Lee Chang-dong’s highly anticipated masterpiece Possible Love has achieved a monumental triumph at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, capturing the prestigious Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize.
During the closing ceremony held on September 12 (local time) at the Lido in Venice, the festival officially announced Possible Love as the runner-up Grand Jury Prize winner. Adding to the celebratory momentum, the film had already secured the FIPRESCI Prize (International Critics’ Prize) just a day prior. The international critics’ jury praised the film for its sharp exploration of social divides, exploitation, love, desire, and the ethics of storytelling, setting the stage for this ultimate official recognition.
A Dedication to the Cast and a Statement on Cinema
Accepting the award, Director Lee expressed profound gratitude to his powerhouse cast. “I want to thank Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Jo In-sung, and Jo Yeo-jeong, the four individuals who brought this film to life,” Lee shared in his acceptance speech. “This award belongs to all of you.”
He added a deeper philosophical reflection on why he returned to filmmaking after an eight-year hiatus following Burning(2018): “In an era where labor is disappearing and human relationships are severing, I made this film to continuously ask what cinema can do, and what cinema must do.”
Venice: A Special Chapter in Lee’s Career
Venice holds a deeply historic place in Lee’s cinematic journey. Back in 2002, his masterpiece Oasis earned him the Silver Lion for Best Director at the 59th Venice Film Festival, alongside Moon So-ri winning the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Actress. With Possible Love taking home the Grand Jury Prize, Lee marks a triumphant return to the Venetian winner’s circle.
Starring Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Jo In-sung, and Jo Yeo-jeong, Possible Love follows two couples from entirely different walks of life whose worlds collide when a documentary project about working-class lives brings them together.
With head-turning critical acclaim, an international critics’ award, and now a major Silver Lion win under its belt guided by a competition jury headed by actress and director Maggie Gyllenhaal, Possible Love is cementing its place as one of the definitive cinematic achievements of the year.
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