This year, no Korean films will be present in the major institutional sectors of the Cannes Film Festival. Not a single film received an invitation. This marks the first time in 12 years since 2013.
The Cannes Film Festival organizing committee held a press conference on the 10th (local time) at the UGC Montmartre theater in Paris, France, announcing the official selections for this year's festival, including both competitive and non-competitive institutional sectors for the 78th Cannes Film Festival.
According to the list announced that day, a total of 24 films were invited to the competitive institutional sector. Among U.S. films, those that received invitations include Richard Linklater's "Nouvelle Vague," Wes Anderson's "The Finishing Scheme," Kelly Reichardt's "Mastermind," and Ari Aster's "Eddington." European films competing for the Palme d'Or include Joachim Trier's "Sentimental Value" from Norway, Julia Ducournau's "Alpha" from France, and the Dardenne brothers' "The Young Mother's Home" from Belgium.
In contrast, Korean films were not named even once in the competitive institutional sector, as well as in the non-competitive sector, midnight screenings, noteworthy gaze, or Cannes premieres.
It has been reported that films by director Yeon Sang-ho, including "Face," Kim Mi-jo's "Gyeongju Trip," and Kim Byeong-woo's "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint," were submitted but did not receive invitations. Director Park Chan-wook's new film, "No Other Choice," and director Na Hong-jin's "Hope," both regulars at the Cannes Film Festival, were unable to submit as post-production has not yet been completed.
It is highly unusual for no Korean feature films to be invited to the Cannes Film Festival. This is the first time since 2013 that, excluding the short film competition sector with "Safe," no films have made it to the major institutional sectors. Since the 2000s, the Cannes Film Festival has invited at least 1 to 2 Korean films each year, and as many as 3 to 4 films in some years.
In particular, for the third consecutive year, no invited films have been presented in the competitive institutional sector, which competes for the top prize, the Palme d'Or. In 2019, director Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" won the Palme d'Or, and in 2022, director Park Chan-wook received the Best Director award for "Decision to Leave," while actor Song Kang-ho won the Best Actor award for "Broker." Last year, director Ryu Seung-wan's "Veteran 2" was screened in the non-competitive midnight screening sector.
However, the Cannes Film Festival has a history of announcing additional invited films after its official announcement, so it is not entirely impossible for Korean films to receive invitations. There are expectations that Korean films could still be named in sections yet to be announced, such as the Directors' Fortnight and Critics' Week.
This year's Cannes Film Festival will open on the 13th of next month and conclude on the 24th. French actress Juliette Binoche will serve as the jury chair for the competitive institutional sector.