Korean Film Biz Zone - Korean Film News

Oscar-Qualifying Busan Returns at Largest Scale Since 2019

20260918

A poster for the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) / Courtesy of BIFFThe 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) runs Oct. 6 to 15 at the Busan Cinema Center and surrounding venues. This is the first edition since the International Federation of Film Producers Associations named Busan one of its 17 A-list festivals, and the first in which the top prize carries awards-season weight. The winner of the Busan Award for Best Film now qualifies for submission in the Academy Awards' Best International Feature Film category, placing Busan among the six festivals that confer that status alongside Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance and Toronto. The official selection totals 246 films from 59 countries, the largest since 2019. Festival director Jung Han-seok told a press conference on Sept. 1 that Busan's international standing had risen sharply.Competition, and a First for AnimationThe Competition section, launched last year, fields 14 titles competing for the Busan Award. Korean

Park Chan-wook Returns to Extreme Violence With $60M Hollywood Western

20260916

Lee Byung-hun Park Chan-wook has described his next film as the most violent work of his career. Speaking on August 29 at Seoul Art Cinema, during a special screening marking the 20th anniversary of "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK," the director said the project contains more brutal scenes than anything he has made. He added that it is also a film about guilt and love.The film in question is "The Brigands of Rattlecreek," Park's first English-language feature since "Stoker" in 2013 and his first Western. The declaration signals a deliberate reversal. Park's two most recent films, "Decision to Leave" and "No Other Choice," both carried Korea's 15-and-over rating, a restrained register by his standards. He now appears to be returning to the intensity that defined "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance," "Oldboy" and "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance."The story follows a sheriff and a doctor who pursue a gang of bandits after the group uses the cover of a torrential thunderstorm to rob and ter

Lee Chang-dong Named Mill Valley Auteur Award Recipient

20260916

Poster for Possible Love Lee Chang-dong has been selected as the recipient of the Auteur Award at the 49th Mill Valley Film Festival. He is the first Korean filmmaker to receive the honor. In announcing the selection on September 3, Netflix also revealed that Lee's new feature, Possible Love, has been invited to the festival's Spotlight program.Launched in 1977 and organized by the California Film Institute, the Mill Valley Film Festival is held each October in Mill Valley, California. Its programming centers on independent films, art-house cinema, and documentaries. The Auteur Award recognizes a filmmaker's sustained creative vision and achievements in cinema, while Spotlight is a program that introduces new work by artists who have built a distinctive body of work.Two Couples Drawn Together by a Documentary ShootPossible Love follows two married couples whose lives become entangled through a documentary shoot. Ho-seok, a laid-off worker, and his wife Mi-ok, along with

Record-High KRW 25.77 Billion in Support: 16 Korean Films Selected for 2026 Supplementary-Budget Mid-Budget Korean Film Production Support

20260916

-KRW 25.77 billion in production support to be provided to 16 mid-budget Korean films selected under the 2026 supplementary budget-Eight projects by first-time directors selected, accounting for 50% of the total and exceeding the program’s minimum 30% quotaThe Korean Film Council (KOFIC, Chairperson Han Sang-jun) has selected 16 projects for the 2026 supplementary-budget Mid-Budget Korean Film Production Support Program and will provide a total of KRW 25.77 billion in funding.The Mid-Budget Korean Film Production Support Program was launched by KOFIC in 2025 to promote the production of mid-budget films, which play a central role in the Korean film industry, and to encourage private investment in order to establish a virtuous cycle across the industry.The program began with a budget of KRW 10 billion in 2025 and was expanded to KRW 19.86 billion under the 2026 main budget. Its funding scale has now been further increased through the supplementary budget.&n

Squid Game's Hwang Dong-hyuk Returns to Cinema with Sci-Fi Thriller 'K.O. Club'

20260911

Lee Byung-hun After the Netflix Phenomenon, Hwang Dong-hyuk Chose the Big ScreenWhat Hwang Dong-hyuk would do after Squid Game had been the most closely watched question in Korean content. Speculation ran in every direction: would the creator of one of Netflix's most-watched series ever stay with streaming, move to Hollywood, or take another route altogether? The answer was cinema.On August 27, production company Firstman Studio unveiled the cast of Hwang's new feature K.O. Club and confirmed that shooting will begin in the first half of 2027. A science-fiction thriller set in the near future, the film is written by Hwang himself and stars Lee Byung-hun. It marks his return to the big screen a decade after The Fortress (2017).Buying Youth in the Near Future, Where Generation Becomes a WeaponK.O. Club is short for "Killing Oldmen Club." The story unfolds in a near future where money can purchase youth itself, setting a small elite of older citizens — holdin

