Actor Lee Hak-joo has snagged the Best Actor prize at the country’s largest short film festival.
At the Oct. 20 closing ceremony of the 21st Mise-en-scene Short Film Festival, Lee took home the honor for his performance in “The Cheat.”
“The Cheat” follows a man whose life is upended when he discovers his soon-to-be spouse is an industrial spy, forcing him into a high-stakes choice. The film is directed by Kim Geon-woo.
Lee plays Do-young, a mid-level manager at a major manufacturing plant outside Seoul. While waiting for his partner at a cafe, he’s pulled into a tense psychological cat-and-mouse with a stranger―a grounded, tightly wound turn that earned him the win.
After thanking his cast and crew, Lee said, “For me, the Mise-en-scene Short Film Festival is joyful, nerve-racking, and inspiring. Winning here feels like a dream.” He added his gratitude “to the many directors and organizers who brought the festival back.”
The Mise-en-scene Short Film Festival is Korea’s only genre-focused short film competition, dedicated to discovering and supporting new filmmakers and expanding the diversity of Korean cinema.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)