[Focus] Koreeda Hirokazu, Park Chan-wook, and Lee Jung-jae, 'Hot' at Cannes Film Festival

The 75th Cannes Film Festival Opens in May
Invited Films Announced on the 14th
'Broker', 'Decision to Leave', 'Hunt' Likely to Participate
Which Korean Film Will Shine?

Photo by Bonji DB, Artist Company, Tcast

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Who will receive the invitation to this year's Cannes Film Festival? Attention is growing on whether Palme d'Or-winning director Koreeda Hirokazu, 'Cannes Park' Park Chan-wook, and globally rising star Lee Jung-jae will walk the red carpet as directors.

The 75th Cannes International Film Festival will be held from May 14 to 25 in the southern French resort city of Cannes. Ahead of this, the festival secretariat will announce the official invited works on the 14th (local time). On that day, the invitation list including competition and non-competition sections will be revealed, and detailed screening and press conference schedules will be announced later.

The 73rd Cannes Film Festival only announced official selections due to the pandemic. After a brief pause, the world's film industry's attention turned to Cannes, and the 74th festival opened offline after establishing its own quarantine system.

Last year's competition section featured more dazzling works than ever. Unfortunately, Korean films were not included in the competition, but 'Emergency Declaration' (director Han Jae-rim) was screened in the non-competition section, maintaining pride. Lead actors Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, and Im Si-wan walked the red carpet in July last year and received applause. Song Kang-ho served as a juror for the first time as a male actor, and Lee Byung-hun presented the Best Actress trophy on stage at the closing ceremony. Last year's Cannes went beyond normalization and had already regained its usual atmosphere. According to local coverage, the passion for films was hotter than ever.

That passionate flame is now expected to ignite brightly in the Korean film industry. 'Broker,' which brings together director Koreeda Hirokazu, who won the Palme d'Or at the 71st Cannes International Film Festival (2018) with 'Shoplifters,' and lead actor Song Kang-ho of 'Parasite' (director Bong Joon-ho), the Palme d'Or winner at the 72nd Cannes International Film Festival the following year, is likely to enter this year's competition section. The film depicts the unexpected journey of people connected around a baby box.

Photo by Showbox, CJ ENM

Photo by CJ ENM

As Japanese and Korean filmmakers who have lifted the Palme d'Or trophy one after another unite, they are expected to attract the attention of filmmakers visiting Cannes. Additionally, Song Kang-ho, who served as a juror at last year's Cannes Film Festival, is expected to be invited as an actor this year, potentially walking the Lumi?re red carpet for three consecutive years.

Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to Leave,' which was not submitted last year due to post-production reasons, is expected to be invited this year. Director Park received the Jury Prize and Jury Grand Prix for 'Oldboy' (2003) and 'Thirst' (2009), respectively, and competed in the competition section with 'The Handmaiden' in 2016. The following year, he was selected as a juror. He is a director closely associated with Cannes, earning the nickname 'Cannes Park.'

This year, Park returns to Cannes with his new work 'Decision to Leave.' The film tells the story of a detective investigating a death in the mountains who, after meeting the deceased's wife, feels both suspicion and interest. It stars Tang Wei, Park Hae-il, Go Kyung-pyo, and Park Yong-woo.

If both 'Broker' and 'Decision to Leave' enter the Cannes Film Festival competition section, CJ ENM will set a record as the first domestic distributor to have two works competing simultaneously.

Actor Lee Jung-jae, who rose to global stardom with 'Squid Game,' is attracting attention for whether his directorial debut 'Hunt' will be invited to Cannes. If Lee attends Cannes as a director, it is expected to draw significant attention not only domestically but also from foreign media. There is a possibility of invitation in the section spotlighting new directors or the non-competition section.

'Hunt' depicts the story of a National Intelligence Service agent chasing a North Korean spy chief and confronting a huge truth. Lee Jung-jae stars and directs, with Jung Woo-sung co-starring. There is also interest in whether the 'Cheongdam-dong Couple' Jung Woo-sung will join the Cannes red carpet.

Photo by CJ ENM, Lotte Entertainment

Foreign media are naming director Ryu Seung-wan's 'Smugglers' as a likely invitee to the Cannes Film Festival. Director Ryu, who visited Cannes with 'Crying Fist' (2005), is attracting attention for whether he will return to Cannes after 17 years with 'Smugglers.'

The Cannes Film Festival is reportedly showing more interest in Korean films than ever before. Cannes is steadily paying attention to the passionate love for films from domestic filmmakers. The lineup of filmmakers walking the red carpet this year is expected to be more dazzling than ever. Expectations are rising to see familiar faces light up Cannes day and night in May.