Kim Do-yeon × Ando Sakura in the Lead! Jeong Juri’s New Film ‘Dora’ Invited to the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival!

On Tuesday, April 14, the Executive Committee of the Directors’ Fortnight of the 79th Cannes Film Festival announced Jeong Juri’s new film 〈Dora〉 as an invited title. Following Jeong Juri’s previous works 〈Dohyiya〉 (A Noteworthy View) and 〈The Next So-hee〉 (Closing Film of Critics’ Week), this marks a further milestone: Jeong Juri’s directorial work 〈Dora〉 has been invited in its entirety to the Cannes Film Festival as she continues to build a distinct cinematic world.

Julien Reji, Chair of the Directors’ Fortnight Executive Committee at the Cannes Film Festival, said, “Jeong Juri’s new film is a free and original movie inspired by the early 20th-century Freud case study ‘Dora.’ Within the context of Korean cinema, through a bold and original approach, Jeong Juri explores a young woman’s desires and the fervor and confusion that emerge from them. We are very happy to present this work—Jeong Juri’s third feature film and a highly accomplished production—at the Directors’ Fortnight.” he added.

〈Dora〉 portrays the process of two people—wounded in both body and mind—being swept into a whirlwind of complicated emotions through Jeong Juri’s uniquely delicate direction. In particular, Kim Do-yeon, who burst onto the scene as a rising star in Korean cinema after winning the Best New Actress award at the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards, joins forces with Ando Sakura, who has won the Best Actress award at the Japan Academy Awards three times for 〈Love and Poison〉, 〈Somebody’s Family〉, and 〈Monster〉. The meeting between these two has drawn attention early on. Moreover, as an international co-production project that received investment and production support from France, Luxembourg, and Japan, it adds further significance. The film was also selected for the mid-budget Korean film production support program newly established in 2025 by the Korean Film Promotion Committee, raising expectations even further.

The Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival is a non-competition section established in 1969 by the French Directors Guild. Along with world-renowned masters, domestic directors have also been invited, such as Director Lee Chang-dong of 〈Peppermint Candy〉 (2000), Director Bong Joon-ho of 〈The Host〉 (2006), and Director Yeon Sang-ho of 〈Train to Busan〉 (2012). The 79th Cannes Film Festival Directors’ Fortnight will be held from May 13 to 23, 2026, and 〈Dora〉 is set to be unveiled as a world premiere through this section.