[K-Film] South Korean coming-of-age drama to compete at Toronto film fest this fall

Yoon Ga-eun’s latest film to compete at Toronto International Film Festival in first for South Korean cinema — A scene from director Yoon Ga-eun's film "The World of Love." Courtesy of Barunson E&A

SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - Director Yoon Ga-eun's film has been invited to the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to be held in Canada this fall.

According to the film's distributor on Thursday, "The World of Love" has been selected to compete along with nine other films in the "Platform" section, the TIFF's only juried competition, which "spotlights films with high artistic merit and strong directorial vision."

Organizers of the festival described Yoon's film as a "powerful, emotionally layered drama" in which "a spirited teenager confronts buried pain, while [the director] explores the quiet resilience it takes to own one's story — and future."

Since making her directorial debut with "The Taste of Salvia," a 19-minute short film, in 2019, the up-and-coming director has mostly directed youth-oriented films that explore the emotional complexities and challenges of coming of age among adolescents.

"The World of Love" is set for release here in the second half of this year, after getting its world premiere at the TIFF, which runs from Sept. 4 to 14 in the largest Canadian city.

Kim Hee-su khs@ajunews.com