Overseas Pre-Sales Bring Down Korean Films' Break-Even Points

20260909

Director Yeon Sang-ho (left) and actress Jun Ji-hyun at the press conference for Colony*, held on May 6 at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Director Yeon Sang-ho's Paradise Lost recouped its entire net production budget of 500 million won through overseas pre-sales alone, before its domestic release. The director's other film, Colony, passed its break-even point of 3 million admissions just ten days after its May 21 release. Colony's net production budget was 17 billion won, meaning its break-even point based on theatrical revenue alone exceeded 5 million admissions.In the Korean film industry, the break-even point is typically calculated as roughly three times the production budget in ticket admissions. This is because about half of theatrical revenue goes to theaters, with distribution fees deducted as well. According to the Korean Film Council's (KOFIC) "Korean Film Profitability Analysis," released late last year, theatrical revenue still accounted

Lee Chang-dong's Possible Love Has World Premiere as Director's First Venice Competition Entry in 24 Years

20260908

Actors Zo In-sung (from left), Cho Yeo-jeong, Jeon Do-yeon, and Sul Kyung-gu attend a press conference for Possible Love at Hotel Naru Seoul – MGallery Collection in Mapo District, Seoul, on August 25. Lee Chang-dong's Possible Love had its world premiere in the Competition section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on September 6 (local time). Following the official screening at the Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema on Venice's Lido Island, the audience gave the film a six-minute standing ovation. Director Lee Chang-dong and lead actors Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong attended a photocall ahead of the screening.The 83rd Venice International Film Festival opened on September 2 and runs through September 12. This year's Competition lineup includes several films addressing contemporary issues, and actress-director Maggie Gyllenhaal serves as jury president. Winners, including the Golden Lion, the Competition's top prize, will b

As Kim Hyang-gi, Park Bo-gum, Jung Hae-in and Kang Ha-neul Take the Mic, Korean Animation Rewrites Its Marketing Playbook

20260904

Posters for "Gill," left, and "David" / Courtesy of ATNINE FILM and Lotte EntertainmentKorean animation studios, long challenged by the absence of established franchises or built-in fandoms, are increasingly turning to A-list live-action stars for voice casting as a core marketing strategy. Actors Jung Hae-in and Kang Ha-neul both take on their first voice roles in the animated feature "Gill" (Korean title: 아가미), based on the novel of the same name by Gu Byeong-mo, opening September 9. Their casting follows a similar pattern set by stars like Park Bo-gum and Kim Hyang-gi in recent animated releases — a trend that international trade press has already begun tracking as a distinct shift in how Korean animation markets itself.

Korean Film Council Launches “Special Committee for the Sustainable Development of Korean Cinema” with Film Industry Experts

20260903

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has launched the Special Committee for the Sustainable Development of Korean Cinema, bringing frontline industry professionals into a standing consultative body. At a moment when creation, production, investment and distribution are faltering simultaneously, the significance lies less in any single policy announcement than in the mechanism itself: for the first time, Korea's film policy agency and the industry it regulates will sit at the same table on a continuing basis. Diagnoses of the crisis have been plentiful in recent years, but the conversation has typically ended with the forum that hosted it. This committee is an attempt to build a channel from that conversation to actual policy.What was decidedKOFIC launched the committee and held its first official meeting on September 1 at the Film Education Support Center in Seoul. The body comprises four KOFIC commissioners, including Chairperson Han Sang-jun, alongside private-sector members drawn from ac

Announcement of Second-Half Selection Results for the KOFIC Co-Production Fund (KoCo Fund)

20260902

On September 1 (Tue), the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) announced the second-half selection results for the 2026 KOFIC Co-Production Fund (KoCo Fund).<2026 Second-Half KOFIC KOFIC Co-Production Fund (KoCo Fund)> Title Korean Prod. Foreign Prod. Director Subsidy (KRW) Tamako Jin Pictures Central Arts (Japan) Sakamoto Junji (Japan) 150 K Running CHAEUN Tomato Production Champion Star Pictures (Hong Kong) KIM Tae-yong 250 K Finding Mr. Destiny SOO Films Innicor Pictures (Indonesia) Hong Ji-young (Korea) 300 K Pudong Pudong Rainbow Factory Portico Media (Taiwan) KIMJHO Gwang-soo (Korea) 300 K Maiden Home Indiestory Screenworks Asia (Taiwan) / Infinite Studios (Singapore) SINN Ki-rin (Korea) 400 K The KOFIC Co-Production Fund (KoCo Fund) is a project launched for the first time this year, with a total budget of KRW 3 billion, supporting up to KRW 500 million per project. In the first half, a total of 4 works were selected. The budget for the 2027 KOFIC Co-Production Fu

Bong Joon-ho's First Animated Film 'Ally' Turns to Humanity's Relationship with Nature

