CJ ENM is distributing Park Chan-wook's new film "No Other Choice" (directed by Park Chan-wook, distributed by CJ ENM, produced by Moho Film and CJ ENM Studios), along with "Bugonia," directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, which was developed in collaboration with major Hollywood production companies. Both films have been officially invited to compete in the institutional sector at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.
This is the first case where two works from a single distributor have simultaneously been invited to the Venice institutional sector, with CJ ENM achieving a total of 9 films competing at the Venice International Film Festival, setting a record for the most invitations among Korean distributors. CJ ENM has previously submitted films such as Kim Ki-duk's "The Isle" (2000), Lee Chang-dong's "Oasis" (2002), Park Chan-wook's "Lady Vengeance" (2005), and the co-production with Indonesia directed by Joko Anwar, "The Replication of My Heart" (2015) to the institutional sector, while Park Chan-wook's "Three, Monster" (2004), Ryu Seung-wan's "The Unjust" (2006), and Song Hae-sung's "Innocent Witness" (2010) were invited to the non-competitive sector, continuously widening their connection with the global film industry.
Jeong Hyun-joo, head of CJ ENM's film division, noted, "The fact that 'No Other Choice' and 'Bugonia' have been invited to the Venice International Film Festival's institutional sector is very meaningful for us. We hope these works will inject new vitality into the stagnant Korean film industry, and we will continue to make comprehensive efforts to achieve sustainable results on the global stage."
Both invited works have garnered attention internationally for their renowned directors and top-tier actors, attracting interest from the film industry domestically and abroad since their production stages.
"No Other Choice," set to be released in September, tells the story of a salaryman named 'Man-su' (Lee Byung-hun), who feels his life is satisfactory to the point of saying 'I have accomplished everything,' but suddenly gets fired. To protect his wife and two children, and to keep the home he struggled to afford, he prepares for his own war toward re-employment. The film showcases Park Chan-wook's signature solid direction and insights into society, with an all-star cast including Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won, contributing to the film's quality. Previously, Park Chan-wook was invited to the 61st Venice International Film Festival's Midnight Express section with "Three, Monster," and competed in the institutional sector with "Lady Vengeance" at the 62nd Venice International Film Festival, where he received the Young Lion Award, Cinema of the Future Award, and Best Innovated Film Award. Thus, Park Chan-wook has officially received his third invitation to the Venice International Film Festival with "No Other Choice," a film he'd longed to make, proving his prowess as a global master. Furthermore, this marks the first time Korean films have competed in the institutional sector since "Pieta" in 2012, adding to its significance.
"Bugonia" is a film about two young men who believe in the theory of alien invasion, thinking that a CEO named 'Michelle' is an alien trying to destroy Earth, and it depicts the ensuing events. It is a black comedy directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, remaking the Korean film "Save the Earth!" directed by Jang Joon-hwan, which had attracted early attention. Yorgos Lanthimos has previously won awards at the Venice International Film Festival, including Best Screenplay for "Alps" (68th), Jury Prize for "The Favourite" (75th), and Grand Prize for "Poor Things" (80th), leading to high expectations for "Bugonia" competing in the institutional sector. Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons star in the film, which is co-produced by CJ ENM in collaboration with Square Peg and Element Pictures, while Focus Features, a subsidiary of Universal Pictures, handles international distribution. CJ ENM has participated since the planning stage, leading the development and investment for the film's globalization, and will be in charge of domestic distribution. "Bugonia" is set for release in November.
The Venice International Film Festival, one of the oldest film festivals in the world, is considered one of the three major film festivals alongside the Cannes International Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival. The 82nd Venice International Film Festival, where "No Other Choice" and "Bugonia" have been officially invited, will be held in Venice, Italy, from Aug. 27 to Sept. 6.
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