseo spent the 2024–25 academic year studying abroad at Dartmouth College before completing an internship at the Arab British Centre in London through IES Abroad Internships. Her interests in architecture, film, and music have been shaped by her experiences traveling and living across different cultures.

“Wrong Way” earned top honors through a public vote, with audiences watching the finalist films online and selecting their favorite. This year, more than 3,000 votes were cast, a new Film Festival record!

Hyunseo’s film was born from a question: what does it mean to be human in the age of AI, automation, and efficiency?  

Her experiences abroad helped shape the answer. While interning in London, Hyunseo formed connections across cultural differences and began to see a story she wanted to tell through film.  

“Actually living, studying, and working alongside people from different backgrounds challenged many of my preconceptions. It made me less judgmental, less fearful of the unfamiliar, and more willing to leave space for curiosity,” she said.  

In “Wrong Way,” a Korean student accidentally goes to Morocco instead of starting her internship in London. One wrong turn becomes a story about connection, empathy, and learning to care beyond what we know. 

“At the end of the day, I think most people simply want a better life and a better world, and I think that’s why the story felt so important to share,” Hyunseo said.

In her acceptance speech, Hyunseo reflected on how creating “Wrong Way” changed her willingness to share her work with others. 

She said she hoped her film reminded audiences that “life is worth living, love is worth taking a risk for, and the world is worth caring [for].” 

This year, the Film Festival jury selected four finalists instead of the traditional three. The jury directors, editors, producers, and screenwriters, the majority of whom are either IES Abroad alumni or Film Studies faculty from IES Abroad’s international Centers.  

Joining Hyunseo among this year’s finalists were: 

Mono No Aware — Abu Abrar Hoque (Northwestern University) IES Abroad Tokyo | Fall 2024 

Through these visual journeys, the Film Festival brings the impact of studying abroad to new audiences while raising funds to help even more students experience education abroad. To date, the festival has raised more than $1 Million. 

Congratulations to Hyunseo and all the Finalists! Learn more about the IES Abroad Film Festival and watch the livestream of the event if you missed it! 

This year’s event was supported by Film Festival sponsors Barnes & Thornburg, CISI, Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago, Jakala, ScholarTrip, Charles Schwab, Graphics Art Studio (GAS) and Nick Robins Photography. IES Abroad is grateful for their support in bringing the celebration to life.