20260902

Ally ©2026 V8 Pistons Pictures.Bong Joon-ho confronted class conflict head-on in "Parasite," the 2019 film that swept four Academy Awards. With his first feature-length animated film, "Ally," the director's gaze is now widening from human society to humanity's relationship with the natural world. Italian dailies La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera each published interviews with Bong on August 21 examining this shift, coverage that arrives just weeks before the director receives the Stella della Mole ("Star of the Mole") award at Turin's National Museum of Cinema on September 23."Ally" marks Bong's first feature as an animation director, with a screenplay he wrote himself alongside Jason Yu ("Sleep") as co-writer. Producer Seo Woo-sik, who previously worked with Bong on "Mother" and "Okja," oversees the project, marking their third collaboration. The film follows Ally, a young piglet squid living in the depths of the South Pacific who dreams of seeing the sun and becoming the star of

South Korea's 2026 Box Office Rebound: Genre Reliability Overtakes Auteur Prestige as the Industry Hits a New Inflection Point

20260901

Still from TAZZA: The Song of Beelzebub (Provided by CINE21)South Korea's theatrical market posted its strongest first half in years, with box office revenue reaching 579 billion won (approximately $414 million) and admissions hitting 57.05 million — up 41.9 percent and 34.2 percent, respectively, year-on-year. That puts revenue at 94.2 percent of the pre-pandemic (2017–2019) first-half average. Korean films drove the recovery, capturing a 63.9 percent revenue share (up 14.0 percentage points) and sweeping the top three spots at the box office: "The King's Warden" (16.91 million admissions), "Colony" (5.74 million) and "Salmokji: Whispering Water" (3.24 million). But the formula behind this rebound looks different from years past. Rather than a director's name carrying a film to success, genre clarity and the in-theater experience have become the deciding factors.Choi Chang-woo, head of CJ ENM's film planning and production team, summed up the first half with the keyword "unmistakable

Director Shim Hyung-rae's D-War Enters Netflix Top 10 in 20 Countries

20260828

Director Shim Hyung-rae's 2007 film D-War has climbed to No. 6 on Netflix's global film chart. In France, Germany, and Italy, it rose as high as No. 2. This comes 19 years after the film's domestic release on August 1, 2007.Netflix added the film to its catalog on August 6. According to streaming ranking aggregator sites, D-War ranked No. 6 on Netflix's global film chart on August 8 and 9, and No. 9 on August 11. The film appeared in the Top 10 charts of 20 countries.A Sci-Fi Fantasy Built on Korean Serpent Legend — Director Shim Hyung-rae on the International ResponseD-War draws on the Korean legend of the imugi — a serpent said to transform into a dragon after obtaining a magical wish-granting jewel known as the yeouiju — to tell a story of good versus evil unfolding in Los Angeles. The film is built on the premise that events from 16th-century Korea repeat themselves in present-day downtown Los Angeles, with an evil imugi and a good imugi battling over the yeouiju. American a

KOFIC, Korean Broadcasting Actors' Union, and Federation of Korea Movie Workers' Union Sign Joint Agreement for Win-Win Cooperation in the Film and Video Industry

20260828

- Cooperation to build stable employment conditions for actors and crew and expand casting opportunities- 'Win-win ecosystem' to be built connecting on-set staffing needs with production demand through shared union member informationThe Korean Film Council (KOFIC, Chairperson Han Sang-jun), together with the Korean Broadcasting Actors' Union (KBAU, Chairperson Kim Young-jin) and the Federation of Korea Movie Workers' Union (FKMWU, Chairperson Ahn Byung-ho), held a signing ceremony for the Joint Agreement for Win-Win Cooperation in the Film and Video Industry on Thursday, August 27. The ceremony was attended by KOFIC Chairperson Han Sang-jun, KBAU Secretary General Song Chang-gon, FKMWU Chairperson Ahn Byung-ho, and other key officials from each organization. The agreement was established to revitalize the use of on-set personnel amid recent difficulties in the production and investment environment. By building a framework for information-sharing and cooperation between the three

2026 Small Cinema Collection

20260828

- Held at 25 small cinemas nationwide under the concept "Our Neighborhood's Go-To Cinema"- 91 films to screen for free, with tie-in programs including cine-talks and film score concertsThe Korean Film Council (KOFIC; Chairperson Han Sang-jun) will hold the "2026 Small Cinema Collection" (the "Collection") at 25 small cinemas across the country, opening September 1 at Hallim Small Cinema in Jeju.This year's Collection is built around the concept "Our Neighborhood's Go-To Cinema," designed to let audiences revisit beloved films at their local theaters. It will present 91 films in total, centered on Korean films that captured widespread affection in the 2000s, including Ode to My Father, Miracle in Cell No. 7, and One Fine Spring Day. Notably, in partnership with the Korea Animation Producers Association (KAPA) and the Seoul Indie-AniFest, the program will also feature a range of domestic feature-length and short animated films.The Collection will run from September through No

