Cafe Diem: Where Life Brews

🚀 The Journey of Cafe Diem: From Scenario Contest to Film

The inception of Cafe Diem stemmed from “The 2nd Terafty Korean Short Film Scenario Contest.” The contest fostered the participation of over 100 compelling stories from various countries world over, presenting us with a challenge in selecting the finalists. We announced our 6 finalists and Quin Taylor's Cafe Diem emerged as the runner-up.

Inspired by the success of our previous original film Your Voice, which was produced from the adaptation of the winning story of Terafty’s 1st Korean Short Film Scenario Contest, we envisioned the idea of adapting the winning story into a film once again. Thus, continuing the legacy of the user-generated content creation approach of Terafty, after our several discussions with 222film, we decided that a narrative like Cafe Diem deserves to grace the screen. 

Cafe Diem distinguished itself from other narratives with its intriguing storyline that reflected on modern life, uniquely blending mystery and social commentary. The portrayal of the morally ambiguous female protagonist set against the backdrop of Korean society is noteworthy. 

As we embark on our journey of creating a cinema from this powerful narrative, we are putting in our utmost efforts, heart and soul to ensure Cafe Diem reaches its full cinematic potential. Your continued support during this endeavor will be greatly valued and appreciated. Moreover, the refined narrative structure adds further depth to the cinematic experience.

Together, let’s create a gripping thriller that not only keeps the audience intrigued by the storyline but also leaves them reflecting upon the significance of life.

 

🎥 Cafe Diem as a Film

Genre: Thriller

Duration: 20 minutes

Logline: At a funeral-themed therapy center, psychologist Shin Seul-bi stages fake deaths to reignite her clients’ will to live. In an unexpected turn of events, real estate worker, Han Do-ra finds a savior in Seul-bi.

Plot: 

Shin  Seul-bi,  a psychologist,  runs a funeral-themed mental therapy center where staged fake deaths make people rediscover their motivation to live. When  Han  Do-ra,  a part-time worker in a real estate sales office crosses paths with Seul-bi while presenting a professional proposal, his inner struggles and challenges unravel. Consequently, Do-ra realizes his need for help to regain the motivation and will to live despite the life hurdles. In this moment, Seul-bi emerges as his savior.

 

💭 The Vision Behind Cafe Diem

Cafe Diem is a story with intriguing plot twists and unexpected revelations, making it a quintessential thriller. It incorporates elements of mystery and moments of tension and suspense, keeping the audience throughout the film. It delves into the introspective moments of the protagonist’s life, adding depth to its suspenseful narrative. Furthermore, it places a strong emphasis on mental health, a presentation essential within responsible contemporary cinema.

An effective method for fostering an appreciation of something is to bring awareness to its absence. That’s exactly what the female protagonist in the narrative does in her mysterious cafe and helps people regain the motivation and willpower to live by simulating an environment where no life exists. Thus, Cafe Diem is a place of solace where people reconnect with their lives and rediscover themselves. 

We aim to create a mysterious world of Cafe Diem which is deemed with negative assumptions by the exterior world, whereas in reality, it is a haven for people who have lost their sense of meaning or purpose in life. The suspenseful scenes would create an immersive experience that draws viewers into its mysterious world. 

However, Cafe Diem offers experiences beyond thrills, mystery and suspense. The vision behind Cafe Diem is to create a thrilling cinematic experience for the audience while incorporating the elements of social commentary. 

 

🎞️ Terafty's Previous Original Film "Your Voice"

Terafty’s first original short film Your Voice derived from the adaptation of the winning story of Terafty’s first Korean Short Film Scenario Contest, captivated many audiences and film festivals. The film weaved a tapestry of emotions, leaving hearts full with its profound storyline that depicts the journey of two individuals who develop genuine connections solely through communication. It emphasizes the importance of meaningful relationships in a world often fixated on physical appearances. Both audiences and film festivals received this narrative well.

 

Furthermore, the offline screening of Your Voice attracted an impressive 200 applications. These are noteworthy achievements within the Korean short film market. Besides Terafty’s website, the short film was streamed across various platforms and in different formats. The cumulative number of views across different platforms exceeds 3 million.

 

The Your Voice journey unfolded with heartwarming responses as it garnered widespread acclaim from audiences and earned multiple selections and awards at international film festivals. The following recognitions have been awarded to Your Voice at various film festivals.

