Director Yoon Ga-eun's new film 'The Master of the World' has been officially invited to the Platform section of the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, making it the first and only Korean film to be invited to this competitive category.
'The Master of the World' tells the story of an unpredictable 18-year-old high school girl whose world begins to shake after she impulsively utters a single phrase in anger.
The Platform section, where 'The Master of the World' has been invited, is the only official competitive section of the Toronto International Film Festival, established in 2015, and is named after the works of Chinese master director Jia Zhangke. It highlights films with outstanding artistry and a clear vision from the director.
Above all, around 10 films are selected each year to compete for the Platform Award, which has served as a stepping stone for directors with both artistic and commercial appeal, including Barry Jenkins' Academy Award-winning 'Moonlight', William Oldroyd's 'Lady Macbeth', and Pablo Larraín's 'Jackie'.
Giovanna Fulvi, the senior programmer of the Toronto International Film Festival, stated, "Director Yoon Ga-eun delicately captures the growing pains of adolescence and deeply portrays the journey of an individual finding resilience and agency within intimate family relationships. It is truly an honor to present the work of such a creative director for the first time at the Toronto International Film Festival."
Notably, this is the first time a Korean film has been selected for the Platform section since its establishment. Additionally, 'The Master of the World' will be eligible for audience awards, including the newly established International Audience Award, which will be determined by audience voting.
Director Yoon Ga-eun expressed, "I am delighted and honored to introduce this cherished story, made with all my heart alongside brilliant actors and crew, to global audiences through the Toronto International Film Festival. I especially hope you pay attention to actor Seo Soo-bin, who meets the audience for the first time through 'The Master of the World', and enjoy the exciting adventure of experiencing a new world alongside the characters in the film."
Director Yoon Ga-eun won the Grand Prize at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, known as the Cannes of short films, with her 2012 short film 'Guest', making it the first Asian film to do so. Her feature debut 'Our Body' in 2016 was officially invited to the K Plus section of the 66th Berlin International Film Festival, and she has swept numerous prestigious film festivals, including the Best New Director Award at the 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards and the Best Screenplay Award in the film category at the 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards.
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
