[Exclusive] 'Cannes Golden Camera Award Nominee' Lee Jung-jae's Meaningful Meeting with Park Chan-wook (Comprehensive)

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75th Cannes Film Festival Site

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Rookie director Lee Jung-jae meets director Park Chan-wook. Director Park, who led the trust in Korean cinema at the Cannes Film Festival with "Oldboy" (2003), shares a meaningful moment with Lee Jung-jae, who was nominated for the Cam?ra d'Or.

Lee Jung-jae's directorial debut "Hunt" was invited to the Midnight Screening in the non-competitive section of the 75th Cannes Film Festival this year and was screened on the 19th. Additionally, director Lee Jung-jae was nominated for the Cam?ra d'Or, which judges and awards the best first feature film among all new directors invited to the Cannes Film Festival.

Director Lee Jung-jae, who is fully engaged in local schedules including numerous foreign media interviews, will attend the Cam?ra d'Or nominees' gathering and the premiere screening of Park Chan-wook's "Decision to Leave" at 6 PM on the 23rd (local time). This is in accordance with the tradition where all Cam?ra d'Or nominees gather annually to attend the screening of one film in the competition section.

This year, considering the schedule and other factors, the competition section invitation "Decision to Leave" was chosen. Although it was a naturally decided work, the fact that a Korean film was selected draws attention.

Director Park Chan-wook has achieved his fourth competition entry this year, starting with the Jury Prize-winning "Oldboy" at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, followed by "Thirst" which won the Jury Prize in 2009, and "The Handmaiden" invited to the competition section in 2016. It is particularly special that Lee Jung-jae, who became a global star with "Squid Game," enters the Cannes Film Festival as a rookie director and meets director Park as a Cam?ra d'Or nominee.

On that day, Lee Jung-jae will wear a tuxedo and walk the red carpet for "Decision to Leave." Jung Woo-sung, who finished the official schedule for "Hunt," will depart on the 23rd, but Lee Jung-jae plans to leave Cannes after completing remaining foreign media interviews and Cam?ra d'Or related schedules.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Foreign media interest in Lee Jung-jae is also intense. It is said that over 1,200 media outlets applied for interviews locally. While managing a tightly packed schedule in 10-minute increments, he plans to diligently continue his schedule as a Cam?ra d'Or nominee.

Moreover, there is fierce movement to secure Lee Jung-jae as a producer. He is an actor, director, producer, and production company head. It is reported that the enthusiasm from various countries collaborating with Artist Studio at the Cannes Film Festival is very high.

In an interview with Asia Economy on the 21st, Lee Jung-jae hinted, "Interest in K-content is extremely high, and I feel there is a lot of interest in my next production film. Since there are expectations for global projects and joint work with overseas productions and actors, Artist Studio plans to keep possibilities open and work on these aspects, even if we are not the frontrunner."

Cannes (France) = Reporter Lee Isul