The 29th Busan International Film Festival to host special program 'A Beautiful Person, Lee Sun Gyun'

On August 23 KST, the 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) announced that it will hold a special program titled 'A Beautiful Person, Lee Sun Gyun,' honoring the late actor Lee Sun Gyun. The program will feature screenings of six of his representative works and include special talks. This retrospective aims to celebrate Lee Sun Gyun's acting career and achievements, while also providing a meaningful tribute to his legacy.

In addition, Lee Sun Gyun has been selected as the recipient of this year's Korea Cinema Award. This award is given to individuals who have significantly contributed to the elevation of Korean cinema and its global growth. The award will be presented during the festival's opening ceremony.

The retrospective will first showcase three of Lee Sun Gyun's early works that solidified his reputation as an outstanding film actor. In 'Paju' (2009), for which he won Best Actor at the Las Palmas International Film Festival in 2010, Lee Sun Gyun was praised for his nuanced portrayal of a character who is both a dedicated activist and a man who falls in love with his sister-in-law. Other featured films include 'Our Sunhi' (2013), directed by Hong Sang Soo, where Lee's energetic performance stands out, and 'A Hard Day' (2014), a Cannes Directors' Fortnight selection in which he plays a corrupt cop in a role marked by intense action and suspense.

The special program will also include a screening of the drama 'My Mister,' which brought comfort and deep emotion to many viewers with its calm and warm portrayal. Produced by Studio Dragon, 'My Mister' aired in 2018 and remains a beloved series for many fans. The fifth episode, which highlights Lee Sun Gyun's character Park Dong Hoon, will be shown as a cinematic experience.

Additionally, the retrospective will feature 'Parasite' (2019), directed by Bong Joon Ho, a film that brought Lee Sun Gyun to the pinnacle of his acting career by winning the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and four Oscars at the Academy Awards, and 'Land of Happiness' (2024), Lee's final film where he plays a resolute soldier entangled in a presidential assassination plot.

The 29th Busan International Film Festival will take place from October 2 (Wednesday) to October 11 (Friday) at various venues in Busan.

SEE ALSO: Controversial streamer Johnny Somali banned from leaving South Korea amid police probe