KOFIC Announces 6 Korean Films for Oscars 2027 Selection

Kapanlagi.com - The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) has officially announced six Korean films that will compete in the national selection process as candidates to represent South Korea in the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming Academy Awards (Oscars).

The list features top filmmakers such as Lee Chang-dong, Na Hong-jin, and Yeon Sang-ho, while also providing a platform for new generation directors whose recent works have garnered attention. The six selected titles are known for the strong reputation of their filmmakers in the international festival scene.

Here are the six films selected by KOFIC along with a brief overview of their stories.

1. KOFIC's Choice: Six Titles in the Selection Stage

Possible Love is the latest film by Lee Chang-dong that tells the story of fragile human relationships, regrets, and second chances. Like Lee's previous works, Possible Love is said to present an emotional drama that explores the complexities of love, family, and the meaning of forgiveness.

Hope, directed by Na Hong-jin, the director of The Wailing, is an international-scale science fiction thriller. The story follows a remote village terrorized by the presence of mysterious creatures from outer space. The residents must survive amidst the ever-growing threat, while various secrets begin to unfold. This film stars Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Michael Fassbender, and Alicia Vikander.

Colony by Yeon Sang-ho returns to the thriller genre. The story focuses on a biotechnology professor who is trapped inside a building after a rapidly spreading mutated virus outbreak. The survivors are forced to confront infected humans who are continuously evolving while searching for a way out of the quarantine area.

Salmokji (Whispering Water) is a mystery film set around a lake with a dark legend. A number of characters experience strange events after visiting the area, slowly revealing a terrifying secret that has long been hidden behind the lake.

Project Y stars Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo. The story follows two friends who grow up in the harsh life of Seoul. In order to change their fate, they decide to execute a high-risk plan that tests their friendship, ambition, and morality.

Mr. Kim Goes To The Cinema is a drama centered around a man named Kim who rediscovers the meaning of life through his love for the world of cinema. This story serves as a tribute to the experience of watching in theaters and the power of film to unite different generations.

2. Big Names and New Faces Behind a Series of Korean Films

COLONY (credit: Showbox)

The presence of Lee Chang-dong, Na Hong-jin, and Yeon Sang-ho underscores the strong tradition of Korean filmmakers in this year's selection list. Possible Love marks Lee Chang-dong's latest film in a landscape of drama rich with layers of emotion and family themes.

Na Hong-jin presents Hope as an internationally scaled science fiction thriller. The presence of Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon alongside Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander adds cross-market appeal to this project.

Yeon Sang-ho, director of Train to Busan, continues his genre exploration with Colony, which places the tension of an outbreak and the evolution of infection at the story's core. Meanwhile, Salmokji (Whispering Water) emphasizes mystery with a backdrop of a dark legendary lake.

On the other hand, Project Y brings together Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo in a crime drama that highlights the harsh realities of life in Seoul. Mr. Kim Goes To The Cinema offers a more contemplative perspective on the meaning of watching and intergenerational relationships through the medium of film.

3. The Process of Determining Korea's Representative for the 2027 Oscars

Six Korean films announced by KOFIC do not automatically become the official representative of South Korea at the Academy Awards. The council will determine one best title to be sent as the national representative in the Best International Feature Film category.

The presence of big names like Lee Chang-dong, Na Hong-jin, and Yeon Sang-ho makes this year's selection process predicted to be intense. The international reputation of these filmmakers adds weight to the competition among the titles on the list.

Additionally, several films that have entered the selection are said to have captured attention through premieres at prestigious film festivals and achievements at the South Korean box office. This dynamic serves as an important backdrop leading to the determination of one title that will proceed as the official representative at the 2027 Oscars.

(kpl/pit)