Korea returns to Cannes with ‘Hope,’ ‘Colony’ after year of absence

Korean cinema is making a return to the Cannes Film Festival this year, with two films selected for the official lineup of the 79th edition, after its absence last year raised concerns about the sustainability of the local film industry. The executive committee of the Cannes Film Festival announced Thursday (local time) that director Na Hong-jin’s “Hope” was invited to the Competition section, while director Yeon Sang-ho’s zombie thriller “Colony” secured a spot in the Midnight Screening section. This marks the first time in four years that a Korean feature has returned to the festival’s prestigious Competition section since Park Chan-wook’s "Decision to Leave" in 2022. The two films’ invitation shows particular significance given that no Korean feature films were included in last year’s official lineup for the first time in 12 years. Industry observers had pointed to the rapid shift toward streaming platforms and a prolonged slump in the domestic movie market as key factors behind the absence. "Hope," which will compete for the Palme d'Or alongside films from some of

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