Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary
| Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary | |
|---|---|
Theatrical poster | |
| Hangul | 아메바 소녀들과 학교괴담: 개교기념일 |
| RR | Ameba sonyeodeulgwa hakgyogoedam: gaegyoginyeomil |
| MR | Ameba sonyŏdŭlgwa hakkyogoedam: kaegyoginyŏmil |
| Directed by | Kim Min-ha |
| Screenplay by | Kim Min-ha |
| Produced by | Park Se-joon |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Lee Hyun-jin |
| Edited by | Kim Min-ha |
| Music by | Lee Geon-ho |
Production company | 26 Company |
| Distributed by | Studio Santa Claus Entertainment |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | $187,901[1][2] |
Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary (Korean: 아메바 소녀들과 학교괴담: 개교기념일) is a 2024 South Korean comedy horror film directed by Kim Min-ha, starring Kim Do-yeon, Son Ju-yeon (WJSN Eunseo), Jeong Ha-dam and Kang Shin-hee.[3][4] The film had its world premiere at the 28th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) on July 7, 2024.[5] It had its theatrical release on November 6, 2024.[3]
The film was followed by a standalone sequel, Teaching Practice: Idiot Girls and School Ghost 2, which premiered in July 2025.
Plot
Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary depicts the story of high school senior girls who discovered a 'Ghost Hide-and-Seek' tape recorded by their seniors in the broadcasting club. Through the tape, the girls learned about a rumor that if they win in the ghosts' hide-and-seek game on the upcoming school anniversary, they can receive a perfect score on the college entrance exam. The fear of having to survive a cursed hide-and-seek game on the night of the school anniversary when the school ghost story becomes reality has been presented in a horror comedy.[2][3]
Cast
- Kim Do-yeon as Ji-yeon, an aspiring film director
- Son Ju-yeon as Eun-byul, an aspiring actress
- Jeong Ha-dam as Min-joo, a Japanese culture otaku
- Kang Shin-hee as Hyun-jung, an aspiring cinematographer
Release
Film Festivals
On July 7, 2024, the film had its world premiere at the 28th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in the Korean Fantastic: Features section.[5]
The film had its screening at various film festivals such as, 57th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia (2024) - Sitges Family - Fantastic Teens in Spain, Kaohsiung Film Festival (2024) - Annual Theme: Trapped in Youth in Taiwan, Jakarta Film Week (2024) - FANTASEA in Indonesia, Lund International Fantastic Film Festival: LIFFF (2024) in Sweden, 21st Jecheon International Music & Film Festival: JIMFF (2025) in South Korea and Weird Weekender International Film Festival Stuttgart: IFFS (2025) in Germany.[2][6][7][8]
Theatrical release
It was released theatrically on November 6, 2024 in South Korea.[3]
Reception
Box Office
The film was released on 203 screens on November 6, 2024.
According to the Korean Box Office Information System (KOBIS), as of August 11, 2025, the film's total gross is $185,448 and 30,042 admissions.[2]
Accolades
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIFAN 2023 NAFF Project Market Awards | 2023 | Cash Awards - NAFF Korean Award KRW 10 million | Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary | Won | [9] |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2025 | Best New Actress | Kim Do-yeon | Won | [10][11] |
| Best New Director | Kim Min-ha | Nominated | |||
| Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival | 2024 | Korean Fantastic Director | Won | [12] | |
| Watcha's Pick | Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary | Won | |||
| Jecheon International Music & Film Festival | 2025 | Music Insight Jury Special Mention | Lee Geon-ho | Won | [13] |
| Wildflower Film Awards | Best Low-Budget Genre Film | Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary | Nominated | [14] |
References
- ^ "BOX OFFICE MOJO Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary". Box Office Mojo by IMDbPro. August 11, 2025. Archived from the original on August 11, 2025. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "DATABASE Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary (2024)". Korean Film Council. August 11, 2025. Archived from the original on August 11, 2025. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Son, Bong-seok (November 6, 2024). 독립예술 영화 예매율 1위 ‘아메바 소녀들과 학교괴담: 개교기념일’···1등급으로 웃길 준비 완료 ["Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary," the #1 independent art film in advance ticket sales...ready to make you laugh with a bang.]. sports trends (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ 아메바 소녀들과 학교괴담: 개교기념일-호러 코미디로 비튼 K공포물의 유산[시네프리뷰] [Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary - A K-Horror Legacy Twisted into Horror-Comedy [Cinepreview]]. sports trends (in Korean). Naver. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ^ a b "28th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival: Korean Fantatic: Features". Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. June 21, 2024. Archived from the original on June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "Lund International Fantastic Film Festival 2024". Lund International Fantastic Film Festival. November 5, 2024. Archived from the original on November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ "21st Jecheon International Music & Film Festival". Jecheon International Music & Film Festival. October 4, 2025. Archived from the original on October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
- ^ "Weird Weekender International Film Festival Stuttgart 2025". Weird Weekender International Film Festival Stuttgart. November 17, 2025. Archived from the original on November 17, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ^ Patrick Frater (July 3, 2023). "'The Passport', 'Please Bear With Me' Score Prizes at Bucheon's NAFF Project Market". Variety. Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ Park, Jae-hwan (November 19, 2025). "청룡, 누가 품을까?" 제46회 청룡영화상... 박찬욱 '어쩔수가 없다' 최다 후보 ["Who Will Embrace the Blue Dragon?" 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards... Park Chan-wook's "No Other Choice" Leads the Nominations]. KBS Media (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
- ^ Jo, Yeon-kyung (November 19, 2025). 코미디의 쾌거…안보현·김도연, 46회 청룡이 뽑은 남녀신인상 [A Comedy Achievement… Ahn Bo-hyun and Kim Do-yeon Win the 46th Blue Dragon Rookie of the Year Awards]. JTBC. Naver. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
- ^ "Archive 1997(1st) ~ 2024(28th) Award/Jury". Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. April 30, 2025. Archived from the original on April 30, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ "Award Announcement of the 21st JIMFF Official Competition". Jecheon International Music & Film Festival. September 29, 2025. Archived from the original on November 23, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
- ^ Yoo, Eun-gyu (May 16, 2025). `제12회 들꽃영화상` 본선 후보작 발표… 오는 28일 개최 [The 12th Wildflower Film Awards finalists announced... to be held on the 28th.]. Digital Times (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved May 16, 2025.