Hwang Jung Min, Jo In Sung Head to Cannes Film Festival Competition

Director Na Hong-jin's new film "Hope" has been invited to the competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival. The Cannes Film Festival executive committee announced this news at a press conference on the 9th (local time). This marks the first time a Korean film has entered the Cannes competition section in four years, since director Park Chan-wook's "Decision to Leave" in 2022.

"Hope" is the Korean film with the largest production cost among released films, with over 50 billion won invested in its production. It is an SF thriller depicting a village and a mystery that unfolds when an unknown entity appears near the demilitarized zone in the fictional port town of Hopo. The film features Korean actors such as Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Uhm Tae-goo, and Lee Sang-hee, as well as Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander.

With the invitation of "Hope," director Na Hong-jin has set a record of having all of his feature films invited to the Cannes Film Festival. His debut film "The Chaser" was screened in the Midnight Screening section in 2008, "The Yellow Sea" in the Un Certain Regard section in 2010, and "The Wailing" in the non-competition section in 2016. "Hope" is director Na's first film invited to the competition section.

"Hope" is director Na Hong-jin's latest work, known for captivating audiences with its high-quality mise-en-scène and direction, and it is a film receiving immense anticipation both domestically and internationally. In particular, there were speculations that its submission might be uncertain due to extensive post-production work, but it was invited to the competition section through the customary practice of the Cannes Film Festival extending the submission deadline.

Meanwhile, at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, director Park Chan-wook served as the Jury President for the competition section, the first Korean and second Asian director to do so, elevating the status of Korean cinema. The festival will be held in Cannes, France, from May 12th to 23rd.