The Assassin(s) takes its 1974 mystery to TIFF's Gala spotlight

Invitation to TIFF Gala Presentations, Hur Jin-ho's Third Visit to Toronto

Director Hur Jin-ho's new film 'The Assassins' is garnering international attention even before its release. The 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has officially invited 'The Assassins' to this year's Gala Presentations section. Gala Presentations is a core segment of TIFF, North America's largest film festival, designed to introduce high-profile works that possess both commercial appeal and artistic merit.

With this invitation, Hur Jin-ho makes his third appearance on the Toronto stage. He previously visited Toronto with 'Dangerous Liaisons' in 2012 and 'A Normal Family' in 2023. 'The Assassins' marks his third film to be invited specifically to this section. Previous Korean films invited to this segment include Park Chan Wook's 'No Other Choice' (2025), 'Harbin' (2024), 'Concrete Utopia' (2023), 'Smugglers' (2023), and 'Hunt' (2022).

Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, stated, "'The Assassins' is a dynamic story directed by Hur Jin-ho, one of our most beloved directors, which explores a shocking chapter of Korean history through his exceptional direction." He added, regarding the cast, "The performances led by Yoo Hae Jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho are also fantastic."

A Mystery Thriller Dealing with the 1974 Assassination Attempt on First Lady Yuk Young-soo

'The Assassins' is based on the assassination attempt on First Lady Yuk Young-soo that occurred on August 15, 1974, during the 29th Liberation Day ceremony. The film is a mystery thriller that tracks the records of the incident, the unresolved suspicions, and the mastermind behind it.

Led by production company Hive Media Corp, the film features cinematographer Lee Mo-gae, lighting director Lee Sung-hwan, and production designer Kim Byung-han to recreate the historical setting. VFX supervisor Jung Jae-hoon also joined the team to assist in the visual reconstruction of the 1970s. Released stills show Yoo Hae Jin, playing detective Cheol-gu, explaining something to reporters played by Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho.

Acting Ensemble of Yoo Hae Jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho

The acting ensemble of the cast forms the core of the film. Yoo Hae Jin plays 'Cheol-gu,' a detective who roams the scene to uncover the truth of the incident. Park Hae-il transforms into 'Jae-hwan,' a social affairs editor at a newspaper tracking the case. Lee Min-ho takes on the role of 'Yeong-il,' a rookie reporter covering the scene firsthand.

Yoo Hae Jin moves through the center of the incident as a detective responsible for on-site security, while Park Hae-il operates from the perspective of the press, and Lee Min-ho moves as an eyewitness and recorder on the scene. The movements of these three individuals, chasing the mastermind from different positions, meet the direction of Hur Jin-ho.

The 51st Toronto International Film Festival will be held from September 10 to 20, 2026. 'The Assassins' will have its world premiere during this period. The film is scheduled to meet audiences in domestic theaters starting around the Chuseok holiday season in 2026.