Director Hong Sang-soo has been included in the jury of the Cannes International Film Festival.
On the 29th, the executive committee of the 78th Cannes International Film Festival (abbreviated as Cannes Film Festival) announced nine jury members for the competition section through its official website and social media. Among them is Korean director Hong Sang-soo. This year, no Korean film was invited to the Cannes Film Festival, which caused a shock, making the invitation of Director Hong Sang-soo as a jury member particularly noteworthy.
The jury members for this Cannes Film Festival include jury president actress Juliette Binoche, Director Hong Sang-soo, Hollywood actor and director Halle Berry, Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher, American actor Jeremy Strong, Indian director Payal Kapadia, Congolese director and writer Dieudo Hamadi, Mexican director Carlos Reygadas, and Moroccan writer Leila Slimani.
Among them, Director Hong Sang-soo was introduced as a Korean director and screenwriter. He is the sixth Korean to be selected as a jury member for the Cannes Film Festival, following directors Shin Sang-ok, Lee Chang-dong, actress Jeon Do-yeon, director Park Chan-wook, and actor Song Kang-ho.
In relation to this, Cannes Film Festival officials noted, "Award-winning director Hong Sang-soo has a close relationship with the Cannes Film Festival; his film 'Claire's Camera' was also produced against the backdrop of Cannes. Hong Sang-soo has continuously evolved while maintaining his unique, concise, and familiar cinematic style."
In fact, Director Hong Sang-soo has been invited to the Cannes Film Festival 12 times. Beginning with his invitation in 1988 for 'The Power of Gangwon Province' to the 51st Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, his next work 'O! Sujeong' was also invited to the 53rd Cannes Film Festival in that same section in 2000. Additionally, in 2004 and 2005, 'Woman Is the Future of Man' and 'The Day After' were both featured in the competition section for two consecutive years.
'While You Were Sleeping' was featured in the Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008, while in 2010, 'Ha Ha Ha' and the following year 'The Day After' were both invited to the Un Certain Regard section. In 2012, he participated in the competition section with 'In Another Country.' Also, 'Claire's Camera' was invited to the special screening at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016, and the following year, 'The After' was again in the competition section. In addition, in 2021, he was invited to the premiere section with 'The Face in Your Memory,' and in 2023, he was invited to the Directors' Fortnight with 'Our Day' and met local fans.
Meanwhile, Director Hong Sang-soo had a child with actress Kim Min-hee, with whom he has been in an extramarital relationship for the last 10 years. Their late child has stirred public interest, as reports of them taking their baby for a walk began circulating online about three weeks after the birth.
The Cannes Film Festival, where Director Hong Sang-soo has been invited as a jury member, will be held from May 13 to 24 in Cannes, France.
[Photo] Source: Cannes Film Festival official social media.
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