Korean Drama "The World of Love" Wins Big at Pingyao Film Festival

In a significant achievement for Korean cinema, the film "The World of Love" has secured distribution deals across three key Asian markets following its double win at the Pingyao International Film Festival in China last month.

The drama, which world premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, took home both the prestigious Roberto Rossellini Awards Jury Prize and the People's Choice Award in the festival's Crouching Tigers section. This impressive feat has paved the way for the film's wider distribution, with veteran Japanese distributor Bitters End acquiring the rights for Japan, and Hong Kong's Edko Films and Taiwan's Andrews Film picking up the respective territories.

Directed by the acclaimed Yoon Ga-eun, known for her previous works "The World of Us" and "The House of Us," the film centers on 17-year-old Lee Jooin, an unpredictable high school student whose angry outburst creates ripple effects throughout her world. The drama is produced by Barunson E&A, the South Korean studio behind the Oscar-winning "Parasite" and Kim Jee-woon's Cannes title "Cobweb."

The film's success at the Pingyao festival has been met with enthusiasm from industry leaders. Yuji Sadai, president of Bitters End, expressed his excitement to distribute the "talented director Yoon Ga-eun's new film," stating that the film's "masterful approach to the theme is brilliant" and has "universal appeal to the audience." Pingyao festival founder Jia Zhang-ke also congratulated the film's achievement, hoping it will be a "stepping stone for many more great Korean films to be introduced to Chinese audiences."

Director Yoon Ga-eun herself expressed her gratitude, saying she is "truly honored to have met such enthusiastic audiences" and considers the awards as "encouragement to continue directing with passion."