Park Chan Wook, director of No Other Choice, won the Best Director award at the 58th Sitges Film Festival. The Sitges Film Festival, held in Spain, is recognized as the world’s largest genre film festival, celebrating creativity and technical excellence in cinema. It particularly honors outstanding works in fantasy and horror, bringing together diverse films that showcase imaginative storytelling and high production value.
Park Chan Wook has maintained a long-standing relationship with the Sitges Film Festival. His previous accolades include Best Film for Oldboy (2004), Best FX Work for Three… Extremes (2004), Best Screenplay for I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK (2007), Best Film for Thirst (2011, Official Noves Visions section), and the Audience Award for The Handmaiden (2017). His latest film, No Other Choice, presents a distinct survival thriller that skillfully balances gripping tension with ironic humor, capturing the attention of audiences worldwide. This recent win has heightened anticipation for Park’s upcoming international projects.
No Other Choice has also been making waves across the global film circuit. It became the first Korean film in 13 years to compete at the Venice International Film Festival and earned the International Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film has since been invited to several other prestigious festivals, including the New York Film Festival, London Film Festival, and Miami Film Festival. Its global acclaim is further demonstrated by a flawless 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on over 68 reviews from international critics. With Park’s celebrated win at Sitges and the film’s universal appeal, No Other Choice is poised to continue captivating audiences around the world. Credit: Sitges Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival
No Other Choice follows the story of Hae Joon (played by Park Hae Il), a diligent office worker whose predictable routine is suddenly upended by strange and unforeseen events at his workplace. The film has received widespread acclaim for its exceptional cast, gripping storyline, striking cinematography, and Park Chan Wook’s masterful direction infused with elements of dark comedy. As of October 21, according to data from the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing system, No Other Choice has drawn 2,788,315 viewers in South Korea.
