List of Korean Movies in the Cannes Film Festival

The Cannes Film Festival (Festival de Cannes) is one of the most prominent film festivals in the world, with its top award (Palme d'Or) being considered as many as the holy grail of cinema. South Korean cinema has increasingly produced many cinematographic gems that have been competing for the Palme d'Or over the last two decades, with 기생충 (Parasite)  by 봉준호 (Bong Joon-ho) ultimately being the first Korean movie winning the Palme d'Or of the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Despite the growing popularity of South Korean movies, it is still challenging to find comprehensive lists about recent Korean movies that have been entered in prestigious film festivals.

This post lists all the movies that have been presented at Cannes between 1990 and 2019 and includes movies in both the official selection and independent selections running parallel to the festival. The years below are the years for which the movies were entered in the competition, not necessarily their release year. Some movies are currently hard to watch in the US; links will be added as the movies become available on major streaming platforms. Movies in green won the award for the category that year.

In this post

Official Selection

Palme d'Or

The Palme d'Or is the most prestigious award of the Cannes film festival; only one Korean movie, 기생충 by 봉준호 (Parasite by Bong Joon-ho) won the award so far.

Year Title Director
2019 기생충
Parasite
Pre-order on: Amazon
봉준호
Bong Joon-ho
2018 버닝
Burning
Watch on: Amazon
이창동
Lee Chang-dong
2017 그 후
The Day After
Watch on: Amazon (free with Prime)
홍상수
Hong Sang-soo
2017 옥자
Okja
봉준호
Bong Joon-ho
2016 아가씨
The Handmaiden
Watch on: Amazon (free with Prime)
박찬욱
Park Chan-wook
2012 다른 나라에서
In Another Country
홍상수
Hong Sang-soo
2012 돈의 맛
The Taste of Money
Watch on: Amazon (free with Prime)
임상수
Im Sang-soo
2010 하녀
The Housemaid
Watch on: Amazon
임상수
Im Sang-soo
2010
Poetry
Watch on: Amazon
이창동
Lee Chang-dong
2009 박쥐
Thirst
Watch on: Amazon
박찬욱
Park Chan-wook
2007
Breath
김기덕
Kim Ki-duk
2007 밀양
Secret Sunshine
Watch on: Amazon
이창동
Lee Chang-dong
2005 극장전
Tale of Cinema
Watch on: Amazon
홍상수
Hong Sang-soo
2004 올드보이
Old Boy
박창욱
Park Chan-wook
2004 여자는 남자의 미래다
Woman Is the Future of Man
홍상수
Hong Sang-soo
2002 취화선
Chi-hwa-seon (Painted Fire)
Buy the DVD: Amazon
임권택
Im Kwon-taek
2000 춘향뎐
Chunhyang
임권택
Im Kwon-taek

Un Certain Regard

Movies in the "Un Certain Regard" selection are usually taking more risks with directors less known or relatively new.

Year Title Director
2015 마돈나
Madonna
Watch on: Amazon (free with Prime)
신수원
Shin Su-won
2015 무뢰한
The Shameless
오승욱
Oh Seung-uk
2014 도희야
A Girl at My Door
정주리
July Jung
2011 아리랑
Arirang
김기덕
Kim Ki-duk
2011 북촌방향
The Day He Arrives
홍상수
Hong Sang-soo
2011 황해
The Yellow Sea
Watch on: Amazon
나홍진
Na Hong-jin
2010 하하하
Hahaha
홍상수
Hong Sang-soo
2009 마더
Mother
봉준호
Bong Joon-ho
2005
The Bow
김기덕
Kim Ki-duk
2004 청풍명월
Sword in the Moon
김의석
Kim Ui-seok
2000 오! 수정
Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors
Buy the DVD: Amazon
홍상수
Hong Sang-soo

Movies Out of Competition

These movies were screened at the festival but were not considered for any of the main considerations (Palme d'Or or Un Certain Regard).

Year Title Director
2019 악인전
The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil
Watch on: Amazon
이원태
Lee Won-tae
2018 공작
The Spy Gone North
Watch on: Amazon
윤종빈
Yoon Jong-bin
2017 불한당
The Merciless
변성현
Byun Sung-hyun
2017 악녀
The Villainess
Watch on: Amazon
정병길
Jung Byung-gil
2016 곡성
The Wailing
Watch on: Amazon
나홍진
Na Hong-jin
2016 부산행
Train to Busan
Watch on: Amazon
연상호
Yeon Sang-ho
2015 오피스
Office
Watch on: Amazon (free with Prime)
홍원찬
Hong Won-chan
2014 표적
The Target
Watch on: Amazon
윤홍승
Yoon Hong-seung
2008 추격자
The Chaser
나홍진
Na Hong-jin
2008 좋은 놈, 나쁜 놈, 이상한 놈
The Good, the Bad, the Weird
Watch on: Amazon
김지운
Kim Jee-woon
2005 달콤한 인생
A Bittersweet Life
Watch on: Amazon (free with Prime)
김지운
Kim Jee-woon

Special Screenings

Year Title Director
2017 La caméra de Claire
Claire's Camera
홍상수
Hong Sang-soo
2009 여행자
A Brand New Life
Watch on: Amazon (free with Prime)
Ounie Lecomte

Independent Selections

International Critics' Week

Year Title Director
2010 김복남 살인사건의 전말
Bedevilled
Watch on: Amazon (free with Prime)
장철수
Jang Cheol-soo
Special Screenings
2015 차이나타운
Coin Locker Girl
Watch on: Amazon (free with Prime)
한준희
Han Jun-hee
2005 망종
Grain in Ear
자률
Zhang Lü
2002 죽어도 좋아
Too Young to Die
박진표
Park Jin-pyo
2000 해피엔드
Happy End
정지우
Jung Ji-woo

Directors' Fortnight

Year Title Director
2014 끝까지 간다
A Hard Day
Watch on: Amazon
김성훈
Kim Seong-hun
2012 돼지의 왕
The King of Pigs
연상호
Yeon Sang-ho
2006 괴물
The Host
Watch on: Amazon
봉준호
Bong Joon-ho
2005 주먹이 운다
Crying Fist
류승완
Ryoo Seung-wan
2005 그때 그사람들
The President's Last Bang
Watch on: Amazon (free with Prime)
임상수
Im Sang-soo
2000 박하사탕
Peppermint Candy
Watch on: Amazon (free with Prime)
이창동
Lee Chang-dong

 

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