Yeon Sang-ho, Kore-eda to discuss at Toronto festival as ‘Paradise Lost’ returns for second straight year

Two of the leading directors from South Korea and Japan will meet at North America’s largest film festival. Director 'Yeon Sang-ho', whose new film 'Paradise Lost' has been selected for the Special Presentations section of the 51st 'Toronto International Film Festival' (TIFF) for a second consecutive year, will discuss the future of the global content industry with Japanese director 'Hirokazu Kore-eda'.

Thriller about a return after nine years to heat up festival alongside 'Look Back'

CJ ENM said on Aug. 24 that the two directors will attend the official program 'TIFF Summit: Dialogues' together on Sept. 14. The section serves as a key forum where leading creators driving the global screen industry exchange views on the essence of storytelling and the mechanics of production.

During the discussion, 'Yeon Sang-ho' and 'Hirokazu Kore-eda' will share not only how they built their distinctive creative worlds but also practical expertise in adapting 'intellectual property' (IP). They are also expected to engage in an in-depth analysis of how the narrative power of Asian cinema can secure sustained opportunities for expansion in global markets.

'Paradise Lost', which will premiere for North American audiences, is a thriller about the chilling fissures that emerge after Sun-woo, a missing son, returns home nine years later. Kim Hyun-joo and Bae Hyeon-seong lead the cast, promising tightly wound suspense. 'Hirokazu Kore-eda''s new film 'Look Back', which was invited alongside it, is also one of the festival's most talked-about titles. The animated film is based on the manga of the same name by Tatsuki Fujimoto, best known for 'Chainsaw Man,' giving both directors a shared connection through their reinterpretation of original IP.

'Paradise Lost' and 'Look Back', both of which have demonstrated their artistic credentials on the global stage, will receive official theatrical releases in South Korea in October. Observers are watching to see whether the moves by the two acclaimed directors, whose work has drawn attention from the film industry far beyond Asia, will reshape the fall box-office landscape.