Honored by Venice win, 'Possible Love' director seeks audience connection over award

Lee Chang-dong said in Seoul on Monday that audience reaction matters more to him than awards after Possible Love won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. Speaking with lead actors Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong, he said Venice was the first place the film met the world. The film follows two couples whose lives intersect through a documentary project and will open in Korean theaters on Sept. 23 before streaming on Netflix on Nov. 6.

Possible Love won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.

Lee said Venice was the first place where the film met the world, and that audience response mattered more to him than the award.

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

It will open in local theaters on Sept. 23 and stream worldwide on Netflix on Nov. 6.

Lee said the film grew out of a corporate layoff and violent crackdown incident over a decade ago and explores labor and human connection in modern society.

Published Sep 21, 2026 5:51 pm KST

Updated Sep 21, 2026 5:52 pm KST

Director Lee Chang-dong speaks during a press conference for the movie "Possible Love" at a theater in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Prior to the local release of Venice-winning feature, "Possible Love," director Lee Chang-dong said Monday that audience reaction to the film is far more important to him than winning an award.

Speaking at a press conference in Seoul alongside lead actors Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong, the veteran filmmaker reflected on his Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize win at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.

"I am happy and honored to receive the award, but the prize is merely a result," Lee said during a media screening and press conference in Seoul, Monday. "The more important thing to me was to know how audience would receive my film because Venice was the first place where it met the world."

Director Lee Chang-dong, second from right, poses with actors Sul Kyung-gu, right, Cho Yeo-jeong, second from left, and Zo In-sung during a press conference for the movie "Possible Love" at a theater in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

"Possible Love" follows two contrasting couples who meet through a documentary project. Ho-seok (Sul) is a laid-off worker carrying deep emotional trauma, while his wife Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon) strives to protect her family’s dignity.

On the other side are Ye-ji (Cho), an ambitious documentary filmmaker, and her wealthy husband Sang-woo (Zo). As their lives intertwine, the four individuals face their hidden desires and complex realities.

Lee added that he was deeply moved by how overseas viewers connected with the story. "Even though this film is neither simple nor sensational, the audience seemed to deeply feel and respond to the questions it raises," he said. "I felt relieved and grateful for that."

Lee also shared changes in his directing style.

"I used to think not giving an OK sign was my attitude toward cinema because I believed answers belong to the actors, not the director," Lee recalled.

"I changed while I was working on 'Poetry' with the late actor Yun Jung-hee. Realizing it was nothing worthy to stubbornly stick to, I now give OK signs comfortably. Working with Sul and Jeon again after a long time felt very relaxing, and the atmosphere on set was truly different."

Actor Jeon Do-yeon, right, attend the press conference online, while director Lee Chang-dong, center, speaks at a theater in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Jeon, who joined the event virtually from the United States, agreed that the filming process was surprisingly comfortable compared to her past experience with Lee on "Secret Sunshine” (2007).

"Back then, I thought a director should have all the answers, but he did not give them to me, which made the work difficult," Jeon said. "This time, I expected the filming to be another difficult journey, but he gave OK signs very smoothly. The set was so comfortable that it felt healing."

Actor Sul Kyung-gu speaks during a press conference for the movie "Possible Love" at a theater in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Sul recounted the Venice premiere, where he shed tears after the official screening.

"As the audience applauded, the moments we spent shooting in Goheung flashed through my mind like a panorama," Sul said. "I wondered if there could be hope for us, and I was deeply moved. I was comforted because Zo In-sung cried alongside me."

Zo shared a lighthearted moment from Venice, recalling how overseas journalists unexpectedly swarmed him for autographs.

"After the official press conference ended, journalists suddenly rushed toward me asking for autographs," Zo said. "I was surprised at first because I thought I had made a mistake, but I felt deeply moved. I could really feel how much Korean cinema has grown in international standing, even in Venice."

Actor Zo In-sung speaks during a press conference for the movie "Possible Love" at a theater in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Originating from a corporate layoff and violent crackdown incident over a decade ago, "Possible Love" expands on the meaning of labor and human connection in modern society.

"Rather than speaking about our reality and global issues in a simple way, I wanted to discuss them across multiple layers," Lee explained. "Whether it appears as stories of laid-off workers, class conflict or the ethics of a filmmaker, I wanted to share these questions directly with the audience."

"Possible Love" will hit local theaters on Sept. 23 before streaming worldwide on Netflix on Nov. 6.

