79th Cannes Film Festival Opens… Hong Jin-na’s “Hope” Aims for the Palme d’Or

[The Opening of the 79th Cannes Film Festival] All eyes from the global film world focus on Cannes, France

The 79th Cannes International Film Festival will open in Cannes, a southern French city, on the 12th (local time). This year’s festival is expected to become a stage that proves the overwhelming status of “Korean cinema” like never before. Global media and film critics are closely watching the moves of Korean filmmakers as they chase the highest honor, “the Palme d’Or.”

Returns to the competitive lineup after four years, and Na Hong-jin’s comeback sparks the birth of a global blockbuster

“Na Hong-jin”’s new film “Hope” is drawing worldwide attention as it returns to the competitive lineup after four years. “Hope” will reveal its secrets for the first time through a world premiere screening at the Lumière Grand Theatre in Cannes on the 17th in the afternoon.

Set against the fight for survival against an unknown presence appearing at the Ho-po port in the Demilitarized Zone, the film features “Hwang Jung-min”, “Jo In-sung”, “Jung Ho-yeon”, along with an impressive roster of global stars including “Michael Fassbender” and “Alicia Vikander”. After “Park Chan-wook”’s “Decision to Leave” in 2022 and “Broker” by director Hirokazu Kore-eda, “Hope”, which brings success after four years, will go head-to-head in competition with 21 works by world-class masters. Ahead of the screening, the lead actors and director will walk the red carpet together, lighting up the night in Cannes.

First Korean to be named Jury President, and a wide-ranging show of strength for K-movie

The biggest milestone of this year’s Cannes Film Festival is that “Park Chan-wook” has been appointed as “Jury President” for the competitive section, the first time a Korean filmmaker has been selected for the role. It is an achievement that will be remembered in the history of Korean cinema. In addition, actor “Park Ji-min”, who is active in France, joined as a jury member for short and student films, further amplifying its significance.

Even in the non-competitive sections, “K-movie” continues to make its bold impact. Director “Yeon Sang-ho”’s new film “Guntche” has received an official invitation to the Midnight Screening section, a holy place for genre films. The film depicts a survival drama inside a building sealed off by an unidentified virus, and stars “Jun Ji-hyun”, “Koo Kyo-hwan”, and “Ji Chang-wook” as leads, ready to ignite genre fans around the world by midnight on the 15th.

Meanwhile, “Jung Ju-ri”’s new film “Dora” was invited to Directors’ Fortnight. Drawing with sensitivity the emotional arcs of two wounded characters, the film features “Kim Do-yeon”, an actress who debuted from the group Weki Meki, and Japan’s renowned actress “Ando Sakura”, hinting at synergy that transcends borders.