Kogonada's 'Zi' Premieres in Asia at Busan Fest

Kogonada's newest film, "Zi," is slated for its Asian premiere at the Busan International Film Festival, featured in the Icons section. The film's distributor in Korea will be Atnine Film, as confirmed after the festival's program announcement.

"Zi" was filmed over three weeks on the streets of Hong Kong. It stars Michelle Mao, Haley Lu Richardson, and Jin Ha. The narrative follows three individuals caught in a night that seems to ripple across time, focusing on a young woman whose encounter with a stranger reshapes her evening and life.

This film follows Kogonada's previous works, "Columbus" and "After Yang," reinforcing his position as a unique voice in contemporary American independent cinema. Atnine Film's director of acquisition expressed excitement about introducing "Zi" to Korean audiences, noting its delicate gaze and emotional sensibility, similar to "Columbus" but with a freer cinematic world.

The film previously had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and screened at MoMI's First Look Film Festival. The Busan screening marks its first appearance in Asia.