Korean cinema takes center stage this year with an exciting lineup featuring world and international premieres that demonstrate Korea’s unparalleled range and creativity. Leading the lineup is acclaimed auteur Park Chan-wook with NO OTHER CHOICE (어쩔수가없다), alongside Ra Hee-chan’s BOSS (보스) and Kim Mi-zo’s THE JOURNEY TO GYEONG-JU (경주기행). The program also includes Lee Hwan’s PROJECT Y (프로젝트 Y) and Eugene Yi’s concert documentary THE ROSE: COME BACK TO ME, capturing the global K-pop phenomenon. From master filmmakers to bold new voices, this collection represents one of HIFF’s strongest Korean offerings to date—a testament to South Korea’s position as one of the most exciting film industries in the world today.
BOSS
Directed by Hee-chan Ra
October 22, 6:00pm | October 23, 5:00pm – Consolidated Theatres Kahala
BOSS is a riotous action-comedy that flips the gangster genre on its head. Opening with a flashback to their swaggering youth—when any of them could have become the next don—the film leaps to the present, where the once-fearsome crew now faces middle age, fading street cred, and mundane dreams like opening a Korean-Chinese food franchise. When the current boss steps down, Jo Woo-jin, Jung Kyung-ho, Park Ji-hwan, and Lee Gyu-hyung play rival lieutenants who desperately try to avoid promotion, even as a corrupt upstart threatens to seize control. Packed with explosive brawls, razor-sharp humor, and affectionate spoofs of gangster classics like FRIEND and NEW WORLD, BOSS delivers gutbusting laughs and high-octane action in the spirit of crowd-pleasers such as EXTREME JOB and SHALL WE DANCE?, proving that sometimes the hardest job is becoming the boss no one wants to be.
NO OTHER CHOICE – Centerpiece Presentation
Directed by Park Chan-wook
October 19, 7:30pm | October 24, 12:30pm – Consolidated Theatres Kahala
Visionary Korean auteur Park Chan-wook (OLDBOY, THIRST, DECISION TO LEAVE) adapts Donald E. Westlake’s “The Ax” into a blistering satire of work culture and survival. Lee Byung-hun stars as Man-soo, a devoted husband and father cast adrift after losing his longtime job. Desperation drives him into absurd and escalating acts of violence, rendered with Park’s signature flair for pitch-black comedy. The result is a darkly enthralling fable with a brilliantly bitter sting.
PROJECT Y
Directed by Lee Hwan
October 17, 8:00pm | October 19, 12:30pm – Consolidated Theatres Kahala
Director Lee Hwan reinvents the female-driven thriller with PROJECT Y, a kinetic blend of action, suspense, and raw emotion. In a crime-soaked city obsessed with wealth, best friends Mi-sun (Han So-hee) and Do-kyung (Jun Jong-seo) dream of escaping their dangerous nightlife by saving enough to open a flower shop. But a shocking betrayal shatters their plans and forces them into the criminal underworld. When they stumble upon a hidden cache of gold, their fleeting chance at freedom becomes a perilous scheme to reclaim their stolen futures. Han So-hee (GYEONGSEONG CREATURE) reveals steely determination beneath a glamorous exterior, while Jun Jong-seo (BURNING) embodies free-spirited impulsiveness masking deep vulnerability. Together they create a searing portrait of friendship tested by desperation. Balancing breakneck action with an intimate study of loyalty, desire, and survival, PROJECT Y is a gripping story of adventure, revenge, and redemption with twists at every turn.
THE JOURNEY TO GYEONG-JU
Directed by Kim Mi-jo
October 18, 2:30pm | October 24, 3:45pm – Consolidated Theatres Kahala
When the man responsible for their youngest daughter’s death is suddenly released from prison, a grieving mother, Ok-sil, and her three daughters embark on a revenge-fueled road trip to Gyeongju. On the surface, it’s a familial pilgrimage, but beneath lies seething grief and wrath. Ok-sil (Lee Jung-eun from PARASITE) leads the journey, her stoic resilience marred by sorrow. Eldest daughter Jang-ju (Gong Hyo-jin) shoulders the burden of caring for her family; second daughter Young-ju (Park So-dam, also in PARASITE), a freshly graduated but unemployed lawyer, wrestles with frustration and helplessness; meanwhile, the youngest daughter, Dong-ju (Lee Yeon), a former wrestler, adds unpredictability to their quest. As they traverse rural landscapes, bonds strain under the weight of their mission, and justice becomes entwined with vengeance. Blending dark humor with emotional intensity, this road-trip thriller from award-winning director Kim Mi-jo promises to push the limits of love, loss, and retribution.
THE ROSE: COME BACK TO ME
Directed by Eugene Yi
October 25, 4:00pm – Consolidated Theatres Kahala / October 29, 6:30pm – Consolidated Theatres Kapolei
THE ROSE: COME BACK TO ME is an intimate portrait of the South Korean indie-rock band whose music has grown from small beginnings to global resonance. Tracing the group’s journey from spontaneous busking in Seoul to electrifying stages like Coachella, the film reveals not only their artistry but also the deep bonds of friendship that power their sound. Directed by Eugene Yi, the documentary weaves heartfelt reflections and candid moments as Kim Woosung, Park Dojoon, Lee Hajoon, and Lee Jaehyeong recount their individual paths into music and the struggles of navigating the unforgiving K-pop industry. After three years of personal and professional upheaval, the four reunite to create new music and reconnect with their worldwide fanbase. More than a chronicle of a band, THE ROSE: COME BACK TO ME is a moving celebration of resilience, rebirth, and the magnetic energy that makes this group—and their soaring music—unforgettable.
