Cannes 2025 Shocker: No Korean Films Selected for 3rd Year Straight Despite Star-Studded Submissions
No Korean Films Selected for 78th Cannes Film Festival
In a surprising and sobering announcement, no Korean films have been selected for the 78th Cannes Film Festival, marking the third consecutive year that Korean cinema has been absent from the festival’s official competition and non-competition lineups.
The announcement came during a press conference on April 10 (KST), held at the UGC Montparnasse Theater in Paris, with Cannes President Iris Knobloch and Executive Director Thierry Frémaux unveiling this year’s lineup. While Cannes has long been a prestigious platform for Korean filmmakers, 2025’s selections offered no space for South Korea’s thriving film industry.
A Sharp Contrast to Korea’s Cannes Legacy
Korean cinema has enjoyed a celebrated history at Cannes. Parasite famously won the Palme d’Or in 2019, Park Chan-wook took home Best Director for Decision to Leave, and Song Kang-ho earned Best Actor for Broker in 2022. Yet since then, no Korean titles have broken into the main competition lineup.
Last year, director Ryu Seung-wan’s Veteran 2 was invited to the Midnight Screening section, which highlights genre-driven films with mass appeal. This year, however, even that honor was absent, leaving Korea entirely shut out of all major sections at Cannes 2025.
Star-Powered Submissions, but No Selections
A number of high-profile Korean films were submitted to Cannes this year, including:
- The Ugly by Yeon Sang-ho
- Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint starring Ahn Hyo-seop and Lee Min-ho (directed by Kim Byung-woo)
- The Journey to Gyeongju starring Gong Hyo-jin (directed by Kim Mi-jo)
Despite their high expectations and star-studded casts, none of these titles were included in this year’s lineup. Two other major titles that had been the subject of Cannes speculation, Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice starring Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin, and Na Hong-jin’s Hope, were reportedly still in post-production and thus not submitted for consideration.
What This Means for Korean Cinema
The absence of Korean films at Cannes has triggered industry-wide reflection, especially considering Korea’s recent dominance in global cinema. With no entries in three years, some are questioning whether this marks a temporary lull or signals a deeper shift in the festival’s selection criteria or Korean cinema’s international positioning.
Fans and film professionals alike are expressing disappointment, particularly given the anticipation around works from major auteurs and fresh directorial voices. Others remain optimistic, pointing to next year as a strong comeback opportunity once currently delayed projects are completed.
The opening film of Cannes 2025 will be Leave One Day by French director Amélie Bonin. In a moment of honor, Robert De Niro will be presented with an Honorary Palme d’Or. The festival runs from May 13 to 24 in Cannes, France, with eyes now watching what 2026 might hold for Korean cinema on the global stage.