South Korean sellers arrive in Cannes with an eclectic selection of titles, including the latest from Train To Busan’s Yeon Sang-ho and The Roundup’s Lee Sang-yong.
Boy
Dir. Lee Sang-deok
Set in a fictional crime-ridden city, Boy centres on two brothers who oversee a lawless region, under the control of a boss named Mad Hatter. When one of the brothers falls for a newcomer to the region, they plan a daring escape. Cho Byeong-kyu (The Uncanny Counter) and Yoo In-soo (All Of Us Are Dead) play the brothers alongside singer-turned-actor Choi Yun-jin and Seo In-guk. Director Lee first gained attention for 2019’s Film Adventure. Produced by Albatross Film, a release is planned in Q3.
Contact: M-Line Distribution
Colony
Dir. Yeon Sang-ho
This zombie thriller is the latest from Yeon, the acclaimed director of Cannes selections Train To Busan and Peninsula. It follows the spread of an unidentified virus that leads to the lockdown of a building, while the infected evolve in unpredictable ways. The cast is led by Gianna Jun (Assassination), Koo Kyo-hwan (Escape), Ji Chang-wook (Revolver) and Shin Hyun-been (Revelations). Produced by Wow Point and Smilegate in association with Midnight Studio, Colony is in production ahead of a planned release in 2026.
Contact: Showbox
Journey There
Dir. Kim Jin-yu
US actor Justin H Min, known for Netflix series Beef and Cannes 2021 title After Yang, stars in this drama alongside veteran actress Kim Hye-ok. It follows an elderly woman dealing with the sudden death of her husband who finds solace in a new neighbour. It marks the second feature of Kim after 2018 family drama Bori, which premiered at Busan and won the Directors Guild of Korea Award. Produced by Pado Production, Journey There receives its market premiere screening in Cannes.
Contact: Finecut
Number One
Dir. Kim Tae-yong
Parasite stars Choi Woo-shik and Jang Hye-jin reunite in this fantasy drama about a young man who sees the number 365 when eating his mother’s homemade meal and watches the figure drop with each bite. Believing it to be a countdown to her death, he distances himself but has to face it again years later. Director Kim’s short Frozen Land was selected for Cinéfondation at Cannes in 2010 while Set Me Free, which also starred Choi, won acclaim in 2014. A local release will be handled by By4M Studio.
Contact: K-Movie Entertainment
Pig Village
Dir. Lee Sang-yong
This gritty thriller, billed as the biggest English-language film ever made through the Korean studio system, reunites star Don Lee with the director behind two instalments of blockbuster franchise The Roundup. Set on the US-Mexico border, Lee plays a bare-knuckle boxer caught in a web of corruption after botching a fixed fight. The ensemble cast includes Michael Rooker (Guardians Of The Galaxy), Ali Ahn (Agatha All Along) and Abraham Popoola (The Marvels). Lee produces through his Big Punch Pictures banner alongside Nova Film and B&C Content. The film is jointly presented by ABO Entertainment and is shooting now.
Contact: Plus M Entertainment
Project Y
Dir. Lee Hwan
Set in the most dangerous part of Seoul’s Gangnam district, two friends work to escape their dangerous lifestyles. Faced with a dead end, they discover a hidden fortune of dirty cash and bet on one final high-stakes gamble in a bid to escape. The cast is led by Han So-hee of Netflix series Gyeongseong Creature and Jun Jong-seo of Netflix film Ballerina. It marks the third feature of director Lee after 2018’s Park Hwa-young and 2020’s Young Adult Matters, which picked up awards following its premiere at Busan.
Contact: Plus M Entertainment
Seven O’Clock Breakfast Club For The Brokenhearted
Dir. Lim Sun Ae
This romantic drama begins at a breakfast club where two heartbroken people stumble on mysterious ‘breakup souvenirs’, which they relate to, leading them to search for the owner. The cast is led by K-pop star Bae Suzy of romance Architecture 101 and Netflix series Doona! alongside Lee Jin Uk, most recently seen in the second season of Squid Game. Lim previously directed An Old Lady and Ms. Apocalypse, which played at Busan in 2019 and 2023 respectively. Produced by W/A Studio, a release in set for later this year.
Contact: KT Studiogenie
Sisterhood
Dir. Yoon Eun-kyoung
This mystery thriller centres on a recently divorced novelist who moves to a house in the countryside with her daughter. A young woman enters their lives, causing a subtle rift in their relationship. The cast includes Kim Joo-ryoung (Squid Game), Han Ji-hyeon (Revelations) and Choi Myeong-been (Itaewon Class). Director Yoon is known for The Tenants, which won two awards at Singapore International Film Festival in 2023. Produced by iNew Company, Sisterhood has been selected for this year’s Cannes market genre showcase Fantastic 7.
Contact: Hive Filmworks
Teaching Practice: Idiot Girls And School Ghost
Dir. Kim Min-ha
Following comedy horror Idiot Girls And School Ghost: School Anniversary, director Kim returns with a new cast and story. It follows a rookie teacher who must survive a ghost-run version of a college entrance exam in order to rescue students who have traded their souls for better grades. The cast includes Han Seon-hwa of 2024 box-office hit Pilot, Yoo Seon-ho and Hong Ye-ji from Toronto 2023 drama A Normal Family. The film picked up a prize at Bifan’s Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) project market last summer.
Contact: Redice Entertainment
Ugly Duckling Ms. Maeng
Dir. Lee Yong-jae
This comedy centres on a smalltown teacher who unexpectedly joins the team responsible for creating South Korea’s most important college exam. She finds herself locked away under spy-level security, her phone confiscated and surrounded by office politics. The cast is led by Lee Sun-bin of recent feature Noise and TV series Work Later, Drink Now, alongside Yoo Jae-myong from box-office hits Harbin and Firefighters. It marks the directing debut of Lee, who previously wrote the scripts for features Secret Zoo and In Our Prime. It is produced by Joy Rabbit.
Contact: Barunson E&A
The Wild River
Dir. Kim Sung-kyu
Park Yong-woo, known for Park Chan-wook’s Cannes 2022 award-winner Decision To Leave, stars in this drama about a renowned perfumer who crosses paths with a former schoolfriend, sparking long-buried memories. The cast also features Lee Sung-wook of Toronto 2022 selection Project Wolf Hunting and 2023’s Noryang: Deadly Sea (also starring Park). Legend Film and Joyakdol Film are behind the feature, which is currently in post-production ahead of a planned local release later this year.
Contact: Contents Panda
Your Letter
Dir. Kim Yong-hwan
This animation follows a girl named So-ri who transfers to a new school in the countryside after helping a friend who is being bullied, while also being bullied herself. There she discovers a letter from Ho-yeon, who used to sit in her classroom seat. Based on a webtoon series of the same name by author Cho Hyeon A, the film’s voice cast is led by Lee Suhyun of music group AKMU. Your Letter is produced by Studio N — a co-producer on hit series including Sweet Home and films such as Unlocked — and Studio Lico. The animation played as the opening film of the 2024 Bucheon International Animation Festival, where it won the jury prize.
Contact: Lotte Entertainment
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