[Edaily Starin Reporter Choi Hee-jae ] The film “Hanran” and Director Ha Myeong-mi have been selected for the “Bechdel Choice 10” in the film category and the “Bechdelian of the Year” in the producer category, respectively, at “Bechdel Day 2026.”

“Bechdel Day,” hosted and organized by the Directors Guild of Korea (DGK), is a content festival that highlights the values of gender equality and cultural diversity through Korean films and series. Each year, the festival selects works that demonstrate gender-equitable representation and innovative female narratives as the “Bechdel Choice 10,” and honors creators who have made outstanding contributions in the categories of director, writer, actor, and producer as “Bechdelians.”
*Hanran* is set in Jeju in 1948 and depicts the survival journey of a mother, “A-jin” (Kim Hyang-gi), and her six-year-old daughter, “Ha-saeng” (Kim Min-chae), who were separated while fleeing to Mount Halla to escape a military crackdown and must cross mountains and seas to find one another. By examining a massive historical event not through the lens of ideology or heroism, but through the lives of ordinary women and children who were easily erased from the historical record, the film offers a fresh perspective on the Jeju April 3 Incident.
In particular, *Hanran* was recognized as a work documenting the oral histories and memories of women who endured the Jeju 4·3 Incident, earning a spot on the “Bechdel Choice 10” list in the film category.
Director Ha Myeong-mi, selected as “This Year’s Bechdelian” in the Producer category, led the entire process of *Hanran*—from planning and development to production and completion—through Wen Ever Studio. Ian Na, CEO of Annapurna Film and a member of the judging panel, praised the film, stating, “It brought the lives and memories of women who had remained on the margins of history to the center of the film,” adding, “By steadfastly upholding the creator’s vision, it expanded the possibilities of female-centered narratives and the diversity of Korean cinema.”

Director Ha shared her thoughts, saying, “I wanted to place the lives of women and children—who were not even named in the history of the Jeju 4·3 Incident—at the center of the film.” She continued, “It is all the more meaningful that *Hanran* was selected as a work promoting gender equality and that the production process leading up to its release was also recognized. I hope this selection will serve as an opportunity for more audiences to meet A-jin and Hae-saeng and to cherish the countless lives and memories they symbolize for a long time to come.”
“Hanran,” which opened in theaters last November, has been seen by over 30,000 viewers. In Japan, it was released in major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyoto to coincide with the Jeju 4·3 Victims’ Memorial Day, recording consecutive sold-out shows at some theaters. Since then, its screening scope has expanded to 48 theaters, and it continues to enjoy extended runs across Japan.
“Hanran” has received recognition from international film festivals, including official invitations to the competition sections of the 14th Helsinki CineAsia Film Festival and the 24th Florence Korean Film Festival. After its release on Netflix on July 2, it garnered attention by reaching No. 1 on the “Top 10 Movies in South Korea Today” list within two days, continuing its trend of being rediscovered by the general public beyond the theater screen.
“Bechdel Day 2026” will be held at Yeonnamjang in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, from the 29th to the 30th. The film “Hanran” is currently available on Netflix and other major online platforms.