Director Kim Bo-sol's 'The Square' Wins Jury Prize at Annecy International Animation Festival

Director Kim Bo-sol's animation "The Square" has clinched the Jury Prize in the "Contrechamp" section at the 49th Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

Regarded as one of the most prestigious animation festivals globally, the Annecy Festival held its award ceremony on June 14th (local time) in the quaint town of Annecy in southeastern France, presenting awards in six categories to 35 animated films. Among the winners, "The Square" stood out as the sole representative from South Korea.

"The Square" is a 73-minute feature animation that delves into the clandestine love affair between a Swedish diplomat stationed in Pyongyang and a North Korean woman named Bokju. This film is the graduation project of Kim Bo-sol from the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA).

Invited to the Contrechamp section, "The Square" was highlighted for its bold and original storytelling, distinguishing itself from the main competition. Last year, director Ahn Jae-hoon's "The Fisherman" was invited to this category.

Upon receiving the Jury Prize, Director Kim Bo-sol expressed gratitude, saying, "I want to thank the small team of staff who suffered with me and the actors who have waited a long time for this film."

Before its screening at the Annecy Festival, "The Square" had already been invited to various prestigious film festivals around the world, including the Udine Far East Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, and South by Southwest (SXSW) London, receiving widespread acclaim for its artistic merit. In South Korea, it is scheduled to premiere at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival on July 3rd. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)