Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love' wins Grand Jury Prize at Venice Film Festival

Lee Chang-dong won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on Saturday local time with Possible Love. The win is only the second time a Korean movie has received the award, after Pieta in 2012. Lee said the film was made to ask what cinema can do as labor disappears and human connections break down.

The Golden Lion, the festival’s top honor, went to Danish-Egyptian filmmaker May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown.

Lee said Possible Love was financed by Netflix and co-written with Oh Jung-mi after a long delay.

The film stars Sul Kyung-gu, Jeon Do-yeon, Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong.

Possible Love has been selected as Korea’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.

The film is scheduled for a domestic theatrical release on Sept. 23, a limited U.S. Oscar-qualifying run on Oct. 23, and worldwide streaming on Nov. 6.

Published Sep 13, 2026 7:49 am KST

Updated Sep 13, 2026 5:42 pm KST

Director Lee Chang-dong, winner of the Grand Jury Prize for the film "Possible Love," poses during the closing ceremony of the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Saturday (local time). AP-Yonhap

Filmmaker Lee Chang-dong claimed the prestigious Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on Saturday (local time) with his latest feature "Possible Love."

The historic victory marks the second time a Korean movie has taken home the award at the world’s oldest film festival, following director Kim Ki-duk’s Golden Lion win for "Pieta" in 2012. It also brings closure to a long-standing Venice quest for Lee, who won the Silver Lion for Best Director 24 years ago with "Oasis" (2002).

The Golden Lion award, the festival's highest honor, went to Danish-Egyptian filmmaker May el-Toukhy's "Woman Unknown," beating out other works from world-famous directors like Lee, Hirokazu Kore-eda and Martin McDonagh.

Director Lee Chang-dong accepts the Grand Jury Prize for his film "Possible Love" during the closing ceremony of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Saturday (local time). AP-Yonhap

Accepting the award on stage, the director expressed deep gratitude to the jury, festival organizers and his team.

"I would like to thank the jury for giving me this precious award, and the festival officials for inviting me back to this beautiful festival after 24 years," Lee said. "Without the patience and long wait of so many people, this movie might never have been made."

He also extended his appreciation to global streamer Netflix for financing the project and co-writer Oh Jung-mi for reviving the long-shelved story, along with the film's cast.

"I want to share this feeling with everyone who made this film with me," Lee added. "Above all, I thank the actors and crew who gave everything on set. I especially thank Sul Kyung-gu, Jeon Do-yeon, Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong for giving life to this film. This award belongs to all of you."

Speaking about the movie’s core theme, Lee said he wanted to shed light on how cinema can still connect people.

"I made this movie to ask what cinema can and should do in an era where labor is disappearing and human connections are being broken," he said. "I take this award as a sign to keep asking those questions."

Director Lee Chang-Dong poses with the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize for the movie "Possible Love" during the closing ceremony of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, Italy, Saturday (local time). Reuters-Yonhap

The award drew immediate praise from political and cultural leaders here.

President Lee Jae Myung offered his congratulations on X (formerly Twitter), celebrating the historic achievement.

"I offer my heartfelt congratulations to director Lee Chang-dong, as well as all the actors and production crew," the president wrote. “I hope this award expands the diversity of Korean cinema and allows more great works to connect with global audiences."

Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young also shared a congratulatory message.

"With this dazzling achievement in Venice following 'Oasis' in 2002, you have set another great milestone in Korean cinema history," Choi wrote on his X account. "Your deep artistic spirit, which never stops asking questions, has once again struck a deep chord in the hearts of filmmakers around the world."

"Possible Love" centers on the unlikely encounter between two couples brought together through a documentary project. Sul Kyung-gu stars as Ho-seok, a laid-off factory worker, while Jeon Do-yeon plays the role of his wife, Mi-ok, both struggling in the aftermath of a violent police crackdown on labor strikes.

Opposing them are Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong, who play a wealthy couple, with Cho portraying Ye-ji, the ambitious documentary filmmaker who captures the four lives intertwining.

By mixing Korea’s past labor struggles with contemporary social worries, the movie gives a touching look at empathy, class envy and the duties of an artist.

Jury member Johnnie To, left, presents director Lee Chang-dong the Grand Jury Prize for the film "Possible Love" during the closing ceremony of the 83rd edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Saturday (local time). AP-Yonhap

The film’s emotional touch is made even stronger by quiet, gentle music from composer Jung Jae-il, famous for his work on Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" and the Netflix series "Squid Game."

International critics praised the movie following its premiere, which was greeted with a seven-minute standing ovation. The Hollywood Reporter lauded it as a "profound meditation on trauma and yearning," while the International Cinephile Society awarded it 4.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as "an absolute knockout."

The festival win now serves as a powerful launchpad for the film's global campaign. "Possible Love" has already been selected as Korea's official entry for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.

Financed and distributed internationally by Netflix, "Possible Love" is scheduled for a domestic theatrical release on Sept. 23, followed by a limited Oscar-qualifying run in the U.S. on Oct. 23 before streaming worldwide beginning Nov. 6.

