Jun Ji-hyun Heads to Cannes: Why 'COLONY' Invitation Hits Different

Actor Jun Ji-hyun’s new film ‘COLONY’ has scored a coveted invitation to the Cannes Film Festival.

At a press conference held at the Pathe Palace in Paris on the afternoon of the 9th (local time), the 79th Cannes Film Festival announced that ‘COLONY’ was selected for the Midnight Screenings section.

‘COLONY’ is set inside a building locked down by a mysterious outbreak. Cut off from the outside world, a group of survivors fights back against infected beings that evolve in unpredictable ways. Jun Ji-hyun plays Kwon Se-jeong, a biotechnologist who leads the survivors with cool-headed judgment and a strong sense of justice in extreme conditions.

It’s Jun Ji-hyun’s first zombie film and her first collaboration with director Yeon Sang-ho―and it’s already earned a Cannes invite.
This year’s Cannes Film Festival runs from May 12 to 23. Jun Ji-hyun is expected to visit Cannes with director Yeon Sang-ho in line with the film’s screening schedule.
It’s not her first time in Cannes. In 2011, she visited the 64th Cannes Film Festival to promote Wayne Wang’s ‘Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,’ and in 2015, she attended the 68th edition at the invitation of a luxury brand. Neither appearance was part of the festival’s official selection.

This time is different. The film she stars in has been invited to an official section, bringing her to the festival in a new capacity. Cannes provides flights and accommodations for directors and lead actors of invited films―treatment that clearly sets them apart from attendees visiting for brand events or general promotion.

‘COLONY’ will have its world premiere at Cannes and will open in Korea this May.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)