What award did Lee Chang-dong win at the Mill Valley Film Festival?

Lee Chang-dong won the Auteur Award at this year’s Mill Valley Film Festival. Netflix said he is the first Korean to receive the honor, which recognizes his unique cinematic world and accomplishments.

Why is Lee Chang-dong’s Mill Valley honor notable?

The award is notable because he is the first Korean to receive it. The streaming platform said it recognizes his cinematic world and accomplishments, adding to a list of major accolades he has already earned.

When will Lee Chang-dong’s film Possible Love be released in Korea and on Netflix?

Possible Love will hit Korean theaters on Sept. 23 and will be available on Netflix from Nov. 6. It has also been invited to the Spotlights Program at the Mill Valley Film Festival and to compete at Venice.

Korean director Lee Chang-dong wins Mill Valley Auteur Award

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Summary

Korean director Lee Chang-dong has won the Auteur Award at this year’s Mill Valley Film Festival, Netflix said Thursday. He is the first Korean to receive the honor, and his latest feature Possible Love has also been invited to the festival’s Spotlights Program in San Francisco next month. The award recognizes his cinematic world and accomplishments. Possible Love will open in Korean theaters on Sept. 23 and stream on Netflix from Nov. 6.

Key Facts

Netflix said Lee Chang-dong is the first Korean to receive the Mill Valley Film Festival’s Auteur Award.
The award recognizes Lee’s unique cinematic world and accomplishments.
Possible Love has also been invited to the Spotlights Program of the festival set to take place in San Francisco next month.
Possible Love has been invited to compete in the main competition section of the Venice International Film Festival.
The film will hit Korean theaters on Sept. 23 and be available on Netflix from Nov. 6.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 3, 2026 10:55 am KST
Updated Sep 3, 2026 10:55 am KST

A poster for Lee Chang-dong's upcoming film 'Possible Love' / Courtesy of Netflix — A poster for Lee Chang-dong's upcoming film "Possible Love" / Courtesy of Netflix

Renowned Korean director Lee Chang-dong has won the Auteur Award at this year's Mill Valley Film Festival, Netflix said Thursday.

Lee, whose latest feature "Possible Love" has also been invited to the Spotlights Program of the festival set to take place in San Francisco next month, is the first Korean to receive the award, according to the streaming platform.

The award recognizes Lee's unique cinematic world and accomplishments, it added.

The recognition is the latest among numerous accolades the veteran director has earned. Most recently, he became the first Korean to win the TIFF Ebert Director Award, a lifetime achievement honor presented at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

"Possible Love" has also been invited to compete at the main competition section of the prestigious Venice International Film Festival.

The film will hit Korean theaters on Sept. 23 and will be available on Netflix from Nov. 6.

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