Incheon HS Film & Theatre Festival

At an ISTA festival, creative work is shaped through the connection of ideas, place, and practice, guided by the ISTA Ensemble Method and Festival Framework.

Each festival is connected through a shared Global Challenge. For 2026–2027, Rooted & Reimagined invites young people to explore how we honour the roots that shape us while imagining new futures.

At the same time, every festival is shaped by its own unique combination of location, artist team, and ensemble, creating an experience that can only happen in that specific place and moment.

Working collaboratively across theatre and film practices, students learn with and from one another as they respond to this provocation and explore a guiding story. A shared cultural experience connects them directly to the host location, bringing them into contact with its people, environment, and stories.

These elements are woven into the creative process, influencing what is created, how ensembles collaborate, and how ideas are expressed through live and screen-based storytelling.

The result is a learning experience that is creative, connected, and deeply human, fostering confidence, empathy, and a stronger sense of self and others.

Each ISTA festival includes a shared cultural experience that connects students to the host location and provides real-world inspiration for the work they create together.

From historic landmarks and museums to live performances and site-based exploration, these experiences offer powerful starting points for creative inquiry.

Take a look at some recent cultural experiences at ISTA festivals:

Click here to share the Cultural Experiences Deck

ISTA festivals are led by a diverse team of professional artists from around the world, including theatre-makers, filmmakers, performers, directors, and educators. Bringing a wide range of cultural perspectives and creative practices, they guide students through the collaborative process of creating original live and screen-based work.

As facilitators, they support, challenge, and inspire each ensemble, encouraging young people to experiment, take creative risks, and explore storytelling through both performance and cinematic practice. Working alongside the artists, students help shape work that is unique to their shared experience and creative discoveries.

Artist teams are shared in the event Information Pack, which is sent to participating schools in the lead-up to the event.

While students take part in the festival, accompanying educators engage in a dedicated specialist workshop led by one of the ISTA artists. These sessions support professional development through practical exploration, creative collaboration, and engagement in either theatre and film practices, offering ideas and approaches that can be taken back into the classroom, studio, or rehearsal space.

Workshop leader and session information will be confirmed closer to the event.

Educators also take part in a collaborative session focused on sharing ideas, approaches, and resources, creating opportunities for dialogue and exchange within a global community of arts educators.

Booking secures a place at an ISTA Festival event by estimating the number of participants and paying a deposit.

Registration finalises participant details, ensuring accurate event planning, catering, and transportation.

Click here for a helpful guide on how ISTA’s booking and registration work.

Booking

Opens: 9:00 am UK time on Thursday 30 April 2026 for members and Monday 1 June 2026 for non-members.

Closes: 11:59 pm UK time on Thursday 7 January 2027.

Before booking, ensure your trip is viable by checking:

• Travel restrictions and visa requirements
• Parental approvals
• School authorisation

At the time of booking, organisations must provide:

• Total number of students
• Total number of educators
• Lead educator chaperone contact details

Please review the ISTA Event Terms & Conditions, including cancellation policies, before booking.

Deposit & Confirmation

Upon booking, you will receive an invoice for a 50% deposit based on the number of students booked. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable and secures your reservation. Bookings are fully confirmed once the deposit is received within 30 days.

Bookings are made through an ISTA website account. Your booking confirmation and registration link will appear in the profile of the person who submitted the booking. If a colleague booked on your behalf, the registration form may sit under their account.

Invoices are sent to the email address provided at the time of booking. Your place is reserved, subject to payment in line with our booking terms.

If you need to make changes to your booking, please email booking@istaglobal.org.

Registration

Opens: 9:00 am UK time on Thursday 30 April 2026 for members and Monday 1 June 2026 for non-members.

Closes: 11:59 pm UK time on Thursday 14 January 2027

Once registration opens, schools that have confirmed their students should register as soon as possible. All registrations must be completed by Thursday 14 January 2027 to finalise event logistics.

At the time of registration, organisations must provide:

• Finalised participant details
• Travel information

Changes in Student Numbers

Student numbers may change between the original booking and final registration. If your numbers change, please inform the Event Manager as soon as possible so we can adjust event planning accordingly.

ISTA plans each event based on the numbers provided at the time of booking. This includes scheduling artists, securing tickets for the cultural experience, and allocating places for other schools. Early updates allow us to manage availability and offer spaces where possible.

Final participant numbers must be confirmed during registration. Changes in numbers may affect deposits and final invoices. Please see the Payment Process section for full details.

Waitlist

If the event reaches capacity, it will be marked “Waitlist”. If you wish to be added to the waitlist:

1. Click the Waitlist button on the event page
2. Enter the requested information
3. Spaces will be offered in the order in which waitlist requests are received.

