Director Lee Chang-dong will join actors Jeon Do-yeon and Sul Kyung-gu and director July Jung at the Lumiere Summit, a gathering of leading figures from the global film industry.
The Korean delegation will discuss ways to develop Korean cinema and improve conditions for filmmakers at the summit in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France, film industry sources said on the 7th. The inaugural summit, devoted to the future of film and moving images, comes after French President Emmanuel Macron invited South Korea to serve as co-chair country during a Korea-France summit in April.
Interest in Lee has been especially strong. His first film in eight years, "Possible Love," was invited to compete at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, and expectations are rising ahead of the Golden Lion announcement on the 12th. Response to the film has been enthusiastic since its screening in Venice. Lee won the best director award at Venice in 2002 for "Oasis" and has returned to the competition section 24 years later.
President Lee Jae-myung earlier expressed anticipation for "Possible Love." He wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he had heard the film was invited to compete at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, adding words of encouragement.
Netflix proposed a collaboration as soon as it read the director's screenplay, according to industry accounts. "Netflix truly trusted the strength of this screenplay and my directing ability, and throughout the entire production process and every stage of making this film, I was able to enjoy creative freedom that was close to perfect," Lee said. "This was my first time working with Netflix, but it was the most comfortable and reassuring project of my entire directing career."
The participation of director July Jung has also drawn attention. All three of her feature films — her debut "A Girl at My Door," "Next Sohee" and "Dora" — were invited to the Cannes Film Festival. "Dora," her third feature, was invited to Cannes Directors' Fortnight this year.
Among the actors attending are Jeon Do-yeon of "Secret Sunshine" and "Mantis," Sul Kyung-gu of "Field Mice," "Haeundae" and "Silmido," and Kim Do-yeon of "Dora." With Korean creators and actors who have drawn successive attention on the world stage gathering in one place, the summit is expected to produce meaningful discussion on the present and future of Korean cinema. Interest is likely to grow further as the event coincides with the decision on the Venice Golden Lion. "In Venice, the assessment is that this is a work only Lee Chang-dong could make, one that feels like an exploration of human beings and character," an industry official said. "We expect Korean cinema, which has recently fallen into a slump, to draw international attention again and show the strength of K-movies."
