[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] The film "The Assassin(s)" has been officially invited to the Gala Presentation section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival.

The upcoming film

has been officially invited to the Gala Presentation section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, which will be held from September 10 to 20.
The Toronto International Film Festival is considered one of the world’s four major film festivals, alongside Cannes, Berlin, and Venice. The Gala Presentation section, in which “Assassins” has been selected, also features “No Way Out” (2025), *Harbin* (2024), *An Ordinary Family* (2024), *Concrete Utopia* (2023), *Smuggling* (2023), and *The Hunt* (2022)—all of which are highly acclaimed Korean films that have garnered both popular appeal and critical acclaim—and has generated significant buzz.
As these screenings feature special guests and are aimed at festival attendees, they are once again drawing the attention of global audiences this year. In particular, Director Heo Jin-ho has achieved the remarkable feat of being invited to this section for the third time—following *Dangerous Liaisons* (2012) and *An Ordinary Family* (2023)—with his latest film, *The Assassin(s)*.
Cameron Bailey, Executive Director of the Toronto International Film Festival, explained the selection, saying, “Directed by Hur Jin-ho—one of our favorite filmmakers—this is a dynamic story that explores a shocking chapter in Korean history through his exceptional directorial skills. The performances by the cast, led by Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho, are also fantastic.”
*The Assassin(s)* traces the suspicions and the forces behind the First Lady assassination attempt on August 15, 1974, an event that sent shockwaves through South Korea. As an intense mystery thriller that blends cinematic imagination with the uncharted records and unresolved questions of modern Korean history, the film has been generating anticipation even before its release.
Leading South Korean actors such as Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho are expected to deliver intense, nuanced performances that will captivate audiences. Yoo Hae-jin plays a detective inspector from the Central Police Station who personally witnessed the events of that day at the scene. Through this character—who possesses keen intuition and tenacity—he is expected to showcase an irreplaceable, commanding presence that will drive the film’s tension and immersion.
Park Hae-il, who is collaborating with director Hur Jin-ho for the second time following *Princess Deokhye*, plays the head of a newspaper’s social affairs department who digs into the numerous unresolved questions left in the investigation despite the danger and pressure, and is poised to add another masterpiece to his filmography. Lee Min-ho has been cast as a spirited rookie reporter in the social affairs department who witnessed the crime scene, and is expected to add depth to the film.
Furthermore, anticipation is heightened by the fact that the production is handled by Hive Media Corp., which has consistently delivered works that blend artistic merit with commercial success—such as *The Opposition*, which drove box office success last year, as well as *Seoul’s Spring*, *The Man Standing Next*, and *The Inside Men*—all of which draw on South Korea’s modern history.
Director of Photography Lee Mo-gae and Lighting Director Lee Seong-hwan, who have demonstrated fantastic teamwork on numerous projects including *Exhumation*, *Seoul Spring*, *Hunt*, *Declaration of Emergency*, and *The Battleship Island*, have also joined the project. The participation of top-tier Korean professionals, such as Production Designer Kim Byeong-han and VFX Supervisor Jeong Jae-hoon, is further heightening anticipation.