Asia's Advance and the Rise of Local Cinema

20260828

-Asia-Pacific drives global film market growth as revenue rises 12.3% year-on-year- Asian film market grows on the strength of local box-office hits in China, Japan, and beyond-Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Japan surpass pre-pandemic admissions levels-Screen infrastructure expands across Asia and the Middle East while contracting in North America-China's Ne Zha 2 tops the 2025 global box officeGlobal Theatrical Revenue Reaches €29.557 Billion; Admissions Total Approximately 4.977 BillionGlobal theatrical revenue in 2025 reached €29.557 billion (approx. KRW 47.5079 trillion), up 5.4% year-on-year, while admissions rose 2.8% to approximately 4.977 billion.1 However, 2025 revenue and admissions stood at only 81.8% and 71.5%, respectively, of the 2017–2019 pre-pandemic average. Despite a modest year-on-year rebound, the market merely returned to levels comparable to 2023, reinforcing a structure in which fewer moviegoers are paying higher ticket prices to s

Korea's Submission for the 99th Academy Awards

20260828

KOFIC Announces Selection Results for Korea's Submission to the Best International Feature Film Category at the 99th U.S. Academy Awards "A Masterwork Worthy of a Master" — Selection Committee Cites the Film's Completeness and Clear Message, Notes Strong Anticipation from North American Media The Korean Film Council (KOFIC; Chairperson Han Sang-jun) has selected Possible Love (dir. Lee Chang-dong) as Korea's submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. Possible Love follows two married couples — a laid-off worker and his wife, and a documentary director and her husband — who meet through the making of a documentary and confront each other's different lives and hidden desires. The film marks Lee Chang-dong's first new work in eight years since Burning (2018), and drew attention for its cast of Korea's leading actors, including Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong. Ahead of its theatrical release, the film has already

Na Hong-jin's Hope to Open in UK and Ireland on September 25

20260826

Still from Hope (Provided by Empire)Na Hong-jin's Hope will open in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on September 25. US distributor NEON announced the release date on August 14, and will handle theatrical distribution in both territories directly.NEON has set the North American release for September 9, with early-access screenings two days earlier, on September 7, at 175 premium large-format cinemas nationwide. The film will screen in six formats: Dolby Cinema, 4DX, ScreenX, Barco HDR, D-BOX, and Dolby Atmos. Its UK premiere took place on August 16 at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, in an IMAX screening.An Unidentified Presence Descends on Hope HarborHope is set in Hope Harbor, a remote fishing village in Korea. Police outpost chief Bum-seok, played by Hwang Jung-min, and officer Sung-ae, played by Hoyeon, investigate a series of attacks that strike the village. The cause is traced to an unidentified presence hiding in the nearby forest. As the village's hunters join the s

Kim Min-hee Wins Second Locarno Acting Prize as Nowhere to Lay My Eyes Takes Three Awards

20260825

Actress Kim Min-hee (left) and director Hong Sangsooat the 79th Locarno Film Festival. (provided by Seoul Shinmun)Nowhere to Lay My Eyes won the Pardo for Best Direction, the Pardo for Best Performance, and the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the 79th Locarno Film Festival. Director Hong Sangsoo received the Best Direction award, while lead actress Kim Min-hee won Best Performance. The awards ceremony was held on the closing night, August 15 (local time), in Locarno, Switzerland.Since 2023, the Locarno Film Festival has awarded a single, gender-neutral Best Performance prize rather than separate best actor and actress honors. This year, the award was shared by Kim Min-hee and Italian actress Monica Bellucci for Ketticè.The Ecumenical Jury Prize is an independent award presented by a jury separately convened by the Swiss Protestant and Catholic churches, given to a film that engages deeply with human dignity, social values, peace, and human rights.Hong Sangsoo's 35th Feature, With Kim Min-hee

Choi Min-sik, Han So-hee Headline Korean Remake of Hollywood's 'The Intern'

20260821

Poster of ‘Intern’ (Provided by Warner Bros. Korea)Choi Min-sik — the actor behind some of Korean cinema's most searing performances in films like "Oldboy" and "I Saw the Devil" — is stepping into unfamiliar territory this fall: a workplace comedy. "The Intern," a Korean-language remake of the 2015 Hollywood hit that starred Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway, opens September 16, timed to anchor the Chuseok holiday box office. Directed by Kim Do-young ("Kim Ji-young, Born 1982"), the film pairs Choi with Han So-hee, with a newly released poster contrasting the two leads' commutes to work stirring early buzz ahead of release.The original "The Intern," written, directed, and produced by Nancy Meyers, grossed roughly $195 million worldwide against a $35 million budget, a solid commercial run for an adult-skewing comedy. The Korean version keeps the core premise intact: Han plays Seon-woo, a young CEO who has grown her fashion startup, Wootooto, into an industry dark horse in just three year

