Lee Chang-dong Wins Ebert Director Award at TIFF—the First Korean to Reach the Top Ranks; New Film 'A Possible Love' to Be Released in September

The first Korean to join the ranks of masters, 'A Possible Love' unveiled on Nov. 6

Another landmark chapter has been added to Korean film history. 'Lee Chang-dong' has achieved a first for Korean cinema by taking home 'the Ebert Director Award' at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), cementing his status as a world-class filmmaker. In a statement released 'Netflix' on the 30th, the director was named as the final winner of the Tribute Awards at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, proving once again his singular position as a master of global cinema.

The Tribute Awards are a prestigious ceremony that honors the cinematic achievements of figures who have made significant contributions to the film industry. The festival said, "We celebrate the achievements of a pioneering director who has led groundbreaking changes and presented an original vision," underscoring the meaning of the tribute. Until now, it has been the first time that a Korean director has been listed for this honor, at a place where renowned filmmakers who have dominated Hollywood and the world film scene—such as 'Guillermo del Toro', 'Sam Mendes', and 'Denis Villeneuve'—had all previously left their mark.

Along with the honor, the director’s new film 'A Possible Love' will also be unveiled on the global stage. The project has received an official invitation to the Special Presentations section of this year’s festival, which runs from Sept. 10 to Sept. 20. Featuring top-tier Korean actors including 'Jeon Do-yeon', 'Sol Kyung-gu', 'Jo In-sung', and 'Cho Yeo-jeong', the film delves with a sharp eye into the intersecting lives and private desires of two couples drawn together through the medium of documentary filmmaking.

The film’s global rollout is swift and unswerving. After it was first unveiled to audiences worldwide in the competitive section of the 83rd 'Venice International Film Festival', it will move through Toronto as organizers gauge North American viewers’ reactions. In South Korea, audiences will first get a look at this overwhelming narrative through a pre-release that runs in some theaters on Sept. 23, followed by a simultaneous worldwide streaming rollout to more than 190 countries on Nov. 6 via 'Netflix'.