1. I, The Executioner

I, The Executioner or Veteran 2 is a South Korean film directed by Ryoo Seung-wan that premieres at the Midnight Screening section at the Cannes Film Festival 2024. The film in the crime thriller genre revolves around a detective named Seo Do-Cheol played by Jung Hae In, who is obsessed with catching a notorious enigmatic serial killer. As the investigation unfolds, dark secrets and unexpected twists emerge that challenge the detective’s own morals and sanity. Ryoo Seung-wan’s direction brings intensity and suspense to this engaging cat-and-mouse tale.

2. Walking in the Movies

Walking in the Movies is a riveting documentary that offers a glimpse of Kim Dong-ho, who’s the founder of the Busan International Film Festival and also a key figure in the rise of Korean cinema. Directed by Kim Lyang, this film delves into the life and passion of a man who never gets tired of “going to the movies”. Kim Dong-ho’s journey unfolds as he navigates the intricacies of cinema, from his role as a high-ranking civil servant to being the founder of the Busan International Film Festival. His love for the art form has been beautifully displayed. The Cannes Film Festival 2024 recognised Walking in the Movies as part of its Cannes Classics selection, celebrating Kim Dong-ho’s legacy and his unwavering dedication to cinema.

3. Amazon Bullseye

Amazon Bullseye, directed by Kim Chang-Ju, promises an exciting mix of adventure and comedy. Jin-bong (played by Ryu Seung-Ryong), a former archery medalist and Olympic hero, finds himself in a dead-end job. To fulfil his company’s ulterior motives, he reluctantly accepts a position as an archery trainer in the remote South American country of Bolador. But fate takes an unexpected turn when Jin-bong crash lands in the Amazon rainforest. There he meets warriors from the Tagauri tribe who have divine archery skills. Alongside a hated half-Amazonian interpreter named Bbang-shik (played by Jin Sun-kyu), Jin-bong embarks on a rough-and-tumble adventure full of mayhem.

4. Choir Of God

Choir Of God is a musical drama directed by Kim Hyun-hyup, set in the interesting backdrop of North Korea. The story revolves around a washed-up band led by a security officer who comes up with a plan to create a fake choir as a means of making money. This story promises to combine elements of music, drama and perhaps even a touch of comedy, given the director’s previous work. The main cast includes Park Si-Hoo, known for his role in the movie Confession Of A Murder, who will play a security guard officer at the centre of the plot. Next to him is Jeong Jin-woo, recognised for his performance in the movie Rebound. The film’s premise, its unique contribution to the musical drama genre, holds the potential to offer a fresh look at the lives of people in a rarely depicted setting like North Korea.

5. Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning

Directed by Kim Dong-Chul, Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning is an animated film that brings to life the fantasy world of Lee Woo-hyuk’s bestseller Toemarok. In this original story, we are introduced to Father Park played by Stellan Skarsgard, a former doctor who has accepted the priesthood. He finds himself in a dangerous situation where he must protect a child endowed with immense power. This child is being sought by his malevolent master who resides in a mysterious temple full of magic and dark forces. As the story unfolds, Father Park not only faces external threats but also battles his inner demons. The mission is twofold: to protect the child and to prevent the tragedy that once led him to take up the cross.

6. Tarot

Tarot is a South Korean anthology series that premiered at the Cannes International Series Festival, Cannes Series 2024. The series is known for its unique blend of tarot and horror that challenges the boundaries between sanity and insanity. Each episode begins with a character discovering a tarot card, which sets off a series of mysterious incidents that blur the line between dreams and reality. The series is directed by Dj Lee and Choi Byung-gil, and stars Cho Yeo-Jeong, Jo Eun-sol, and Kim Seung-Hoon. It is an omnibus short drama where each episode brings unexpected twists and explores urban legends against the backdrop of Seoul in 2024.

The art direction of the series plays with the codes of the horror genre and delivers a story that is both interesting and disturbing. The cast is led by Cho Yeo-Jeong, who is best known for her role as the iconic mother in Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite. The series is written by Kyung Min-sun, with cinematography by Choi Beom-soo and music by Ashbun. Tarot premiered at the Cannes Series on April 9, 2024 and gained attention for its compelling narrative and the way it incorporates the mysterious nature of tarot cards into its horror narrative.

7. Pleasant Outcast

Pleasant Outcast is a post-apocalyptic Korean thriller series that premiered at the Cannes Series. It is a companion piece to the Korean box-office hit Concrete Utopia and both are adapted from the bestselling webtoon Pleasant Outcast. The series is co-directed by Min Yong-keun and Yang Soo-hee. The story follows Dong-hyun, a high-school student who endures daily bullying. After a catastrophic event collapses his school, he and the other survivors face a new world of internal power struggles and constant dangers that reveal the darker sides of human nature.

8. Echo

Echo, directed by Lim Yoo-ri, is an impressive short film that is the directorial debut of Lim Yoo-ri, a film student from the Korea National University of the Arts (K-Arts) and was invited to the La Cine Foundation, that showcases films created by film school students from around the world. The story of Echo revolves around the character Ok-Yeon who, while being chased by drunken men, finds refuge in the forbidden forest. There she meets the older sister next door, a woman she looked up to who is now married. This encounter leads to a confrontation with the harsh truths of a woman’s life.