AI Powerhouse Korea, Director Oh Dong-ha's AI Film 'Zero' Conquers Japan After the U.S.!

Director Oh Dong-ha's film 〈Zero (ZERO)〉 has achieved another success in Japan following Hollywood. On November 2nd, at the AI Film Festival Japan held in Tokyo, the film 〈Zero〉 won the Best AI Critic award for the best AI film selected by AI.

The AI Film Festival Japan is the first film festival in Japan specialized in AI-based creations. With the theme of 'the fusion of narratives and art created by AI and humans, and the value of creation that opens the future through storytelling,' creators from Japan and around the world showcase works that break the boundaries between technology and art. Director Oh Dong-ha's film 〈Zero〉 is recognized as a representative work that embodies the harmony of AI technology and human narrative, and the depth of emotion, winning the Best AI Critic award. The Best AI Critic award was a hot topic as it was the first work selected by AI from 440 entries submitted from 43 countries worldwide. With this award, Director Oh Dong-ha became the first director to conquer both the U.S. and Japan's major AI film festivals, following his four awards at the AI International Film Festival held in Hollywood last October. He is gaining attention in the global film industry for creating a new trend in AI films that connects Asia and North America with just one work, changing the standards of AI films.

〈Zero (ZERO)〉 is a near-future sci-fi drama depicting the journey of genius writer Jang Yoo, who was mentioned as a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature, as he is stripped of literary honors by the AI novelist 'Zero' and seeks out its developer, Vera. The film features Lee Sang-hee, who left a strong impression as the glassmaker in 〈Squid Game〉 Season 1, in the lead role, and is completed as a hybrid film combining live-action and AI technology. The work is highly regarded for its narrative that questions the essence of human creation, the authenticity of emotions, and the value of humanity. Director Oh Dong-ha expressed his aspirations for his next project, stating, "I am currently preparing a mid-length AI hybrid film with famous domestic actors, a vertical short-form series, and a feature-length AI film project simultaneously. I want to show that Korean AI films can become a new standard in the world."

This award is symbolically seen as a result showing that Korea is emerging as a center for the new art genre of AI films. Director Oh Dong-ha's film 〈Zero〉 has proven the technological prowess, narrative power, and artistic quality of Korean AI films by conquering both Hollywood and Japan's AI film festivals. It is significant as it shows that K-culture is expanding into the realm of AI-based storytelling and visual arts, following music, drama, and games. 〈Zero (ZERO)〉 can be viewed through the YouTube channel 'Channel Mosaic' of Mosaic Film, which is represented by Director Oh Dong-ha.