Lee Byung-hun to receive Special Tribute Award at Toronto International Film Festival
Lee Byung-hun is named the recipient of the Special Tribute Award at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Yonhap
Lee Byung-hun, star of Park Chan-wook’s new film “No Other Choice,” has been selected to receive the Special Tribute Award at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), organizers announced on Tuesday.
The prestigious honor, which recognizes outstanding contributions to global cinema, will be presented during the festival’s opening on Sept. 4. TIFF praised Lee as a “global sensation.”
The Special Tribute Award has previously gone to figures such as Chinese actress Zhao Tao, Hong Kong actor Andy Lau and Canadian composer David Foster.
This year’s honorees also include Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, American actress Jodie Foster and Japanese director-producer HIKARI (Mitsuyo Miyazaki), each recognized in separate categories.
“A global sensation, Lee Byung Hun has achieved massive success across film and television in both South Korea and Hollywood,” the TIFF said on its website.
Lee will attend the festival, where his latest film “No Other Choice” will premiere as a Gala Presentation for the North American audience.
The film, which marks its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival later this month, is also slated to open the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on Sept. 17. Lee will serve as the solo opening night host, the first male actor to do so in the festival’s history.
Directed by Park Chan-wook, “No Other Choice” follows Man-soo (played by Lee), a man who, after being abruptly fired, begins eliminating the competitors standing in the way of his re-employment.
Actor Son Ye-jin plays his wife, Mi-ri. The film is scheduled for domestic release in September following its Busan premiere.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.