Director Yeon Sang-ho’s upcoming film Paradise Lost is continuing its impressive global journey, securing official invitations to prestigious international film festivals and achieving remarkable pre-sales across 118 countries worldwide.
Distributed by CJ ENM and produced by WOWPOINT, Paradise Lost has been officially invited to the ‘Spotlight on Korea’ section of the 46th Hawaii International Film Festival, which runs from October 21 to November 15 across the Hawaiian islands.
The Hawaii International Film Festival is renowned for bridging Eastern and Western cinema cultures by showcasing diverse films from the Asia-Pacific region and around the globe. Paradise Lost is scheduled to screen locally in Hawaii on November 1 and 4. This screening holds profound significance as it marks the film’s official US premiere, introducing the work to American audiences for the first time.
Previously, the film was invited to the Special Presentations section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, where all four official screenings sold out approximately 2,300 seats. It also achieved consecutive sell-outs for all four screenings in the Gala Presentation section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, firmly establishing its high level of anticipation both domestically and internationally.
Amidst this growing excitement, Paradise Lost has already been sold to 118 countries globally prior to its official theatrical release, capturing immense attention from overseas markets and generating profits exceeding its net production cost solely through international sales.
This widespread international sales success is the direct result of overseas markets placing deep trust in Director Yeon Sang-ho’s unique cinematic universe, combined with CJ ENM’s robust global business competencies. Leveraging its accumulated global network and expertise in international sales and distribution, CJ ENM has consistently acted as a vital bridge connecting Korean narratives to global audiences.
An international distribution representative for CJ ENM stated, “Paradise Lost weaves a universal emotional core of family and motherhood into a unique narrative setting. This profound storytelling transcends national and cultural boundaries, driving high engagement and interest from international markets.
Meanwhile, Paradise Lost is a psychological thriller that unfolds when Ryu So-young (played by Kim Hyun-joo)βa mother who lost her son nine years ago in a camping school bus disappearanceβmiraculously reunites with her son Ryu Sun-woo (played by Bae Hyun-sung), whom she believed to be dead. The film is set to premiere on October 21.”