KOFIC Chairperson Visits Set of Mid-Budget-Supported Film The Taste of Prison

20260821

Chairperson Han Sang-jun visits shooting location for 2025 mid-budget production support selection The Taste of PrisonMeets with cast and crew to hear voices from the Korean film production fieldFollowing KRW 19.86 billion in support this year, KOFIC to announce KRW 26 billion in supplementary-budget support recipients in September Korean Film Council (KOFIC) Chairperson Han Sang-jun visited "Papillon Zip" (former Jangheung Prison) in Jangheung, Jeollanam-do, on Wednesday, August 19, the shooting location for The Taste of Prison (production: Jupiter Film Co., Ltd.), a selected recipient of the 2025 Mid-Budget Korean Film Production Support Project, and held an on-site meeting with the film's cast and crew.The Mid-Budget Korean Film Production Support Project is a KOFIC initiative launched in 2025 to restore the Korean film ecosystem, which has struggled amid the continued investment slowdown since the COVID-19 pandemic, and to encourage private investment by facilita

Korean Film Council Launches Probe into Ticket Scalping at Premium Theaters Like IMAX

20260820

Dedicated reporting channel for scalping and fraudulent trading at premium theaters opens August 18 Ongoing collection of online scalping cases and audience complaints to analyze distribution patterns The Korean Film Council (Chairperson Han Sang-jun, "KOFIC") will begin accepting reports on an ongoing basis starting Tuesday, August 18, regarding the illicit resale of tickets ("scalping") for premium theater formats at domestic cinemas, including IMAX, 4DX, and Dolby Cinema. The initiative aims to assess the scale of the problem, prevent harm to moviegoers, and foster a fair viewing environment.In recent releases of high-profile films, seats in premium theaters — which are in especially high demand among audiences — have reportedly been bought up in bulk using macro programs and other automated tools, then resold at a markup on secondhand marketplaces and social media. This ongoing practice has caused mounting harm and frustration among ordinary moviegoers.In response

Long Long Night to World Premiere in TIFF's Centrepiece Section

20260819

Still fromLong Long Night poster (watchapedia)The 3D animated feature Long Long Night has been invited to the Centrepiece section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Distributor The Contents On announced the selection on August 6, confirming that the film will have its world premiere at the festival.TIFF is widely regarded as the largest film festival in North America. Centrepiece, the section in which Long Long Night has been selected, showcases notable films from around the world. The 51st edition of the festival will run from September 10 to 20 in Toronto, Canada.The Journey of a White Rock Rhinoceros and a Penguin — A 3D Animation Rooted in a True StoryLong Long Night follows Norden, the last white rock rhinoceros remaining on Earth, and a young penguin hatched from an abandoned egg, as they journey toward the ocean. Having each lost someone dear to them, the two lean on one another throughout their journey. The story draws its origin from the real-life ca

CJ CGV Returns to Pre-Tax Profit in Q2 as CJ 4DPLEX's Global Business Accelerates

20260818

Logo of CJ CGV (Provided by CJ CGV)CJ CGV posted a return to pre-tax profit in the second quarter of 2026, driven by the accelerating overseas growth of its specialty-format subsidiary CJ 4DPLEX and a steady recovery in the domestic theatrical market. The exhibitor reported consolidated sales of KRW 593.9 billion (approx. USD 428 million), up 20.8% year-on-year, with operating profit of KRW 11.5 billion (approx. USD 8.3 million) and pre-tax profit of KRW 9.0 billion (approx. USD 6.5 million) — the company's first quarterly pre-tax profit since the third quarter of 2024.CJ 4DPLEX, which operates the SCREENX and 4DX specialty formats, was the standout performer, posting sales of KRW 46.9 billion and operating profit of KRW 8.3 billion, up 56% and 260% respectively from a year earlier. The unit's growth was fueled by the continued global rollout of SCREENX and 4DX auditoriums and by the box office success of "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" and "Toy Story 5," with North America recording i

CJ ENM Signs India Distribution Deal With Amazon Prime Video, to Supply Over 100 K-Content Titles Over Two Years

