Director Celine Song, whose debut film 'Past Lives' earned her an Academy Award nomination, recently met with Korean reporters via video conference. The film not only won Best Picture at the Cosmo Awards, an American independent film and drama awards ceremony, but also received Best Picture accolades from the National Association of Film Critics and nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at the upcoming Academy Awards (Oscar Awards) in March. As the movie prepares for its Korean release, Director Celine Song expressed her delight, saying, "I am thrilled to present 'Past Lives' in Korea, where I was born and lived until I was 12."

Director Celine Song, a Korean-Canadian who moved to Canada at the age of 12, initially worked as a playwright off-Broadway before transitioning to film directing with 'Past Lives.' The film has garnered significant attention by winning awards at prestigious international film festivals and securing nominations for the Oscars, an achievement that left her deeply touched and surprised. She commented, "It's an unbelievable honor," and her family, including her father, director Song Neung Han, couldn't be prouder. She also credited the global recognition of 'Parasite' for opening doors for foreign-language films, stating, "Thanks to the success of 'Parasite,' everyone has become accustomed to subtitles," and added, "Thanks to the path paved by K-drama and K-pop, including 'Parasite,' we achieved excellent results."

'Past Lives' delves into the intricate web of relationships, drawing inspiration from Director Celine Song's encounter with a childhood friend in New York. She felt that, between her American husband and her Korean friend, who couldn't communicate directly, they were "interpreting history and stories beyond interpretation." Many of her friends also resonated with "the sensation of the past, present, and future coexisting in a single place," giving rise to the creation of 'Past Lives'. The film explores the concept of 'in-yeon,' which Director Celine Song acknowledged is widely known in Korea but not as familiar to the rest of the world. She takes pride in the fact that through the film, global audiences can feel and understand this profound concept of interconnectedness.

Lately, there has been a growing interest in works featuring immigrants and foreigners, from 'Everything Everywhere All at Once,' last year's Oscar winner, to Netflix's 'BEEF' and 'Past Lives.' Director Celine Song noted that we all experience moments when we feel like outsiders and emphasized that even in ordinary life, there are multiple perspectives on time. She stressed that "life is about ordinary people experiencing extraordinary moments."

A significant portion of 'Past Lives' was filmed in Seoul, and Director Celine Song captured both Seoul and New York with the essence of the people who reside in those cities. She highlighted the importance of capturing the real essence of a place rather than the typical tourist spots, expressing her gratitude to the domestic location team for their recommendations. The film is set to be released domestically in Korea on March 6.