Hong Sangsoo's 'Top' Invited to Toronto and San Sebastian Film Festivals

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Director Hong Sangsoo's 28th feature film 'Top' has been invited to the Toronto International Film Festival and the San Sebasti?n International Film Festival.

On the 3rd, Jeonwonsa announced that 'Top' (WALK UP) has been invited to the Special Presentations section of the 47th Toronto International Film Festival, held on September 8, and the Official Competition section of the 70th San Sebasti?n International Film Festival, held on September 16.

The San Sebasti?n International Film Festival is known as the most important international film festival in the Spanish-speaking world, and 'Top' has been invited to the Official Competition section to compete with about 20 other films. Director Hong was invited to the competition section with 'Yourself and Yours' (2016), winning the Silver Shell for Best Director, and was invited to the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera section with 'On the Beach at Night Alone' (2017) and 'The Woman Who Ran' (2020). 'The Woman Who Ran' received a Special Mention award.

Furthermore, the Toronto International Film Festival is the largest film festival in North America, and 'Top' has been invited to the Special Presentations section. Director Hong has been invited with 'Hotel by the River' (2018), 'On the Beach at Night Alone' (2017), 'Yourself and Yours' (2016), 'Right Now, Wrong Then' (2015), 'Hill of Freedom' (2014), 'Our Sunhi' (2013), 'Oki's Movie' (2010), 'Like You Know It All' (2009), 'Woman on the Beach' (2006), 'The Day a Pig Fell into the Well' (2002), and 'Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors' (2000), making 'Top' his 12th official invitation.

Festival chief programmer Giovanna Fulvi introduced the film as "a precious new gem added to his awe-inspiring body of work, a new chapter added to his visual diary." She continued, "The Korean master returns us to the familiar spaces and characters he has made us feel acquainted with. Here too, a melancholic softness fills the screen along with humanism, accompanied by endless conversations over familiar landscapes of Hong Sangsoo’s films and several glasses of wine," explaining the reason for the invitation.

'Top' features actors Kwon Hae-hyo, Lee Hye-young, Jo Yoon-hee, and Park Mi-so, who appeared in Hong Sangsoo’s previous film 'The Novelist's Film,' Song Seon-mi from 'The Woman Who Ran,' and Shin Seok-ho from 'Introduction.' According to the production company, filming took place in the fall of 2021 in a building in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.