Forgot password

South Korea is arriving at the 79th Cannes International Film Festival with notable force. The Korean Film Council (KOFIC, Chair Han Sang-jun) has announced a wide-ranging program of on-the-ground support to amplify Korean cinema's international reach during the festival, which runs May 12–23 in Cannes, France.

This year's Korean slate at Cannes is among the country's strongest in recent memory. Na Hong-jin's Hope has secured a coveted spot in the Official Competition, while Yeon Sang-ho's Colony screens in Midnight Screenings. July Jung's Dora makes its world premiere in Directors' Fortnight, and Choi Won-jung's Bird Rhapsody has been selected for La Cinef, the festival's dedicated student film section. Adding further prestige to Korea's presence, Park Chan-wook has been appointed President of the Competition Jury — the first Korean filmmaker to hold that role in Cannes history.

Among this year's invited works, Dora was produced with approximately KRW 600 million (approx. USD 435,000) in production support from KOFIC's 2025 Mid-Budget Korean Film Production Support program. The film's selection follows a strong precedent: My Name (dir. Jung Ji-young), a previous recipient of the same fund, was selected for the 76th Berlin International Film Festival. Dora's Cannes invitation affirms the growing international impact of KOFIC's production support initiatives.

Dora is also a participant in KO-PICK Showcase, KOFIC's dedicated program for advancing Korean film IP and industry talent on the global stage. Lee Dong-ha, CEO of production company Red Peter Film — the company behind Dora — took part in the 2024 KO-PICK Producers in France program, where he engaged in co-production discussions with French producers around Dora and several other projects in development.

Throughout the festival period, KOFIC will operate a dedicated pavilion at Village International, Booth 125, from May 12 to 20. The KOFIC Pavilion will serve as a comprehensive information hub for this year's invited films, domestic production companies, sales agents, and film festival programming. Dedicated promotional zones for invited titles, interview facilities, and business meeting spaces will be available to facilitate exchange between Korean and international industry professionals.

Running May 13–18, the 2026 KO-PICK Showcase in Cannes has been organized in partnership with the Cannes Film Market's Producers Network to support emerging Korean producers in building international careers and co-production partnerships. Five producers selected through an open application process — Kim Ki-hyun, Mark Brazil, Kim Dong-hyun, Lee Ha-rim, and Oh Young-ju — will participate in business matching sessions, project pitching, and networking events to explore collaboration opportunities with global industry professionals.

KOFIC will also host a Korean Film Night, bringing together the creative teams behind this year's Korean invited films alongside domestic and international sales agents and representatives from national film bodies. The event will serve as an occasion to share the achievements of the Korean film industry and deepen international ties.

In addition, KOFIC Chair Han Sang-jun and members of the International Business Division will hold a press briefing for Korean journalists covering Cannes, providing an overview of KOFIC's on-site activities and engaging with the domestic press.

KOFIC will round out its Cannes programming with participation in various side events, including collaborative activities with the Asian Film Alliance Network (AFAN).

"The invitation of Dora and other Korean films to the Cannes International Film Festival demonstrates that Korean cinema's creative capacity and industry competitiveness continue to command global attention," said KOFIC Chair Han Sang-jun. "We will actively support Korean cinema in securing greater opportunities in the world market through on-site promotion, networking, and international co-production support."