Veteran filmmaker Jung Ji-young’s new feature, led by "The Glory" standout Yeom Hye-ran, has been invited to this year’s Berlin International Film Festival.
Titled "My Name", the film is a healing-and-growth drama set against the Jeju 4·3 Uprising, and marks the first Korean title of 2026 to land an invite to an overseas festival.
According to distributor Wide Release on the 16th, "My Name" has secured an official slot in the Forum section at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, running Feb. 12 for ten days in Germany. Forum is the strand known for bold, boundary-pushing auteur cinema; in 2024, Exhuma premiered there as well.
The Berlinale nod highlights the enduring craft of master director Jung and the surging profile of Yeom Hye-ran, whose layered performance is drawing international attention.
Festival organizers praised "My Name" for delicately tracing intergenerational trauma left by a tragic history and underscoring the urgency of breaking a long-held silence. They also hailed its meticulously built narrative and powerful emotional payoff, adding that Forum―long a home for meaningful Korean cinema―is honored to host the film’s world premiere.
"My Name" follows an 18-year-old desperate to abandon a name that never fit him, his mother―called “eomeong” in the Jeju dialect―who must protect that name at all costs, and a journey to uncover a promise made 50 years ago. Yeom Hye-ran anchors the film as the single mother confronting truths buried in her fractured memories, delivering a commanding, deeply felt turn.
From the outset, the project signaled its pedigree by winning the Jeju 4·3 Peace Foundation’s top screenplay honor, then moved into production with grassroots support from Jeju residents and backers across Korea―adding authenticity at every step. The producers said they’re proud the Berlinale selection affirms the film’s sincerity and promised a “trustworthy, must-see” feature shaped by Jung’s vision, Berlin’s vote of confidence, and the heart of the Jeju community.
"My Name" opens nationwide in Korea in April 2026.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)