20260814

(From left) Jangho Seo, EVP of Platform Division at CJ ENM; Shilangi Mukherji, Director and Head of SVOD Business, Prime Video India; and Manish Menghani, Director and Head of Content Licensing, Prime Video India (Provide by Prime Video India)CJ ENM has signed a multi-year distribution deal with Amazon Prime Video India. Under the agreement, more than 100 Korean titles will be rolled out on Prime Video in India over the next two years.The slate consists of 26 new CJ ENM titles alongside works from the studio's existing library. The deal extends an earlier global distribution agreement between the two companies to the Indian market specifically. New and upcoming releases will carry English subtitles along with Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubbing.Yumi's Cells Season 3 Leads New Titles, Library Favorites Also IncludedThe first new title to premiere is the romance drama Yumi's Cells Season 3. Yumi's Cells is one of CJ ENM's flagship franchises, based on the webtoon of the same name. The

A day of copyright culture with film

20260814

The Korean Film Council (Chairperson Han Sang-jun, "KOFIC"), the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Chae Hwi-young), and the Korea Copyright Commission (Chairperson Kang Seok-won, "the Copyright Commission") successfully held the "A Day of Copyright Culture with Film" screening of OK! Madam: Bon Voyage on Wednesday, August 12, at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan.The event was a joint initiative linking KOFIC's ongoing policy to "revitalize Korean film and expand community access to cultural enjoyment" with the Copyright Commission's "campaign to promote proper copyright culture." About 300 people participated, including local residents invited in cooperation with the Busan Metropolitan City Social Contribution Information Center and the Haeundae General Social Welfare Center, along with staff, employees, and family members of the Centum District ESG council "Eu-sseuk (ESG)."Ahead of the screening, citizen participation programs were held in

Yoon Dan-bi's "The World Before" Invited to New Directors Section of San Sebastián Film Festival

20260812

Poster for "The World Before" Yoon Dan-bi's second feature "The World Before" has been invited to the New Directors section of the 74th San Sebastián International Film Festival. Distributor Atnine Film announced the invitation on July 31.The San Sebastián International Film Festival will run from September 18 to 26 in San Sebastián (Donostia-San Sebastián), Spain, and is regarded as the most prestigious international film festival in the Spanish-speaking world. The New Directors section, to which "The World Before" has been invited, is an international competition open only to a director's first or second feature film, spotlighting filmmakers in the early stages of their careers.Invited to New Directors Section, "The World Before" Tells the Story of a Seventeen-Year-Old on an Island"The World Before" is set on an island with no land route to the mainland. Jin, seventeen, who lives there, crosses paths with Du-jae, who has come to the island for his grandmother's fun

Lee Chang-dong Wins TIFF Ebert Director Award at 51st Toronto International Film Festival

20260810

Director Lee Chang-dong (provided by Munhwa Ilbo)Director Lee Chang-dong has been named the recipient of the TIFF Ebert Director Award at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival's Tribute Awards, becoming the first Korean director to receive the honor. Netflix announced the selection on July 30.The Tribute Awards is a ceremony hosted by the Toronto International Film Festival that honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the film industry, presented across several categories. This year marks the eighth edition of the awards. The ceremony will be held on September 13.First Korean Recipient of the TIFF Ebert Director AwardThe TIFF Ebert Director Award, given in the directing category, is named in honor of American film critic Roger Ebert. Recipients are selected based on directing achievements that have brought meaningful change to the film industry and a body of work reflecting a distinct artistic vision.Lee Chang-dong was recognized for the singular pers

"Train to Busan" Returns to Theaters Worldwide for 10th Anniversary, Expanding to 12 Markets

20260807

Train to Busan 10th-anniversary North American re-release poster (courtesy of NEW; designed by Oliver Barrett)Yeon Sang-ho's Train to Busan is returning to major overseas markets in a 4K remastered version to mark its 10th anniversary. Release dates have been confirmed in four markets — the Philippines, North America, Japan and Italy — while eight other countries, including Spain and several Latin American territories, are still finalizing schedules.This re-release features newly remastered picture and sound in 4K, marking the first time Train to Busan has screened theatrically in the format.Starting in the Philippines, Expanding to Europe and Latin AmericaThe rollout is staggered across roughly a month. It begins in the Philippines on August 5, followed by North America on August 14 and Japan on August 21, before moving to Italy on September 2.The scale of the release is especially notable in the United States. Where the 2016 release was a limited run in a smal

"Let's Come Together for Independent Art Film": Indieground Unveils 2026 Independent Art Film Support Video

20260807

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC; Chairperson Han Sang-jun) established Indieground to improve the distribution and circulation environment for Korean independent art films. As part of its independent art film promotion project, Indieground released the "2026 Independent Art Film Support Video" on its official YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@indieground_kr). Themed "This Is All Independent Film," the support video conveys, through the voices of directors and actors, the wide-ranging spectrum of independent art film — something no single definition can capture. Distinct keywords such as "Welcome Kids Zone," "Rainbow," "A Kind of Counseling," "The Unembellished Truth," and "Now Is the Season" each reflect the value and affection that creators have found in independent art film. Each individual remark intuitively conveys the freedom and varied appeal that independent art film holds, offering a fresh perspective even to audiences encountering independent art film for the firs

