Hong Sangsoo and Kim Minhee to Attend Cannes Film Festival After 6 Years

Director Hong Sangsoo and actress Kim Minhee will attend the Cannes Film Festival together for the first time in six years.

On the afternoon of the 18th (Korean time), the Cannes Directors' Fortnight Executive Committee announced that Hong's 30th new work, 'Our Day,' has been invited as the closing film of the Directors' Fortnight.

[Photo by EPA·Yonhap News]

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Director Hong and Kim Minhee previously walked the red carpet together when their collaboration 'Claire's Camera' was invited to the Special Screening section of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. In 2021, 'In Front of Your Face' was invited to Cannes Premiere but they did not attend due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two are expected to attend this year's Cannes Film Festival together for the first time in six years.

The Cannes Directors' Fortnight, where 'Our Day' was invited, was first established in 1969 by the French Directors' Guild to introduce films that are differentiated from the existing Cannes Film Festival programs. It has shown a selection tendency focusing on discovering outstanding, visionary, progressive, and innovative films of the present day.

Julien Regnier, Executive Director of the Cannes Directors' Fortnight, explained the selection reason: "How the power of simplicity and minimalism is gradually increased. The film naturally deals with all the pleasures of life." He continued, "The depiction of food, alcohol, cigarettes, pets, music, plants, sunlight, the joy of conversation, oil, and how Kim Minhee became a true actress was beautiful."

He also praised, "Director Hong shows clarity in the parallel editing between two characters discussing lessons about life. This is a very humble way of questioning oneself. Hong Sangsoo is one of the greatest contemporary filmmakers."

'Our Day' features actors Ki Joo-bong, Kim Minhee, Song Sun-mi, Park Mi-so, Ha Sung-guk, and Kim Seung-yoon.

Director Hong has been invited to the Cannes Film Festival for the 12th time with 'Our Day' (2023, Directors' Fortnight), following 'The Power of Kangwon Province' (1988, Un Certain Regard), 'O! Lucky Man' (2000, Un Certain Regard), 'Woman Is the Future of Man' (2004, Competition), 'Tale of Cinema' (2005, Competition), 'Like You Know It All' (2008, Directors' Fortnight), 'Ha Ha Ha' (2010, Un Certain Regard, Grand Prize winner), 'In Another Country' (2011, Un Certain Regard), 'Our Sunhi' (2013, Competition), 'Claire's Camera' (2017, Special Screening), 'The Day After' (2017, Competition), and 'In Front of Your Face' (2021, Cannes Premiere).

The 76th Cannes Film Festival Directors' Fortnight will be held from May 17 to 26.

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