Lee Chang-dong’s ‘Possible Love’ Wins Big at Venice

As of September 13, 2026, Lee Chang-dong is back on the awards stage at the Venice International Film Festival — this time with his new film 'Possible Love.' At the festival's 83rd edition, the movie picked up two prizes: the Jury Grand Prize (Venice's second-highest honor) and the FIPRESCI Critics' Prize. It's Lee's first top Venice win since 'Oasis' took prizes there back in 2002 — 24 years ago.

24 yearsTime since Lee Chang-dong's last Venice win

8 yearsGap since his previous feature, 'Burning'

2 prizesAwards 'Possible Love' won at this year's festival

Key points

Lee Chang-dong's new film 'Possible Love' won both the Jury Grand Prize and the FIPRESCI Critics' Prize — a rare double.
The festival's top honor, the Golden Lion, went to Danish director Mai El-Toukhy's latest film.
It's Lee's first Venice win since 'Oasis' in 2002 — 24 years ago — and his first new feature since 'Burning,' eight years ago.
The film opens in select Korean theaters on Sept. 23, then streams worldwide on Netflix starting Nov. 6.

Lee Chang-dong's new film 'Possible Love' is having a moment on the international festival circuit. At this year's closing ceremony on the Lido in Venice, Italy, the film took home the Jury Grand Prize — the festival's second-most prestigious award after the Golden Lion. The ceremony wrapped up on the evening of Sept. 12 local time, with news reaching Korea in the early hours the next morning. The film also picked up the FIPRESCI Prize, awarded separately by the International Federation of Film Critics, making it a two-award night.

Accepting the honor, Lee said he made the film to ask what role cinema should play at a time when jobs and human relationships are growing thinner and more precarious. He said he'd take the award as encouragement to keep asking that question. He thanked his younger brother and producer, Pinehouse Film CEO Lee Joon-dong; co-writer Oh Jung-mi; Netflix, which handled distribution and financing; and the cast and his family.

The film follows two couples: Ho-seok, a laid-off factory worker, and his wife Mi-ok; and Ye-ji, a documentary director trying to film the couple, and her wealthy husband Sang-woo. As filming progresses, all four confront each other's different ways of living and desires they'd kept hidden. Sul Kyung-gu and Jeon Do-yeon play Ho-seok and Mi-ok, while Jo Yeo-jeong and Jo In-sung play Ye-ji and Sang-woo.

This isn't Lee's first time on this stage. His 2002 film 'Oasis' won Best Director, a Best New Actor prize, and the FIPRESCI Prize there — meaning it's been 24 years since his last trip to the Venice podium. Widen the lens to Korean cinema overall, and it's been 14 years since a Korean film won a top prize in competition at Venice, going back to Kim Ki-duk's Golden Lion win in 2012. This year's Golden Lion, incidentally, went to Danish director Mai El-Toukhy's new film, about a woman about to be married who tries to hide a past entanglement with German soldiers during World War II; the film also won Best Actress.

Korean audiences can catch 'Possible Love' in select theaters starting Sept. 23. It then streams worldwide on Netflix starting Nov. 6. The film has already been confirmed as Korea's submission for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards, and it's also headed to festivals in Toronto, New York, San Sebastian, Zurich, Vancouver and Busan.

In Korea right nowKorean film circles are buzzing over the win. It's been a while since one of Lee's films landed a top prize at one of the world's three major festivals (Cannes, Venice, Berlin), and many are reading it as proof that Korea's auteur-driven filmmaking tradition still resonates internationally. With A-list stars Sul Kyung-gu, Jeon Do-yeon, Jo In-sung and Jo Yeo-jeong all in the cast — plus a Netflix global release on the way — the film has been a steady topic on Korean portals and social media even before it opens.

FAQ

What is 'Possible Love' about?

It follows a laid-off worker and his wife alongside a documentary director and her wealthy husband — two couples whose lives intersect and whose hidden desires surface as filming progresses.

How big a deal is the Jury Grand Prize?

It's Venice's second-highest award after the Golden Lion, chosen by the main competition jury — essentially the festival's runner-up prize.

When and where can I watch it?

It opens in select Korean theaters on Sept. 23, then streams worldwide on Netflix starting Nov. 6.