35th feature earns fifth invitation to the Swiss festival — attention turns to whether his unblemished award record will continue

Hong Sang-soo Returns to Locarno International Competition for Fifth Time

Hong Sang-soo is heading back to Locarno. The festival's executive committee announced on July 9 (local time) that the director's 35th feature, Nowhere to Lay My Eyes, has been selected for the International Competition of the 79th Locarno Film Festival — the fifth time Hong and the festival have been in competition together. The festival opens on August 5 next month.

Jeju Island in Search of a Mother — Kim Min-hee as Actress and Production Manager

In the film, the character Sanghee sets off for Jeju Island with her younger brother to track down news of a mother she has long been out of contact with. As with his previous works, Hong Sang-soo served as sole creator across all departments — direction, production, screenplay, cinematography, sound, editing, and music. Kim Min-hee participated both as an actress and as production manager. The remaining cast features Kwon Hae-hyo, Shin Seok-ho, Park Mi-so, and Choi Myung-gil.

The festival's executive committee praised Hong Sang-soo's direction for capturing the meaning, beauty, and complexity of life in an effortless, unstrained manner, adding that the film reaffirms his standing as one of "the great masters of our time."

One Golden Leopard, Three Best Performance Awards — A Perfect Record at Locarno

Hong Sang-soo's relationship with Locarno dates back to 2013, when Our Sunhi brought him the Best Director award. Two years later, Right Now, Wrong Then (2015) claimed both the festival's top prize — the Golden Leopard — and the Best Actor award for Jung Jae-young. The streak has continued without interruption: Hotel by the River (2018) earned the Best Actor award for Gi Ju-bong, and By the Stream (2024) won Kim Min-hee the Best Performance Award. All four of Hong's previous Locarno entries have been recognized — a perfect four-for-four record.

Hong Sang-soo's signature approach — micro-budget productions, autobiographical themes, and formally restrained storytelling — has long been in step with Locarno's commitment to artistic and experimental cinema. Nowhere to Lay My Eyes will have its world premiere at Locarno before reaching domestic audiences later this year.

Sources

• The Korea Times, "Hong Sang-soo's new film sees Kim Min-hee's return," 2026.07.10

• Munhwa Ilbo, "Hong Sang-soo's Nowhere to Lay My Eyes Invited to Locarno Film Festival," 2026.07.10

• E Today, "Hong Sang-soo's New Film Nowhere to Lay My Eyes Selected for Locarno International Competition," 2026.07.10