Lee Chang-dong’s new film Possible Love has won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The award was announced on September 12 at the closing ceremony in Venice, Italy. This is the first time a Korean film has won this specific prize. The film stars Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong. It received a seven-minute standing ovation after its world premiere. The film will release in South Korean theatres on September 23 and arrive on Netflix on November 6.
A Historic Win for Korean Cinema
Possible Love made history at Venice this year. It is the first Korean film to win the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize. The last time a Korean film won a major award at Venice was in 2012. Director Kim Ki-duk won the Golden Lion that year for Pieta. Before that, Lee Chang-dong himself won the Silver Lion for Best Director in 2002 for Oasis.
The win is a major moment for Lee. It comes 24 years after his last Venice prize. The director was not the only one celebrating. The film also won the FIPRESCI Prize. This is a separate award given by international film critics. It honours the best film in the main competition.
Maggie Gyllenhaal led the jury this year. She announced the award on stage.
“The Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize goes to Possible Love by director Lee Chang-dong.”
The film beat 21 other titles in the main competition. The top prize, the Golden Lion, went to Woman Unknown by May el-Toukhy.
What Possible Love Is About
Possible Love tells the story of two married couples. One couple is a laid-off factory worker named Ho-seok and his wife Mi-ok. The other is a documentary filmmaker named Ye-ji and her wealthy husband Sang-woo. The two couples meet when Ye-ji decides to make a documentary about Ho-seok and Mi-ok’s lives.
The film looks at class differences, marriage, and hidden desires. It also deals with the pain of job loss and the way it changes people. The story was inspired by the large corporate restructurings and labour strikes that shook South Korea in the 2000s. Lee Chang-dong spent about 10 years developing the film.
Sul Kyung-gu and Jeon Do-yeon play Ho-seok and Mi-ok. Cho Yeo-jeong and Zo In-sung play Ye-ji and Sang-woo.
Lee Chang-dong’s Message and Acceptance Speech
Lee Chang-dong gave a moving speech when he accepted the award. He thanked the cast and crew who worked on the film.
“Everybody on set who gave life to this film, to all the actors and the staff, thank you. This award belongs to all of you.”
He also spoke about the deeper meaning behind the film.
“We are living in an era where the meaning of labor is fading and human connections are increasingly becoming severed. I made this film to ask what cinema can and should do in times like these.”
He added that he takes the award as a sign that people want him to keep asking these questions.
At a press conference after the win, Lee spoke more about the film’s themes. He said he asked himself how to show the pain of others in a film. He noted that films can sometimes consume the pain of others. But he believes the process of making a film can also be a way to share that pain and heal together.
A Long-Awaited Return for the Director
Possible Love is Lee Chang-dong’s first film in eight years. His last film was Burning in 2018. Burning was a critical success and became the first Korean film to make the shortlist for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards.
Lee is a former high school teacher and novelist. He also served as South Korea’s culture minister. He has directed acclaimed films like Peppermint Candy (1999), Secret Sunshine (2007), and Poetry (2010).
The film faced a difficult journey to get made. Despite Lee’s fame, the project struggled to find domestic investors. It was ultimately produced as a Netflix original film. This makes it Lee’s first collaboration with the streaming platform.
Possible Love is also South Korea’s entry for the International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. The Korean Film Council announced this on August 25.
Cast Reactions and the Toronto Connection
The lead actors could not attend the closing ceremony. They were at the Toronto International Film Festival for the film’s North American premiere. But they sent messages to congratulate Lee.
Jeon Do-yeon said she is curious about what film Lee will make next. She hoped the Silver Lion would be a great driving force for his future work. Jeon previously worked with Lee on Secret Sunshine, which won her the Best Actress award at Cannes in 2007.
Sul Kyung-gu said he feels deeply moved to have been part of the film. He also said he is sincerely proud. Sul has appeared in several of Lee’s films, including Peppermint Candy and Oasis.
Venice Film Festival 2026 Main Winners
The 83rd Venice Film Festival ran from September 2 to 12. Here are the main winners in the Competition section.
- Golden Lion for Best Film: Woman Unknown by May el-Toukhy
- Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize: Possible Love by Lee Chang-dong
- Silver Lion for Best Director: Ilya Khrzhanovsky for DAU
- Coppa Volpi for Best Actress: Mathilde Arcel for Woman Unknown
- Coppa Volpi for Best Actor: John Malkovich for Wild Horse Nine
- Best Screenplay: Stéphane Brizé, Coralie Amédéo, and Olivier Gorce for A Good Little Soldier
- Special Jury Prize: NAZA by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor
George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn also received Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement during the festival.
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Release Details for Global Viewers
Possible Love will hit theatres in South Korea on September 23. For global audiences, the film will be available on Netflix starting November 6. This means viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and many other regions can stream it from that date. The film’s theatrical run in South Korea will be brief before it moves to the streaming platform.
Also Read: Acclaimed Director Lee Chang-dong Returns With Netflix Film Possible Love After 8 Years
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