李沧东凭借《可能的爱》荣获第83届威尼斯国际电影节评审团银狮奖。这是继2012年的《圣殇》之后，韩国电影第二次获此殊荣。李沧东表示，这部电影旨在探讨在劳动力消失、人际关系瓦解的当下，电影还能发挥怎样的作用。

电影节最高荣誉金狮奖颁给了丹麦裔埃及电影制作人梅·埃尔-图基的《未知女人》。

李说，《可能的爱》是由 Netflix 投资，并与吴正美共同编剧，经过长时间的拖延才完成。

该片由薛景求、全度妍、赵仁成和赵汝贞主演。

《可能的爱》已被选为韩国角逐即将到来的奥斯卡金像奖最佳国际影片奖的官方代表影片。

该片计划于9月23日在美国院线上映，10月23日在美国进行有限的奥斯卡资格评选放映，并于11月6日在全球流媒体平台上线。

发布于2026年9月13日 上午7:49（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月13日下午5:42（韩国标准时间）

凭借电影《可能的爱》荣获威尼斯电影节评审团大奖的导演李沧东，于周六（当地时间）在意大利威尼斯举行的第83届威尼斯电影节闭幕式上留影。美联社-韩联社

电影导演李沧东凭借其最新作品《可能的爱》于周六（当地时间）在第83届威尼斯国际电影节上荣获著名的银狮评审团大奖。

这次历史性的胜利标志着韩国电影第二次在世界上历史最悠久的电影节上摘得桂冠，此前金基德导演凭借《圣殇》在2012年获得了金狮奖。这也为李连杰结束了他多年来在威尼斯电影节上的夙愿，他曾凭借《绿洲》（2002）获得24年前的威尼斯电影节最佳导演银狮奖。

电影节最高荣誉金狮奖颁给了丹麦裔埃及电影人梅·埃尔·图基的《无名女人》，击败了李安、是枝裕和、马丁·麦克唐纳等世界著名导演的其他作品。

周六（当地时间），在意大利威尼斯举行的第83届威尼斯国际电影节闭幕式上，导演李沧东凭借其电影《可能的爱》荣获评审团大奖。美联社-韩联社

导演在台上领奖时，向评委、电影节组织者和他的团队表达了深深的感谢。

李安说：“我要感谢评委会授予我这项宝贵的奖项，也要感谢电影节组委会时隔24年再次邀请我参加这个美丽的电影节。如果没有这么多人的耐心和长期等待，这部电影可能永远不会问世。”

他还对全球流媒体平台 Netflix 为该项目提供资金表示感谢，并对联合编剧吴正美重启这个搁置已久的故事以及电影的演员们表示感谢。

李补充道：“我想与所有参与这部电影制作的人分享这份感受。首先，我要感谢所有在片场倾注心血的演员和工作人员。尤其要感谢薛景求、全度妍、赵寅成和赵汝贞，是他们赋予了这部电影生命。这个奖项属于你们所有人。”

谈到这部电影的核心主题，李安表示，他想阐明电影如何仍然能够将人们联系起来。

“我拍这部电影是为了探讨在劳动力消失、人际关系破裂的时代，电影能够而且应该做些什么，”他说。“我把这个奖项视为一个信号，让我继续追问这些问题。”

导演李沧东周六（当地时间）在第83届威尼斯国际电影节闭幕式上，手捧电影《可能的爱》获得的银狮评审团大奖。路透社-韩联社

该奖项立即赢得了当地政界和文化界领袖的赞扬。

李在明总统向 X（前身为 Twitter）表示祝贺，庆祝这一历史性成就。

“我向李沧东导演以及所有演员和制作人员致以最诚挚的祝贺，”总统写道。“我希望这个奖项能够丰富韩国电影的多样性，让更多优秀的作品与世界观众产生共鸣。”

文化部长蔡辉映也发来了贺电。

“继2002年的《绿洲》之后，你凭借在威尼斯电影节上的这一辉煌成就，在韩国电影史上又树立了一个新的里程碑，”崔在Xbox账号上写道。“你那永不停歇地追问的深厚艺术精神，再次深深触动了世界各地电影人的心弦。”

《可能的爱》讲述了两对情侣因一部纪录片而相遇，并最终走到一起的奇妙故事。薛景求饰演失业工厂工人浩锡，全度妍饰演他的妻子美玉，两人在警方暴力镇压劳工罢工后都陷入了困境。

与他们对抗的是赵寅成和赵汝贞，他们饰演一对富裕的夫妇，赵汝贞饰演雄心勃勃的纪录片导演艺智，她记录了四个人交织在一起的生活。

这部电影将韩国过去的劳工斗争与当代的社会忧虑交织在一起，感人至深地展现了同情心、阶级嫉妒和艺术家的责任。

周六（当地时间），在意大利威尼斯举行的第83届威尼斯电影节闭幕式上，评审团成员杜琪峰（左）向导演李沧东颁发了电影《可能的爱》的评审团大奖。美联社-韩联社

影片的情感冲击力因作曲家郑宰日创作的安静柔和的音乐而更加强烈。郑宰日曾为奉俊昊的《寄生虫》和 Netflix 剧集《鱿鱼游戏》配乐，并因此而闻名。

影片首映后，国际影评人纷纷称赞，并获得了长达七分钟的起立鼓掌。《好莱坞报道》盛赞其为“对创伤和渴望的深刻反思”，而国际影迷协会则给予其4.5星（满分5星）的评价，称其为“绝对的佳作”。

此次电影节获奖为影片的全球推广活动奠定了坚实的基础。《可能的爱》已被选为韩国角逐即将到来的奥斯卡金像奖最佳国际影片奖的官方代表。

由 Netflix 投资并负责国际发行的《可能的爱》计划于 9 月 23 日在美国院线上映，随后于 10 月 23 日在美国进行有限的奥斯卡资格评选放映，之后于 11 月 6 日起在全球范围内上线流媒体平台。