51st Toronto International Film Festival to Feature Korean Directors in Both Competitive and Non-Competitive Sections

20260805

Still of The World Before' (provided by Segye Ilbo)New works by Korean directors have been invited to the 51st Toronto International Film Festival. Yoon Dan-bi's "The World Before" has been selected for the Platform section, the festival's competitive strand, while Lee Chang-dong's "Possible Love" and Yeon Sang-ho's "Paradise Lost" will screen in the Special Presentations section. Hur Jin-ho's "The Assassin(s)" was previously announced as a Gala Presentations title.TIFF is regarded as the largest film festival in North America. The 51st edition will run from September 10 to 20 in Toronto, Canada.Yoon Dan-bi's "The World Before" Selected for PlatformPlatform is TIFF's competitive section, selecting works based on a director's distinctive vision and singular artistic world. The festival created the section to spotlight directorial voices, and describes this year's selections as a reflection of contemporary auteur cinema."The World Before" follows a summer in the life of Jin, a seve

Korean Academy of Film Arts Marks 20th Anniversary of Feature Film Program with Largest-Ever Special Exhibition in Brazil

20260805

45 feature and short films to screen, including opening film Bleak Night and closing film The Apartment with Two WomenKOFIC expands film cooperation with Brazil's National Cinema Agency and University of São PauloThe Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA), operated by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC, Chairperson Han Sang-jun) and led by President Cho Geun-sik, is holding the "15th Korean Film Festival in Brazil – Korean Academy of Film Arts Special Exhibition" in São Paulo, Brazil, from 2026.07.30 to 2026.08.14, in partnership with the Korean Cultural Center, Brazil (Director Jeong Jeong-hee). The exhibition will then tour major Brazilian cities and continue with online screenings through October, bringing KAFA's representative works to audiences across Brazil. The special exhibition is presented as part of the 15th Korean Film Festival in Brazil, an annual event organized by the Korean Cultural Center, Brazil to introduce Korean cinema to Brazilian audiences. Markin

Lee Chang-dong's Possible Love Invited to Venice Competition — Second Consecutive Year for Korean Cinema

20260803

Poster of 'Possible Love' (provided by Netflix)Director Lee Chang-dong's new film Possible Love has been invited to the competition section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival — his first Venice competition selection in 24 years, since 2002's Oasis. This marks the second consecutive year a Korean film has appeared in Venice's competition lineup, following Park Chan-wook's No Other Choice last year.The festival will run September 2–12 in Venice, Italy. Alongside Cannes and the Berlin International Film Festival, Venice is regarded as one of the world's three major film festivals, with competition entries vying for the Golden Lion, the event's top prize.A Return After Eight Years, Centered on Two CouplesPossible Love follows two married couples whose lives become entangled through the making of a documentary. A laid-off worker and his wife, and a documentary director and her husband, come to confront each other's differing life circumstances and long-hidden desires over the co

CJ ENM's Decade-Long Bet on 'Save the Green Planet!' Pays Off as 'Bugonia' Earns Three Award Nominations

20260731

Still from Bugonia [provided by Yonhap News Agency] Twenty-three years ago, director Jang Joon-hwan's "Save the Green Planet!" drew barely 70,000 admissions in its home market. The film went on to win several best new director prizes at Korean film festivals for its wildly original premise, but never found a domestic audience. CJ ENM, which had invested in and distributed the original, recognized untapped potential in the underappreciated title and began developing a Hollywood remake in 2018. Seven years later, that remake, "Bugonia," has picked up three nominations at the 6th Critics Choice Super Awards, including Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie, with stars Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons earning nods for Best Actress and Best Actor. The nominations mark the latest milestone in a Korean film IP's expanding footprint on the global stage."Bugonia" follows two young men who become convinced that the CEO of their company is an alien bent on destroying Earth

Korean Film Council to Host "Copyright Culture Day with Cinema"

20260730

The Korean Film Council (Chairperson Han Sang-jun, "KOFIC"), the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Chae Hwi-young), and the Korea Copyright Commission (Chairperson Kang Seok-won, "KCC") will host a special screening event, "Copyright Culture Day with Cinema," featuring OK! Madam: Bon Voyage, on August 12 (Wednesday) at Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan. The event is a collaborative initiative linking KOFIC's ongoing policy to revitalize Korean cinema and expand regional access to cultural experiences with the KCC's campaign to promote a healthy copyright culture. It is designed as a meaningful occasion to invite local citizens — including members of underserved cultural groups who have limited access to theaters — to share in the everyday joys of cultural experience and the value of creative work. Notably, the featured film, OK! Madam: Bon Voyage, is an investment of the Korean Film Fund's film account and was selected for KOFIC's 2023 Pre-Produc

