Na Hong-jin's Hope brings a DMZ tiger scare to TIFF

Invited to Toronto International Film Festival 'Midnight Madness'

Distributor Plus M Entertainment announced that director Na Hong-jin's new SF film 'Hope' has been officially invited to the 'Midnight Madness' section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which will be held from September 10 to 20. The Midnight Madness section is a program that introduces genre films with original subject matter and intense directing power.

Director Na first unveiled this work to the world in the competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival this past May. Subsequently, it was selected as a Centerpiece screening at the New York Asian Film Festival in July, where Director Na received the 'Daniel A. Kraft Excellence in Action Cinema Award.'

A Mystery Unfolding in Hopo Port Near the DMZ

'Hope' is set in Hopo Port, a port town near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The story follows the events that unfold as Beom-seok, the local branch office chief, hears news from the village youths that a tiger has appeared, putting the entire village on alert as they face an unbelievable reality.

The film stars Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon, alongside Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Taylor Russell. 'Hope,' the feature film from director Na Hong-jin returning 10 years after 'The Wailing,' completed its domestic release on July 15. NEON is in charge of North American distribution, and the film will officially release in North America on September 9, the day after the opening of the Toronto Film Festival.

Korean Film Industry Enters Major Sections of Toronto International Film Festival

Invitations for figures from the Korean film industry continued at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Director Lee Chang-dong became the first Korean director to receive the 'TIFF Ebert Award,' and his new film 'Possible Love' is listed in the Special Presentations section.

Director Yeon Sang Ho's new film 'Paradise Lost' was also invited to the Special Presentations section, Hur Jin-ho's 'The Assassin(s)' entered the Gala Presentation section, and Yoon Dan-bi's 'First World' entered the Platform section. Director Yeom Gyu-bok's feature animation 'Long Long Night' was invited to the Centerpiece section.