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

李沧东周一在首尔表示，在他看来，《可能的爱》荣获第83届威尼斯国际电影节评审团银狮奖后，观众的反应比奖项更重要。在与主演薛景求、赵寅成和赵汝贞交谈时，他表示威尼斯是这部电影走向世界的起点。该片讲述了两对情侣因一部纪录片而交织在一起的故事，将于9月23日在韩国院线上映，并于11月6日在Netflix上线。

《可能的爱》荣获第83届威尼斯国际电影节评审团银狮奖。

李安表示，威尼斯电影节是这部电影首次与世界见面的地方，观众的反应对他来说比奖项更重要。

该片由薛景求、赵寅成、赵汝贞和全度妍主演。

该片将于9月23日在当地影院上映，并于11月6日在Netflix上全球同步上线。

李安表示，这部电影源于十多年前的一起企业裁员和暴力镇压事件，探讨了现代社会中的劳动和人际关系。

发布于2026年9月21日下午5:51（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月21日下午5:52（韩国标准时间）

周一，导演李沧东在首尔一家影院出席电影《可能的爱》的新闻发布会。（韩联社）

在威尼斯电影节获奖影片《可能的爱》在当地上映之前，导演李沧东周一表示，观众对这部电影的反应对他来说远比赢得奖项重要得多。

这位资深电影导演与主演薛景求、赵寅成和赵汝贞一同出席了在首尔举行的新闻发布会，回顾了他在第83届威尼斯国际电影节上获得银狮评审团大奖的历程。

“我很荣幸也很开心能获得这个奖项，但奖项仅仅是结果，”李敏镐周一在首尔举行的媒体放映会和新闻发布会上说。“对我来说，更重要的是知道观众会如何看待我的电影，因为威尼斯电影节是它与世界见面的第一个地方。”

周一，在首尔一家影院举行的电影《可能的爱》新闻发布会上，导演李沧东（右二）与演员薛景求（右）、赵汝贞（左二）和赵仁成合影。（韩联社）

《可能的爱》讲述了两个性格迥异的夫妇因一部纪录片而相识的故事。丈夫浩锡（薛饰）是一名失业工人，内心深处饱受创伤；而他的妻子美玉（全度妍饰）则努力维护着家庭的尊严。

另一边是雄心勃勃的纪录片导演艺智（赵婷饰）和她富有的丈夫尚宇（赵婷饰）。随着四人的生活交织在一起，他们不得不面对各自隐藏的欲望和复杂的现实。

李安补充说，海外观众对这部电影的共鸣让他深受感动。“虽然这部电影既不简单也不耸人听闻，但观众似乎对它提出的问题感同身受，并做出了深刻的回应，”他说。“对此我感到欣慰和感激。”

李安还分享了他导演风格的变化。

“我以前认为，不打‘OK’手势是我对电影的态度，因为我相信答案属于演员，而不是导演，”李回忆道。

“在和已故演员尹贞熙一起拍摄《诗》期间，我有所改变。意识到固执己见毫无意义，我现在能很自然地打出OK的手势。时隔多年再次和薛、全合作感觉非常放松，片场的气氛也截然不同。”

周一，演员全度妍（右）在线参加新闻发布会，导演李沧东（中）在首尔一家剧院发表讲话。（韩联社）

全智贤从美国以视频方式参加了此次活动，她也表示，与她之前和李连杰合作拍摄《密阳》（2007）的经历相比，这次的拍摄过程出乎意料地轻松愉快。

“那时候，我觉得导演应该无所不知，但他并没有告诉我，这让工作变得很困难，”全先生说。“这次，我原本以为拍摄又会是一段艰难的旅程，但他很自然地就给了我肯定的答复。片场的气氛非常舒适，让人感觉很治愈。”

周一，演员薛景求在首尔一家影院出席电影《可能的爱情》的新闻发布会。（韩联社）

苏尔回忆起威尼斯首映式，在正式放映结束后他流下了眼泪。

“观众鼓掌时，我们在高兴拍摄的场景像全景图一样在我脑海中闪过，”薛说。“我当时在想，我们是否还有希望，我深受感动。赵寅成和我一起哭泣，这让我感到安慰。”

Zo分享了他在威尼斯的一段轻松愉快的经历，回忆起当时海外记者们出乎意料地蜂拥而至，向他索要签名。

“官方新闻发布会结束后，记者们突然蜂拥而至，向我索要签名，”赵说。“我一开始很惊讶，以为自己做错了什么，但随后我深受感动。我真切地感受到韩国电影在国际上的地位有了多么大的提升，即使是在威尼斯电影节上也是如此。”

周一，演员赵寅成在首尔一家影院出席电影《可能的爱》的新闻发布会。（韩联社）

《可能的爱》源于十多年前的一起企业裁员和暴力镇压事件，它拓展了现代社会中劳动和人际关系的意义。

李安解释说：“我不想简单地谈论我们的现实和全球问题，而是想从多个层面进行探讨。无论是讲述失业工人的故事、阶级冲突，还是探讨电影人的职业道德，我都想直接与观众分享这些问题。”

《可能的爱》将于9月23日在当地影院上映，随后于11月6日在Netflix上全球同步上线。

李沧东执导的《可能的爱》荣获威尼斯电影节评审团大奖