South Korean director, screenwriter, novelist
Film at Lincoln Center has unveiled its main slate for the New York Film Festival, promising a mix of international cinema and high-profile premieres. Gray's Paper Tiger opens the festival, with Behemoth center stage, and Ava DuVernay's 14th closing the lineup. Other veteran and rising directors feature prominently.
A couple and their observers navigate a web of failed dreams and fragile affection in a cautious, intelligent drama from Seoul-based cinema. The film questions whether love can endure in the face of social pressure, economic strain and personal loss, offering a tempered, reflective ending.
Venice has faced criticism for including few female directors in its main competition. May el-Toukhys Woman Unknown was the lone woman-led feature in the initial lineup; festival organisers have since added the documentary NAZA. Jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal and programmers at London Film Festival have said structural barriers, especially financing, are limiting womens progression to larger films.
At TIFF 2026, studios are bypassing fall festivals while markets expand. Major releases skip screenings, while the market and Red Sea Fund-backed projects push Toronto as a hub for sales and international partnerships. TIFF’s evolving role mirrors a broader shift in how studios reach audiences and win awards amid a crowded fall slate.
The Venice film festival features a four-hour documentary on Elon Musk that critics say is highly critical. Musk has branded the film a hit piece, while director Alex Gibney defends it as rigorous inquiry. The documentary includes AI-generated Musk commentary and details about Musk's business ventures and public presence.
The 70th London Film Festival has opened with Simon Stone’s biographical drama Elsinore, starring Olivia Colman and Andrew Scott, about Ian Charleson’s final Hamlet performance. The director has discussed Day-Lewis’s reaction to revisiting the exit from the 1989 production. The festival runs for 12 days, featuring world premieres and a roster of international talent.