"Project Y" lit up the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, where the Lee Hwan-directed thriller held its world premiere in the Special Presentations program with stars Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo in attendance.
The film follows Mi-seon and Do-kyung, two women with nothing but each other, who make a desperate play to escape rock-bottom life by stealing a hidden stash of illicit cash and gold bars―setting off a high-stakes chain of events.
Running Sept. 4-14, TIFF hosted director Lee and leads Han and Jeon, whose appearance sparked major buzz. Following the premiere, word-of-mouth on the ground was glowing.
Before the screening, Lee, Han and Jeon hit the red carpet to roaring cheers and a wall of flashbulbs. Global stars Han and Jeon soaked up the moment, greeting fans, signing autographs and posing for photos with easy smiles.
The premiere unspooled at the 1,721-seat Princess of Wales Theatre, one of the festival’s marquee venues. During the post-screening Q&A, Lee, Han and Jeon took the stage for a lively conversation with the audience.
Asked about his casting, director Lee said, “People tend to label Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo as ‘girl-crush’ types, but I knew they could deliver something unexpected―and I wanted that pleasant shock. They’re icons of the moment with enormous public support, and I was determined to work with them.”
Han, who plays Mi-seon, shared, “The script hooked me right away. I was also drawn to the idea of two women of the same generation sharing the frame and driving the story together.”
Jeon, who portrays Do-kyung, added, “Sometimes everything aligns―a great female co-star, a strong script, a director you trust, a stellar crew. This was that chance, and I didn’t want to miss it.”
The Q&A fielded a wide range of questions, with the room breaking into applause throughout―a clear sign of the film’s warm reception in Toronto.
After TIFF, "Project Y" will head to the Busan International Film Festival before its domestic release in Korea.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)