Na Hong-jin's 'HOPE' Shatters Opening-Day Record, Wins Praise from Bong Joon-ho and Lee Chang-dong

20260729

'HOPE' (provided by Plus M Entertainment, Forged Films) Director Na Hong-jin's long-awaited new film "HOPE," his first feature in roughly a decade since 2016's "The Wailing," drew approximately 330,000 admissions on its opening day to take the top spot at the Korean box office. It marks the highest single-day opening of any film released in Korea this year, and the strongest opening-day performance of Na's own filmography to date. Alongside the box office milestone, praise from Korean cinema heavyweights Bong Joon-ho and Lee Chang-dong has further fueled attention around the film.According to the Korean Film Council's integrated box office network, "HOPE" opened on July 15 with roughly 330,000 admissions, debuting at No. 1, with cumulative admissions reaching approximately 350,000. The figure far surpasses the previous best opening of the year set by Yeon Sang-ho's "Ghost Troop" (roughly 200,000 admissions), and also exceeds the opening-day numbers of Na

KOFIC Holds Briefing Session on Response to Megabox JoongAng Rehabilitation Proceedings

20260729

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC, Chairperson Han Sang-jun) will hold a "Briefing Session on Response to Megabox JoongAng Rehabilitation Proceedings" on July 29 (Wednesday) at 2 p.m. in the first-floor conference room of the Film Education Support Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul, for distributors, franchise theaters, and other film industry stakeholders.The briefing session was organized to provide accurate guidance on rehabilitation proceedings to film industry stakeholders who need to prepare for related procedures — including unsettled payments and creditor claim filings — following the commencement of rehabilitation proceedings for Megabox JoongAng, and to offer distributors, franchise theaters, and other affected companies the response measures needed to exercise their rights within the designated period.The session is expected to be attended by officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and KOFIC, LIN LLC, and representatives of investment/distribution co

Korean Films Power Box Office to Near Pre-Pandemic Highs in H1 2026

20260729

Total H1 revenue of KRW 579.0 billion and 57.05 million admissions, with Korean films driving the recoveryTotal film industry revenue in the first half of 2026 reached KRW 579.0 billion, with 57.05 million admissions — up 41.9% (KRW 171.1 billion) and 34.2% (14.55 million admissions) year-on-year, respectively.Korean films led the box office recovery this half. Korean-film revenue came to KRW 370.2 billion with 37.37 million admissions, up 81.7% (KRW 166.5 billion) and 74.9% (16.01 million admissions) year-on-year. This marks the highest first-half revenue for Korean films since the pandemic, and revenue has now recovered to 94.2% of the pre-pandemic (2017–2019) first-half average.Foreign films, meanwhile, generated KRW 208.8 billion in revenue with 19.68 million admissions. While admissions fell 6.9% (1.46 million) year-on-year, revenue rose slightly by 2.3% (KRW 4.6 billion), driven by titles with a high proportion of premium-format screenings such as Project Hail M

Korea to Cap Actor Fees at Under 10% of Production Budget for State-Backed Mid-Budget Films

20260727

Signing of the agreement to revitalize Korean film production (provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)South Korea's top talent agencies and film production organizations have agreed to cap lead and supporting actor fees at under 10% of net production costs for government-supported mid-budget films. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) signed the "Agreement Between the Government, Producers, and Talent Agencies to Revitalize Korean Film Production" on July 16 at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul, with participation from leading talent agencies BH Entertainment, Management SOOP, and J,WIDE Company, along with the Korean Film Producers Association (KFPA) and the Producers Guild of Korea (PGK).Amid ongoing criticism that high actor fees have been accelerating production cost increases, the agreement commits talent agencies and producers to ensuring th

Four Institutions in Busan's Centum District Co-Host Integrity Live Program

20260727

Joint anti-corruption and integrity education held by four public institutions in Busan's Centum district on Friday, July 24 Participating organizations: Korean Film Council (KOFIC), Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC), Korea Media Rating Board (KMRB), and Korea Youth Counseling & Welfare Institute (KYCI) Institutions unite to spread a culture of integrity and strengthen anti-corruption awareness through inter-agency cooperation The Korean Film Council (Chairperson Han Sang-jun; KOFIC) co-hosted "Integrity Live (LIVE)," an integrity education program operated by the Korea Integrity and Civil Rights Training Institute (KICTI), together with the Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC; Chairperson Seo Tae-geon), the Korea Media Rating Board (KMRB; Chairperson Kim Byung-jae), and the Korea Youth Counseling & Welfare Institute (KYCI; President Han Jeong-won) on Friday, July 24. Approximately 200 executives and staff from the four institutions attended the e