[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] Director Jeong Ju-ri has been awarded the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by France.

The French Embassy in South Korea announced on the 14th that it had awarded Director Jeong Ju-ri the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters at the “2026 French Night” event held on the 10th at the Paradise Hotel in Haeundae-gu, Busan.

The Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters is an honor awarded by the French Ministry of Culture to individuals who have achieved creative accomplishments in the arts and culture or contributed to the development of French and global arts and culture.

Director Jeong’s three feature films have all been selected for the Cannes Film Festival: her 2014 debut feature *Dohee-ya* was invited to the “Un Certain Regard” section; her 2022 film *The Next Sohee* was selected as the closing film of the “Semaine de la Critique”; and this year, *Dora* was invited to the “Quinzaine des Cinéastes.”

Michel Mirai, Chargé d’Affaires of the French Embassy in South Korea, said, “It’s safe to say that the Cannes Film Festival has become the director’s most steadfast supporter and ardent fan.” He added, “The director’s works present characters who are unassuming yet strong and resilient, portraying them with a delicate and discerning eye.”

Regarding his new film “Dora,” a co-production between South Korea, France, and Luxembourg, he explained, “It demonstrates that the relationship between French and Korean cinema is moving beyond simply introducing each other’s films to a stage where we create new works through collaboration on joint projects.”

Director Jeong began by saying, “I wondered if I was truly worthy of this honor. But then I thought of the French audiences I met throughout France—in Paris, Cannes, Metz, and Strasbourg.”

He continued, “Their encouragement reaffirmed the power of film—that ‘the lives depicted on screen can become stories for all of us’”—and added, “That power gave me the courage to create a co-production of an unprecedented kind.”

Director Jeong also stated, “From the filming in Namhae to the post-production work in France and Luxembourg, I am grateful that you have embraced this work, which was created together by filmmakers from France, Korea, and indeed around the world,” adding, “With this tremendous encouragement today, I will work even harder.”

On the same day, Director of Photography Jang Byung-wook also became the first Korean to receive the Angénieux Award for Cinematography. Angénieux, a world-renowned cinema lens manufacturer belonging to the Thales Group, has been presenting this award during the Cannes Film Festival to cinematographers recognized by the industry for their aesthetic achievements.

Arnaud Esblanc, Angénieux’s Manager of Operations, Marketing, Communications, and International Customer Service, explained the significance of the award, saying, “Angénieux has continued the ‘Pierre Angénieux Tribute’ at the Cannes Film Festival to honor world-renowned cinematographers. We now wish to extend that bond and respect to Asia and Korea.”

He added, “Behind the overwhelming mise-en-scène and visual depth displayed in Korean cinema lies the artistic dedication of cinematographers. I extend my sincere congratulations to the first recipient, cinematographer Jang Byung-wook.”

Director of Photography Jang remarked, “It is an honor to be the first recipient of this award, established by Angénieux and Thales, on the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and South Korea.” He added, “The unique visual aesthetics and free creative spirit demonstrated by French cinema have always been major milestones and a source of inspiration in my work.”

“French Night 2026” is a flagship event held during the Busan International Film Festival where French and Korean filmmakers gather to foster cinematic exchange and friendship between the two nations. This year’s event held special significance as it was held as part of the celebrations marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and South Korea.

Director Jeong served as a juror in the competition section of this year’s Busan International Film Festival, where he judged 13 competition entries alongside Director Zhang Yimou.

Director Jeong’s new film, “Dora,” tells the story of a family that leaves Seoul for a summer seaside villa, where Dora—who has been suffering from an unknown illness—experiences love for the first time, causing everything to gradually begin to unravel. Starring Kim Do-yeon, Sakura An, and Song Sae-byeok, the film is scheduled for release next year.