 

🏆 Achievements at Film Festivals

Avignon International Film Festival

Best Actress Short Film - Honorable Mention

Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival

Short Live Action Narrative - Official Selection

Rome Prisma Film Awards

Best Short Film - Finalist

Golden Short Film Festival

Golden Romance Short - Finalist

Big Fridge International Film Festival

Best Foreign Language Short Film - Finalist

AltFF Alternative Film Festival

Long Short Films (20 to 45 minutes) - Nominee

Couch Film Festival

20:01 to 45:00 Minutes - Nominee

Beyond Hollywood International Film Festival

Best Actress - Nominee

Best Director - Nominee

Best Foreign Film - Nominee

Best Cinematography - Nominee

Tokyo Lift-Off Film Festival

Short Films. Live Action Narrative - Finalist (Ongoing)

European International Film Awards

Best Foreign Short Film - Award Winner

Omnia Film Festival

Short Film (Multiple categories) - Official Selection (Event Date: June 13, 2024)

Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival

Best Short Film - Official Selection (Event Date: September 8, 2024)

Watch Your Voice here

On how we adapted Your Voice 

🤝🏻 Terafty’s Collaboration with 222film

222film, led by the talented Director Yongi Kim, established the company after earning his degree in Film from university. 222film is committed to creating creative films that captivate audiences and earn acclaim from critics. 

Terafty’s collaboration with 222film on Cafe Diem continues to build upon the success of the film “Regrettable,” a thriller short film that garnered acclaim at multiple film festivals. 222film received recognition in the international market for Regrettable through Terafty’s tailored consulting and translation services. Cafe Diem marks our upcoming thriller project together. The synergy between Terafty, a young and innovative startup, that aims to redefine the entertainment landscape, and the creative vigor of 222film is certain to deliver compelling films that resonate with both audiences and critics.

🎞️ Films by 222film

2018: Wriggling Consciousness

2019: Red Box

2020: Wind Wave and Light

2021: The Age of Artificial Infection

2022: Urban Fishing

2022: Normal Person

2023: Regrettable

🏆 Awards

Best Picture at the Paris Film Awards

Best Indie Short Film at the Florence International Film Festival

Special Mention at the Milan Short Film Festival

Best Indie Short Film at the International Gold Awards

Best Indie Short Film at the Frida Film Festival

Best Asian Short Film at the Golden Leaf International Film Festival

Special Mention at the Madras International Film Festival

 

 

💵 Budget Breakdown

📢 Disclaimer: The budget for Cafe Diem is expected to exceed 25K USD. We are seeking to raise 2.2K USD through crowdfunding to engage with our users and boost the film's quality, particularly enhancing its visuals and audio. Your contribution can make a tangible difference! Every dollar raised above our goal will allow us to further elevate the cinematography and sound design, bringing you an even more extraordinary cinematic experience. Join us in making Cafe Diem a reality!

Pre-Production Expenses: 15%

• Location Scouting

• Casting (currently in progress)

• Rehearsals

Production Expenses: 65%

• Equipment (Camera, Lighting, Sound)

• Set design and construction

• Props and costumes

• Crew salaries and stipends

• Catering

• Transportation

Post-Production Expenses: 10%

• Editing

• Sound Design and Mixing

• Color Correction

• Music composition or licensing

• Titles and credits

Marketing: 10%

• Promotional Materials

• Film Festival Submission Fees

 

⏳ Timeline

• Pre-Production (Location Scouting, Casting, Rehearsals, Script Finalization): March - June, 2024

• Production (Filming of the Movie): July, 2024

• Post-Production(Editing, Sound Design, Color Correction, Music Composition or Licensing): August, 2024

• Dispatching Rewards: September, 2024

• Streaming Release: September, 2024

🎁 Rewards

 

🫶 Here’s how you can help us!

Contribute: By backing up our crowdfunding campaign in return for some noteworthy rewards, you will be able to be a part of our creative filmmaking journey.

Engage and Share: Terafty will share about the campaign and Cafe Diem on social networking sites. Help us organically boost our posts by commenting, liking, reposting and replying.

⚠️Risks and Challenges

Crafting a thriller film entails a creative risk of ensuring the plot captivates audiences while standing out in a competitive market where numerous films of the same genre are produced. However, the team of Cafe Diem is confident and committed to delivering an enthralling film and invites you to join us in bringing this thrilling vision to life.