A film that triumphed over 1,002:1 odds in the Korean Film Council’s (KOFIC) Screenplay Competition is making waves as it prepares for its debut at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
This groundbreaking work, set to have its world premiere at the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival and officially invited to compete in the prestigious Future of Asia section, is director Park Yong Jae’s Tomorrow’s Min Jae.
Tomorrow’s Min Jae will be showcased from October 27 to November 5 during the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival, with plans for a domestic release in 2026.
Seol Kyung Gu’s daughter ‘So-won’ has blossomed into a rising star… A gathering of emerging talents
Tomorrow’s Min Jae follows the journey of 17-year-old Min Jae (portrayed by Lee Rae), a promising athlete from an orphanage who has faced societal isolation and discrimination. After one misguided decision upends his life, he struggles to find his footing and ultimately takes a step toward a brighter future.
Lee Rae, who earned acclaim for her powerful performance as Seol Kyung Gu’s daughter in the 2013 film So Won, takes on the lead role of Min Jae. Audiences can expect a deeply moving and immersive performance from the young actress.
Having successfully transitioned from child actor to respected adult performer, Lee Rae has showcased her versatility in projects like Peninsula, Start-Up, Netflix’s Hellbound, and the Shin Sajang Project. Fans are eagerly anticipating her portrayal in this new role.
The film also features a roster of rising stars, including Geum Hae Na, who won Best Supporting Actress at last year’s Blue Dragon Series Awards and has appeared in indie films and series like Killer’s Shopping Mall and Run On. Other notable talents include No Jae Won and Kim Se Won, who have gained recognition through Netflix productions such as Now, Our School, D.P., and It’s Okay to Not Be Okay.
Adding gravitas to the cast are veteran actors such as Choi Moo Sung from Reply 1988 and Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Park Myung Hoon from the Oscar-winning Parasite and Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Jang So Yeon from The Wailing and Crash Landing on You. This powerhouse ensemble has set high expectations for the film’s release.
From competition victory to production support and international festival recognition
Tomorrow’s Min Jae clinched the top prize at KOFIC’s Korean Film Screenplay Competition in 2023. The judges praised the screenplay for its nuanced portrayal of youth’s despair about the future, skillfully interwoven with the theme of “tomorrow” without resorting to melodrama.
Building on this success, Tomorrow’s Min Jae secured funding from KOFIC’s 2024 Independent Art Film Production Support Program and the Incheon Film Commission’s regional feature film production support initiative, generating buzz even before cameras started rolling.
On October 2, Kim Sung Eun, producer and CEO of GE Production, announced that Tomorrow’s Min Jae had received an official invitation to compete at the Tokyo International Film Festival. The film will be featured in the Future of Asia section, one of the festival’s key competitive categories.
The Tokyo International Film Festival, alongside the Busan International Film Festival, stands as one of Asia’s premier cinematic events. It has earned a reputation for championing emerging directors who push creative boundaries and present fresh perspectives in filmmaking.
The Future of Asia section, where Tomorrow’s Min Jae will be showcased, is dedicated to nurturing new voices in Asian cinema. It features works by debut or sophomore directors who bring innovative approaches to feature filmmaking. In 2018, the critically acclaimed Miss Baek, starring Han Ji Min, was also invited to this section, earning praise for its artistic and commercial success.
As Tomorrow’s Min Jae prepares for its international debut in Japan, anticipation builds for its domestic release in 2026.