ISTA festivals follow a two-step automated payment process:

Step 1: Deposit Payment at Booking

• Upon booking, you will be required to pay a 50% deposit immediately.
• This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable and confirms your reservation.
• Bookings will only be secured once the deposit payment is successfully processed.

All payments and cancellations are subject to ISTA Event Terms & Conditions.

Step 2: Remaining Balance Upon Registration Closure

• Once registration closes, organisations will be automatically invoiced for the remaining 50% of registration fees, plus any applicable surcharges, based on the final number of students registered.

Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked: Deposits for students who do not attend will be forfeited. (e.g. If you book 15 students but only 10 attend, the deposit for the 5 who do not attend will not be refunded.)
• Additional students: A 50% deposit per added student will be invoiced at the time of the increase.

Festival Schedule

• Start: 9:00 am Friday 12 March 2027
• End: 3:45 pm Sunday 14 March 2027

IMPORTANT:

• Participants are expected to attend the full festival programme, including the final sharing.
• Festival schedules are designed as a complete experience and cannot be adapted to individual travel arrangements.
• Schools should plan travel to ensure participants arrive on time, are ready to take part from the start, and remain until the end of the festival.
• Late arrivals or early departures affect the ensemble process and the shared creative work, as groups rely on full participation throughout the festival.

Click here to explore a sample ISTA Festival Schedule

Arrival & Departure

Arrival: Non-local Participants should plan to arrive in Incheon by the evening of Thursday 11 March 2027

Departure: Participants should not plan to leave the host venue before 3:45 pm Sunday 14 March 2027 at the end of the event.

IMPORTANT: Travel should be arranged to align with the full festival schedule, including time for arrival, check-in, and readiness to begin, as well as departure after the event has fully concluded.

Festival schedules cannot be adjusted to accommodate individual travel plans. Late arrivals or early departures impact the ensemble process and the shared creative work, as groups rely on full participation throughout the festival.

Getting there

• Nearest Airport: Incheon International Airport (ICN).

Transfers

• The host school will arrange private bus transfers to/from the airport. A £15 surcharge per person will be applied.

Travel time

• Approximately 30 minutes from the airport to both the hotel and the venue by private bus.
• Please book travel accordingly and allow for ample time to travel to and from the airport.

Accommodation

Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation in Incheon. ISTA recommends booking a hotel near the venue.

Recommended hotel information coming soon.

Local Transport

Local travel guidance coming soon.

Visa Requirements

Participants and schools are responsible for ensuring they have the necessary visas to enter South Korea.

Visa applications can take time, so we strongly recommend starting the process as early as possible.

• Visa and entry requirements vary by nationality, passport type and length of stay, so all participants should check the official Korean visa portal before booking travel. Visa applications can take time, so we strongly recommend starting the process as early as possible.
• Click here to visit the South Korea visa portal.
• Travellers from visa-free countries may also need to complete a K-ETA or e-Arrival Card before travelling (click here to visit the K-ETA official website).
• e-Arrival Card official website.

If you require a letter of invitation to accompany your visa application, please contact the designated Event Manager for this event.

If you require supporting documentation, please contact the Event Manager well in advance.

Important Communication Information

ISTA business days are Monday to Friday, and we aim to respond to all emails within three business days.

ISTA staff do not monitor emails on weekends (Saturday & Sunday) or public holidays. If a staff member is working at an event, response times may be longer than usual.

2 evening meals, 3 lunches and daily snacks will be provided at this event. Please note this does not include an evening meal the night before the event starts.

Appropriate attire

Participants should bring comfortable clothing suitable for physically active workshops, collaborative creative work, and film production activities.

Smart-casual attire may also be useful for evening screenings, presentations, or shared performances.

All attire, both during the event and while spending time at the hotel or in the local area, should be respectful of the host country, host school, and the diverse international community of participants.

Please note:

• Workshops may involve movement-based activities and practical production work
• Footwear and jewellery may need to be removed for certain sessions
• Chewing gum is not permitted in workshop spaces

Materials & equipment

• Pens, pencils, highlighters, or other note-taking materials
• Refillable water bottle
• A personal device for filming or editing (phone, tablet, or laptop)
• Charging cable and any necessary plug adapters

Additional materials requested by Workshop Leaders will be shared in the e-Programme closer to the event.

This festival takes a tech-lite approach to storytelling. Please avoid bringing bulky, expensive, or high-end equipment. ISTA and the host school cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage, or theft of personal belongings.

Information Pack

A detailed digital programme will be shared two weeks prior to the event, outlining schedules, artist biographies, and key event information.