[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] Director Lee Chang-dong reaffirmed his status as a master filmmaker by winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival—one of the world’s three major film festivals—for “Possible Love,” his first film in eight years.

◇ First Grand Jury Prize for a Korean Film… A Triumph 14 Years After “Pieta”

“Possible Love” was announced as the winner of the Grand Jury Prize (Silver Lion) at the festival’s closing ceremony held on the 12th (local time) at the “Palazzo del Cinema” (Palace of Cinema) on the Lido Island in Venice, Italy. This marks the first time a Korean film has won an award in the festival’s competition section in 14 years, since director Kim Ki-duk’s “Pieta” won the Golden Lion in 2012.

The Grand Jury Prize is the second-highest honor, following the Golden Lion. This is the first time a Korean film has won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival. For Director Lee personally, this marks his first award in 24 years since he won the Best Director Award (Silver Lion) for “Oasis” in 2002.

Taking the stage, Director Lee said, “I’d like to thank Jeon Do-yeon, Seol Kyung-gu, Jo In-sung, and Jo Yeo-jeong, the four actors who breathed life into this film. This award belongs to you,” he said, giving credit to the lead actors. He continued, “In an era where labor is disappearing and relationships between people are breaking down, I made this film to ask what I can do through cinema and what cinema must do,” adding, “I take this award as a sign that I should continue asking those questions.”

Previously, on the 11th, *Possible Love* also won the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Prize in the Competition section at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. By winning the FIPRESCI Prize—selected by critics from around the world—the film’s solid artistic merit was recognized.

During the winners’ press conference, the director also mentioned an anecdote about buying “good dreams” for lead actress Jo Yeo-jeong. He explained, “I bought her some ‘good dreams’ because she said she had a good dream. There’s a custom like that in Korea,” he explained, adding, “I think that dream brought us this good fortune.” He went on to say, “I want to connect with audiences on a deeper level in the future, and I hope my questions and the audience’s thoughts can intersect,” emphasizing, “I believe this award encourages exactly that.”

◇“A Film That Reflects on the Role of Cinema”… From Venice to Toronto and New York

“Possible Love” tells the story of two couples from different social classes: Ho-seok (played by Seol Kyung-gu), a laid-off worker, and his wife Mi-ok (played by Jeon Do-yeon); and Ye-ji (played by Jo Yeo-jeong), a documentary filmmaker capturing their lives on camera, and her husband Sang-woo (played by Jo In-sung). By superimposing the perspective of a documentary director seeking to capture them on camera onto the story of a couple whose lives have been upended by mass layoffs at a large corporation, the film takes the act of documenting another’s suffering as its central theme.

Jury member Doo Ki-bong (film director) praised the film, saying, “This is the most mature work among Director Lee Chang-dong’s films,” and added, “Every detail in the film and the reflections contained within were superb. I don’t think I could ever make a film like this.”

Actors currently in Toronto for the 51st Toronto International Film Festival also offered their congratulations. Jeon Do-yeon said, “I hope this award serves as a great source of motivation for the director as he works on his next project,” while Seol Kyung-gu remarked, “I am deeply moved and truly proud just to have been part of this film.”

President Lee Jae-myung posted on X that day, saying, “I hope this award will further broaden the diversity of our cinema and allow more excellent works to reach global audiences,” adding, “I will continue to support the brilliant journey of Korean cinema.” Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young also conveyed his congratulations, stating, “This marks another great milestone in the history of Korean cinema.”

Meanwhile, *Possible Love* is heading to the global stage, starting with Venice. Following its selection as South Korea’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, the film has been invited to major international film festivals around the world, including Toronto, New York, San Sebastián, Zurich, Vancouver, and Busan. In South Korea, it will open in select theaters on the 23rd and will be released on Netflix on November 6.