None of the Korean films submitted were chosen for the primary roster of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, which marks their first omission in 12 years.
The organizing committee of the festival revealed the official selections for its 78th edition during a press conference at UGC Montmartre in Paris on April 10, encompassing entries from both competitive and non-competitive sections.
The selection for this year's Cannes Festival features no Korean titles in any significant sections such as Competition, Out of Competition, Midnight Screenings, Un Certain Regard, or Cannes Premiere. This is the first occurrence since 2013 where Korean film does not appear in either competitive or non-competitive segments.
Various South Korean movies were put forward for consideration, such as "The Ugliest" directed by Yeon Sang-ho, "Journey to Gyeongju" helmed by Kim Mi-jo, and "All-Knowing Reader: The Prophet" from director Kim Byung-woo; however, they did not secure an invitation. It should be noted that Park Chan-wook’s forthcoming project "No Other Way," which is currently undergoing post-production, wasn’t among those considered.
This also signifies three continuous years without any South Korean film being chosen for the primary contest, where the festival's highest accolade, the Palme d'Or, is awarded. In 2019, Bong Joon-ho’s "Parasite" claimed the Palme d'Or, whereas in 2022, Park Chan-wook earned the Best Director award for "Decision to Leave," and Song Kang-ho took home the Best Actor prize for his role in "Broker." The previous year, Ryoo Seung-wan’s "I, the Executioner" had its screening at the non-competing Midnight Screenings segment.
It is quite rare for no Korean film to receive an invitation to Cannes. Typically, since the early 2000s, the festival has usually featured between one and four South Korean titles annually. Nonetheless, considering that Cannes sometimes adds selections post-lineup announcement, there’s still a chance that a Korean movie might be incorporated at a later date.
The festival this year will take place from May 13 to 24 in the southern French city of Cannes, with renowned French actress Juliette Binoche acting as the jury president.