Song Joong-ki Going to Cannes Film Festival: "I Will Enjoy the Festival of Filmmakers"

Director Kim Chang-hoon Invited to Notable Screening of 'Hwalan'

Actor Song Joong-ki [Photo by Reuters·Yonhap News]

Actor Song Joong-ki shared his thoughts upon receiving his first-ever invitation to the Cannes Film Festival.

The film Hwaran was officially invited to the 'Un Certain Regard' section of the 76th Cannes Film Festival. Director Kim Chang-hoon and lead actors including Song Joong-ki plan to attend the festival, which opens on the 16th of next month in the southern French city of Cannes, to participate in the official screening and other events.

On the 21st, Song Joong-ki expressed through the distributor Plus M Entertainment, "I feel honored and excited." He added, "Hwaran was a set filled with the passionate and pure enthusiasm of all the actors and staff," and said, "I am happy to present a work that was made with such intensity on the global stage."

He said, "The intense feeling I had when I first read the script, combined with the thought that soon the audience will feel it too, doubled my joy. Since it is a festival for filmmakers, I will fully enjoy it and return."

[Photo by Plus M Entertainment]

The 'Un Certain Regard' section aims to discover talented young directors and showcase works that are original and aesthetically outstanding. Past invitees include director Bong Joon-ho’s Mother (2009) and director Na Hong-jin’s The Yellow Sea (2010). Director Kim Chang-hoon is celebrating the joy of being invited to Cannes with his feature film debut Hwaran.

Director Kim said, "I am grateful to the actors and production team who dedicated themselves to the film, and I am happy and relieved that their hard work can shine." He added, "I am thankful to be part of this dream-like festival for all filmmakers."

Hwaran is a noir drama depicting the story of Yeon-gyu, a boy who wants to escape a hellish reality and meets Chigeon, a mid-level boss of an organization, leading him into a precarious world.

Rookie actor Hong Sa-bin, who plays the role of the 18-year-old boy Yeon-gyu with no one to rely on, said, "I am honored and grateful to be part of such a wonderful film," and added, "I also want to express my thanks to the many staff members who worked hard up to the festival announcement."