Yoon Dan-bi's 'The World Before' to compete in Toronto film festKorean director Yoon Dan-bi's coming-of-age film "The World Before" has been invited to screen at this year's Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the film's distributor said Wednesday. The film is among the 12 films that will have their world premieres at TIFF's Platform program, the festival's only competitive section, according to At 9 Film. "Platform was created to spotlight directorial voices and this year's 12-film selection is an imaginative reflection of new auteur cinema now," Anita Lee, chief programming officer of TIFF, was quoted as saying in a separate press release on the event's website. It is the second Korean film to compete in the section following Yoon Ga-eun's "The World of Love." "The World Before" centers on two teenagers, Jin and Doo-jae, as they encounter new feelings upon the latter's arrival on the island where Jin lives, to attend his grandmother's funeral. Sim Su-bin, who appeared in the film "En Route To" (2005) and the hit Netflix series "Teach You a Lesson," portrays Jin, while Kim Eo-jin, who appeared in the school drama "Fragile" (2024), plays her cJul 22, 2026By Yonhap
Why so much swearing? The story behind Na Hong-jin's 'Hope'“Hope” surpassed two million admissions Sunday, just five days after its release, reaching the milestone faster than any other film released this year. But what do cinema’s leading directors make of Na Hong-jin’s first film since “The Wailing” (2016)? “It stands at the pinnacle of cinematic entertainment, pushing every element — tension, suspense, visceral impact and pace — beyond its limits,” said director Lee Chang-dong, who joined Na for an audience Q&A at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul on July 14, a day before the film’s release. Lee was Na's teacher during his first year at the Korea National University of Arts. Bong Joon-ho, whose film “The Host” (2006) similarly centered on a mysterious creature, joined Na for another audience Q&A at Megabox COEX in Seoul on the film's release day of July 15. “I watched it in a state of complete exhilaration,” Bong said. “The first 62 minutes offer the thrill and madness of action, but they also gradually build up all the wretchedness, insignificance, cowardice, sordidness and frailty of the human characters.”Jul 22, 2026By Hankookilbo
'Teenieping' sequel dives into maternal love with bigger spectacleFollowing the success of “Heartsping: Teenieping of Love,” which drew more than 1.2 million viewers in 2024, the beloved TV animation franchise “Teenieping” is returning to the big screen with a deeper emotional story centered on family and maternal bond. Directed by Kim Su-hoon, CEO of SAMG Entertainment, the new fantasy animated movie “Teenieping: Legend of the Whale Heartstone" follows the miraculous adventure of Princess Romi and her fairy companion Heartsping as they set out to save Romi's mother, Queen Belita. "It took about four years to produce this film," Kim said during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. "We received so much love for the first movie that we felt a lot of pressure. I hope audiences will enjoy this new installment as well." Unlike the first movie, which focused on the budding friendship between Romi and Heartsping, the sequel places motherly love at the center of its narrative. The primary setting of the ocean and the symbol of the whale were specifically chosen to reflect this theme. "This film focuses heavily on the relationship between a mother anJul 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Lee Chang-dong's film 'Possible Love' earns TIFF invitationDirector Lee Chang-dong's new film, "Possible Love," has been officially invited to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Festival organizers said Monday that the film will screen in the Special Presentations section of the 51st edition of TIFF, which opens in Canada on Sep. 10. The event, North America’s largest film festival, is widely recognized as among the world's leading film events alongside Venice, Cannes and Berlin. The Special Presentations section introduces new works by world-renowned actors and directors, and previously featured Bong Joon-ho’s "Parasite" (2019) and Park Chan-wook’s "Decision to Leave" (2022). TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey praised the film, calling "Possible Love" a powerful work that deeply explores marital relationships, class and cinema itself. While the festival operates without a traditional competition section, its moviegoer-voted People’s Choice Award is a highly watched indicator of prospective Academy Award success. The film represents Lee’s first feature in eight years. It follows two married couples from starkly different economic bacJul 21, 2026By Hankookilbo
Spider-Man takes over Seoul's Lotte World Tower for summer eventA superhero’s view of Seoul is coming to life this summer, as visitors can step into the world of Spider-Man at the top of Lotte World Tower through a new collaboration tied to Sony Pictures’ upcoming film “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” The “Spider-Man: Brand New Day X Seoul Sky” program opened Friday and will run through Aug. 31, offering themed exhibitions, limited-edition merchandise and a high-altitude attraction that lets guests walk 541 meters above the ground. The centerpiece is the Sky Bridge Tour, an outdoor attraction that takes visitors across an 11-meter bridge near the top of Lotte World Tower while wearing safety gear inspired by Spider-Man’s adventurous image. The limited seasonal experience is available through same-day reservations on a first-come, first-served basis, with only four participants allowed each day. The collaboration comes ahead of the film’s scheduled theatrical release in Korea on July 29, creating a connection between the movie’s skyscraper-filled action scenes and Seoul Sky’s panoramic urban views. The program features themed installatiJul 21, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Yeon Sang-ho's 'Paradise Lost' to premiere at Toronto film festDirector Yeon Sang-ho's upcoming film "Paradise Lost" will have its world premiere at this year's Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the film's distributor said Tuesday. The mystery thriller will be screened in the Special Presentations section of the 51st edition of the prestigious festival, set for Sept. 10-20, according to CJ ENM. "Paradise Lost" follows So-young (Kim Hyun-joo), who uses an artificial intelligence (AI) program to remember her son, Sun-woo (Bae Hyun-sung), who went missing, but finds herself discomforted when he actually returns after nine years. Yeon called the film, based on the Korean novel "Black Inferno," one of his darkest pieces that portrays a mother who grapples between the son she has reinvented through AI and her real son. TIFF's Special Presentations section is known for showcasing outstanding contemporary films from around the world. It has previously featured iconic Korean films, including Bong Joon-ho's "Mother" (2009) and "Parasite" (2019), Park Chan-wook's "The Handmaiden" (2016) and "Decision to Leave" (2022), Kim Jee-woon's "The Age of ShadowJul 21, 2026By Yonhap
'Hope' triggers fierce debates among viewersDirector Na Hong-jin's new sci-fi film "Hope" is igniting massive debates online and offline, drawing sharply divided reactions from both critics and moviegoers since its July 15 release. Paradoxically, the polarizing reception has fueled widespread public curiosity, which pushed the movie past the 2 million viewer mark on Sunday, just five days after its premiere. The film tracks the chaos that unfolds when a mysterious monster suddenly invades Hopo Port, a fictional coastal village located near the Demilitarized Zone. The local police station chief (Hwang Jung-min) and village people, including Seong-gi (Zo In-sung), scramble to deal with extraterrestrial entities while residents form a defense group against them. Supporters praise the film as a groundbreaking masterpiece, highlighting its intense action sequences, grand scale and rebellious narrative structure that breaks away from traditional Korean cinema. Prominent movie critic Lee Dong-jin gave the film four out of five stars, praising its raw energy and cinematic ambition. "It is a bold race through a bizarre mess where the entireJul 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'Hope' sweeps box office on debut weekendThe sci-fi blockbuster "Hope" comfortably topped the weekend box-office chart in Korea in its first week of release, data showed Monday. The Korean film added 1,504,013 admissions over the weekend, bringing its total admissions to 2,129,720 as of Sunday, according to the data released by the Korean Film Council, which compiles admissions from Friday through Sunday for its weekend chart. It broke the 2-million mark Sunday, its fifth day of opening, reaching the milestone at the fastest pace among films released this year. "Hope," which competed at this year's prestigious Cannes Film Festival, follows police officers and villagers in the remote coastal town of Hopo as they become embroiled in a series of spiraling events after encountering powerful yet mysterious extraterrestrial beings. Marking director Na Hong-jin's return a decade after "The Wailing" (2016), it features a star-studded cast, including Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon, as well as Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander. Hollywood animation "Minions & Monsters" also made a strong weekend box-officJul 20, 2026By Yonhap
Chinese film 'Kung Fu Soccer' sparks backlash over portrayal of Korean women's football teamA new film by Chinese actor and director Stephen Chow has sparked controversy for depicting a Korean women's football team as appearance-obsessed, violent and dishonest, drawing criticism that it insults not only Korean women but also Korean sports. Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, criticized Chow's latest film, “Kung Fu Soccer,” saying it crossed the line from fictional exaggeration to disrespect. "No matter how fictional a movie may be, it is wrong to repeatedly insult Korean sports," Seo said. The film is a follow-up to Chow's 2001 hit “Shaolin Soccer.” This time, the comedy follows a group of martial arts-trained women who come together to form a football team. It premiered in China on July 11 and generated more than 600 million yuan ($84 million) in box office revenue within three days. The controversy centers on the film's depiction of a Korean team called "Ewha," a name widely seen as referencing Ewha Womans University. Players on the team are portrayed as being obsessed with makeup and cosmetic contact lenses rather than football. During matches,Jul 18, 2026By Hankookilbo
'Hope' opens strong in Korea, selling over 330,000 ticketsNa Hong-jin's "Hope" attracted more than 330,000 audience members on the first day of its release in Korea, box-office data showed Thursday, reflecting the buzz surrounding the highly anticipated film. The Korean sci-fi epic debuted at No. 1 at the box office, drawing 333,918 moviegoers on Wednesday, according to data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). It accounted for 81.3 percent of total box-office sales. "Hope," which competed at this year's prestigious Cannes Film Festival, follows police officers and villagers in the remote coastal town of Hopo as they become embroiled in a series of spiraling events after encountering powerful yet mysterious extraterrestrial beings. Marking Na's return a decade after "The Wailing" (2016), it features a star-studded cast, including Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon, as well as Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander. The film was pre-sold to around 200 territories worldwide, setting a record for a Korean film. At home, the sci-fi epic accounted for 63.1 percent of all advance ticket sales as of 8:55 a.m. Thursday, withJul 16, 2026By Yonhap
