LEE Dong-ha, born in 1969, first thought of making a career in films at the age of 19 upon watching Wim Wenders’ <Paris,Texas>. After a few years working for the Independent Film Association, he flew to France to do a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at University of Paris VIII and later received a master’s degree in philosophy and film from the New Sorbonne University. While staying there, he ended up working as a local fixer for BYUN Daniel H.’s <Interview&g...More

LEE Dong-ha, born in 1969, first thought of making a career in films at the age of 19 upon watching Wim Wenders’ <Paris,Texas>. After a few years working for the Independent Film Association, he flew to France to do a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at University of Paris VIII and later received a master’s degree in philosophy and film from the New Sorbonne University. While staying there, he ended up working as a local fixer for BYUN Daniel H.’s <Interview> (2000), which allowed him to get his first contacts with the Korean film industry. After nine years spent in France, he eventually came back to Korea in 2002 and joined production company PINEHOUSE FILM, where he made use of his knowledge and experience acquired in France to produce Ounie Lecomte’s French-Korean drama film <A Brand New Life> (2009). The film, about the process of adoption seen through the eyes of a girl, was screened in Cannes and also marked the first screen appearance of child actor KIM Sae-ron. He then worked on LEE Chang-dong’s <Poetry> (2010), which won Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival, and <Hwayi: A Monster Boy> (2013). In 2014, he set up his production company REDPETER FILMS and started working with animation studio Dadashow and its animation director YEON Sang-ho on <Seoul Station> and <Kai>. Following this good collaboration, he executive produced YEON’s live action debut <TRAIN TO BUSAN>, which was ultimately sold to 156 territories and highly praised by critics all around the world. Due to this success, he was selected by Variety as one of ten producers to watch for 2017.Less