As the 78th Cannes Film Festival is set to open on the afternoon of May 13 in the southern French city of Cannes, Hong Sang-soo, selected as a jury member, was captured on a hotel balcony. The day before the opening ceremony, Hong Sang-soo was seen wearing a blue windbreaker and a crossbody bag, standing upright while overlooking the Cannes cityscape. He was spotted on the balcony of the luxurious Hotel Martinez in Cannes.
Hong Sang-soo has been appointed as a jury member for the competition section of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, one of nine film industry figures from around the world chosen for the role. He is the sixth Korean director or actor to serve as a jury member in the festival’s competition section, following Shin Sang-ok, Lee Chang-dong, Park Chan-wook, Jeon Do-yeon, and Song Kang-ho.
The Cannes Film Festival‘s organizing committee highlighted Hong Sang-soo’s selection as a jury member, describing him as an “internationally acclaimed, prolific director” and emphasizing his cinematic style and connection to Cannes. They noted that Hong Sang-soo has previously set films like “Claire’s Camera” in Cannes and that his works maintain a concise, intimate atmosphere while constantly evolving. Hong Sang-soo has a notable history with the festival, having submitted four films to the competition section and four to the Un Certain Regard section in the past.
Hong Sang-soo’s appearance in Cannes has drawn attention not only for his directorial prestige but also due to his personal life, particularly his extramarital relationship with actress Kim Min-hee, with whom he recently welcomed a child. As Kim Min-hee gave birth in her 40s and their newborn is still very young, it appears Hong Sang-soo traveled to Cannes alone to fulfill his jury duties.
Earlier, in April, Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee were spotted strolling with their baby at Misa Lake Park in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province. Kim Min-hee was seen carefully holding their son, displaying a tender maternal side, while Hong Sang-soo smiled as he adjusted a hat to shield the baby’s face from the sun.
Kim Min-hee and Hong Sang-soo met in 2015 while working on the film “Right Now, Wrong Then” and publicly acknowledged their relationship in 2017. For years, they have appeared together at public events, maintaining a relationship akin to a married couple for nearly nine years, and recently became parents with the birth of their child.
Meanwhile, no Korean feature films were invited to this year’s Cannes Film Festival, marking the first time in 26 years since 1999 that no Korean films have been selected for either official or unofficial sections. Since Im Kwon-taek’s “The Housemaid” was invited to the Un Certain Regard section in 1984, Korean cinema has consistently been showcased at Cannes, making this absence particularly striking.
A total of 21 films will compete for awards, including the Palme d’Or, in the competition section. This year’s jury is chaired by French actress Juliette Binoche, with Hong Sang-soo joined by other prominent figures from the global film industry, including American actress Halle Berry, Indian director Payal Kapadia, and Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher. With such a distinguished jury, this year’s Cannes Film Festival is anticipated to be particularly exciting. The award winners will be announced at the closing ceremony on May 24.