Korean Films 'The Hive' and 'Hope' Invited to 79th Cannes Film Festival

The films 'The Hive' directed by Yeon Sang-ho and 'Hope' directed by Na Hong-jin have been invited to the 79th Cannes Film Festival, with 'The Hive' in the Midnight Screening section and 'Hope' in the Competition section. Notably, 'Hope' marks the first Korean film to enter the Competition section in four years, following 'Decision to Leave' and 'Broker' in 2022. Additionally, director Park Chan-wook will serve as the first Korean jury president for the Competition section, drawing even more attention to this year's Cannes Film Festival.

On the 9th (Korean time), the Cannes Film Festival's executive committee held an official press conference to announce the selections.

Yeon Sang-ho's 'The Hive' has been selected for the Midnight Screening section. Starring Jun Ji-hyun and Ji Chang-wook, 'The Hive' tells the story of survivors battling evolving infected individuals in a quarantined area due to a mysterious infection outbreak. The film's selection highlights its blend of genre and mainstream appeal, showcasing Yeon Sang-ho's distinctive genre direction to a global audience once again.

With this invitation, director Yeon Sang-ho continues his record of Cannes invitations, following 'The King of Pigs,' 'Train to Busan,' and 'Peninsula.' He expressed his excitement, stating, "I'm thrilled to present my work at Cannes, a festival for filmmakers worldwide. I will proudly introduce Korean genre films." For actors Jun Ji-hyun, Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hyun-bin, Kim Shin-rok, and Go Soo, this marks their first appearance at Cannes, adding significance to the occasion.

Na Hong-jin's new film 'Hope' has been officially invited to the Competition section of the Cannes Film Festival. The Competition section is a core segment, selecting around 20 films worldwide, and 'Hope' is the first Korean film to be included in four years.

'Hope' is an SF action thriller depicting strange events in a village near the Demilitarized Zone, featuring a global cast including Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Michael Fassbender, and Alicia Vikander. With this invitation, director Na Hong-jin has achieved the feat of having all his directed works invited to Cannes. He expressed his honor, stating, "It's an honor. I will continue to work hard in the remaining time."

Furthermore, with Park Chan-wook serving as the jury president for the Competition section, the stature of Korean cinema has been elevated. This marks the first time a Korean director has taken on this role.

With a diverse spectrum of films, from genre to auteur cinema, being invited simultaneously, and a Korean director as the jury president, this year's Cannes Film Festival holds special significance for Korean film fans.

The 79th Cannes Film Festival will be held from May 12 to May 23 in Cannes, France.

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr