The 26th JEONJU International Film Festival (JEONJU IFF, Festival Co-Directors Min Sungwook and Jung Junho) selected Lee Jung-hyun as the Programmer of the Year.
J Special: Programmer of the Year is a unique section of the JEONJU IFF, where a filmmaker from various fields is invited to curate a selection of films that reflect their personal cinematic perspective and tastes. Since its launch at the 22nd JEONJU IFF with actress Ryu Hyunkyung, followed by director Yeon Sang-ho, actor and director Bek Hyunjin, and director Hur Jinho, this section has become one of the festival’s most anticipated highlights.
For its fifth edition, actress Lee Jung-hyun takes on the role of this year’s special programmer. A celebrated multi-artist, Lee has captivated audiences as both an actress and a singer. She made her acting debut at just 15 years old in director Jang Sun-woo’s A Petal (1996), a performance that earned her numerous accolades and recognition as a young talent. At 20, she expanded her career into the music industry, becoming a pioneering K-pop techno artist. She later returned to acting with PARKing CHANce (Park Chan-wook, Park Chan-kyong)’s short film Night Fishing (2011), which won the Golden Bear for Best Short Film at the Berlinale. Since then, she has delivered acclaimed performances in films such as Roaring Currents (2014), Alice In Earnestland (2014), Peninsula (2020), Decision to Leave (2022), and the drama Parasyte: The Grey (2024).
As the Programmer of the Year, she selected three featured films and three curated films, reflecting her deep love for cinema. For the curated selections, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), Park Chan-wook’s thriller that gave her a new perspective on cinema; Nobody Knows (2004), Kore-eda Hirokazu’s poignant drama, which attracted her from the very first scene and left her in tears by the end; and The Child (2005), A deeply affecting work by Dardenne brothers, which left her with a lingering sense of melancholy have been chosen.
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| ▲ From the left: Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Nobody Knows, The Child |
Additionally, for the featured selections, she chose three films from her own filmography that reflect her artistic journey. A Petal (1996), her unforgettable debut performance in Jang Sun-woo’s masterpiece, Alice In Earnestland (2014), a gripping character-driven drama directed by Ahn Goocjin, and Night Fishing (2011), PARKing CHANce’s award-winning experimental short film have been chosen as the list.
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| ▲ From the left: A Petal, Alice In Earnestland, Night Fishing |
Lee Jung-hyun will also engage with audiences through the J Special Class, a series of post-screening discussions where she will be joined by special guests. These in-depth talks will take place once for each of her selected films, totaling five sessions, each lasting 60 minutes. More details will be available on the official JEONJU IFF website.
In addition to her role as a programmer, Lee Jung-hyun will make her directorial debut at this year’s festival. Her first short film, Toe-Tapping Tunes, will be screened in the Korean Cinema section.
The 26th JEONJU IFF J Special: Programmer of the Year with Lee Jung-hyun will meet the audiences from April 30 (Wed) to May 9 (Fri) throughout Jeonju.
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