Overview
- At the festival’s opening press events, Park Chan-wook said he will watch entries with the “pure eyes of an audience” and then judge them as a seasoned professional steeped in film history.
- Asked about political content, he said it is “strange” to treat art and politics as opposites and argued that political themes can produce great cinema when expressed with skill.
- Cannes general delegate Thierry Frémaux told reporters he will not use his position to advance personal views, saying political questions should be addressed through what filmmakers present on screen.
- This year’s competition includes works likely to prompt sensitive discussion, including new films from Iran’s Asghar Farhadi and Russia’s Andrey Zvyagintsev, which could test how the jury applies Park’s approach.
- South Korea’s growing profile is visible across sections with films by Na Hong-jin, Yeon Sang-ho, and July Jung, and Park said he would show no favoritism while noting how the global film “center” has widened to include more countries.