Director Yoon Ga-eun’s new film "The World of Love" has locked a Chinese distributor, a rare feat for a Korean title amid years of tight restrictions on Korean films in the market.
The coming-of-age thriller follows Joo-in, an inscrutable 18-year-old who refuses to sign a petition every student backs ― and soon starts receiving cryptic notes. The film debuted as the first and only Korean selection in TIFF’s Platform competition, then swept two prizes including the Audience Award at the Pingyao International Film Festival. Invitations have continued to roll in from major fall festivals including the Warsaw Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Sao Paulo International Film Festival, and Cork International Film Festival.
Riding that Pingyao momentum and surging word of mouth in China, "The World of Love" has been pre-sold to veteran distributor Light Films Limited, whose slate includes Bong Joon Ho’s "Parasite" and Koreeda Hirokazu’s Nobody Knows.
“We felt the electricity in the room after the Pingyao screening,” said Li Na, head of Light Films Limited. “Chinese audiences are responding to 'The World of Love’s fresh perspective. We’re excited to bring it to theaters across China so more people can experience it.”
Securing Chinese distribution at this speed ― despite the market’s long-standing chill on Korean titles ― underscores the film’s festival heat. On Douban, China’s leading film-rating platform, the movie is sitting at 9.0/10 with raves like “Best of 2025,” “My top film at Pingyao,” “We need more films and filmmakers like this,” and “A lightning bolt of emotion.” The buzz positions "The World of Love" as a potential shot of fresh energy in a market dominated by local releases.
Global rollout is also taking shape: Japan’s prestige distributor Bitters End (Bong Joon Ho's 'Parasite,' Hamaguchi Ryusuke's 'Drive My Car,' Jia Zhangke’s 'Still Life'), Hong Kong powerhouse Edko Films ― which also operates a major theater chain ― ('Parasite,' Park Chan-wook’s 'Decision to Leave,' Koreeda’s 'Monster'), and Taiwan’s arthouse specialist Andrews Film (Michael Haneke’s 'Happy End,' Celine Sciamma’s 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire') have all boarded the title.
"The World of Love" opens in theaters across Korea on Oct. 22.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)