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The 50th Toronto International Film Festival will run from September 4 to 14, 2025. Here is the current line-up of Asian films screening at this year’s event. The TIFF 50 official festival schedule will go live on August 12.

A Pale View of Hills by Kei Ishikawa; Japan, United Kingdom (Special Presentations) – North American Premiere

Featuring exquisite performances from Suzu Hirose and Yoh Yoshida, this heartbreaking adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s debut novel alternates between 1950s Japan and 1980s England to survey the shadows of war on the lives of survivors. [Source: TIFF]

Amoeba by Siyou Tan; Singapore, Netherlands, France, Spain, South Korea (Discovery) – World Premiere

An exploration of Singapore’s societal and cultural expectations through the lens of a misfit in an all-girls’ school, as she joins a girl gang and tries to pass the all-important final year examinations. As the young nation carves out its own identity through its unmitigated hunger for progress, Choo...

“Hear Me: Our Summer”, directed by Cho Sun-ho, premiered in the “Korean Cinema Today” section at the 29th Busan International Film Festival in October 2024. It had its North American premiere at the 24th edition of the New York Asian Film Festival in July. This South Korean remake of the 2009 Taiwanese film “Hear Me” is a tender summer exploration of love, dreams, and youth.

Hear Me: Our Summer is screening at New York Asian Film Festival

The story revolves around Yong-Joon (Hong Kyung), a recent college graduate still unsure about what he wants to become in the future. Due to his indecision, he passively agrees to work in his family’s lunch box delivery business. One sweltering summer afternoon, Yong-Joon makes a delivery to the city’s public pool. There, he catches the gaze of Yeo-reum (Roh Yoon-seo) and falls for her at first sight. Yeo-reum is the caring sister of...

Steven Soderbergh’s dark comedy The Christophers and The Marvels director Nia DaCosta’s latest film, Hedda, are set for world premieres at the Toronto Film Festival in September, organizers said on Thursday.

Ian McKellen, Jessica Gunning, Michaela Coel and James Corden star in Soderbergh’s movie about the estranged children of a famous artist who hire a forger to finish their father’s unfinished paintings so they can be sold after his death.

Soderbergh directed The Christophers based on a script by Now You See Me scribe Ed Solomon. The creative duo collaborated on earlier projects like No Sudden Move, Full Circle and Mosaic.

Also getting a first look in Toronto is DaCosta’s Hedda, a reimagining of the Henrik Ibsen stage play Hedda Gabler that stars Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss and Imogen Poots. Thompson will play Hedda Gabler, considered one of the greatest dramatic roles in theater history.

Lost in Starlight marks a defining moment for 36-year-old filmmaker Han Ji-won — and a rare breakthrough for Korean animation on the world stage.

A vividly realized sci-fi romance set in Seoul in the year 2050, the film is Netflix’s first original animation produced in South Korea, and it has won praise from none less than the country’s most decorated director. In statements accompanying the film’s global release on May 30, multi-Oscar winner Bong Joon Ho hailed the feature as “a visual masterpiece that takes you around the universe,” highlighting Han as a new talent to watch while signaling a long-awaited coming-of-age moment for the country’s animation sector.

South Korea has long been known as an animation powerhouse, but mostly for behind-the-scenes work. For decades, local studios quietly toiled as production subcontractors on Japanese anime and Hollywood features — cranking out clean-up, in-betweening, and digital compositing for global franchises...

Movie fans are always on the lookout for new recommendations, and they are especially valuable when you discover a title that wasn't even on your radar. Last Friday, the animated movie Lost In Starlight debuted on Netflix, and it already comes highly recommended by Bong Joon Ho, the Oscar-winning director who helmed Parasite and Mickey 17. The reviews are in, and it looks like critics firmly agree with the South Korean filmmaker: Lost in Starlight debuted with a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Not that you needed Bong Joon Ho's comments to realize that Lost in Starlight's animation style is impressive: you only need to take a look at the trailer. It makes it pretty clear that the visuals will be a standout in the story. It centers around two star-crossed lovers who are preparing to deal with the fact that they will be light-years away — literally. Nan-young (voiced by...

Billed as Netflix Korea’s foray into animated features, “Lost in Starlight” captures the delicate giddiness of K-Dramas through the wildly imaginative lens of a wonderful sci-fi world. With a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes, the 2D animated film is a visual spectacle, exploring the many possibilities of a high-tech city in the 2050s. However, the heart of the film lies in the story of its star-crossed leading couple. Director Han Ji-won, who also wrote the story with Kang Hyun-joo, spins a love yarn that is sweet without being sappy. Effectively, the tenderness of “Lost in Starlight” would compel even the most hardened cynic to root for the lovers.

“Lost in Starlight” is set in a Cyberpunk-ish world of the 2050s. Now, I use the word ‘Cyberpunk’ a little loosely here. Although Ji-won has peppered Seoul with futuristic gizmos like flying cars and holograms, the grime and the slime of...

It's not that often that we see animated movies from South Korea, but Netflix is kicking off a change in that scenario. The streamer is releasing Lost in Starlight, the first South Korean original animated film from the platform, and the trailer was released today. The story centers around two star-crossed lovers who have to deal with the fact that they will soon be separated and spend a long time apart. The release date is set for May 30, this Friday.

The trailer for Lost in Starlight reveals that the animated movie will be a full-blown romance with all the K-drama vibes that we love so much. The two lovers from the story want to change the world in their own ways: Nan-young is an astronaut who has the rare chance of joining an expedition to Mars, and Jay is a struggling artist who is eager to share his music with the world.

"Do you wish you hadn't met me?" "No. Not at all. The best thing I've done in my life." Netflix has unveiled their full official trailer for Lost in Starlight, made by Korean filmmaker Han Ji-won. This new anime is Netflix's very first Korean-language animated feature - with the voices of K-drama powerhouses Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung. When an astronaut leaves Earth for Mars, the vastness of space divides the two star-crossed lovers. Director Bong Joon-ho has already commented saying: "This visual masterpiece takes you around the universe." Set in 2050 Seoul, an astronaut dreaming of Mars & a musician with a broken dream find each other among the stars, guided by their hopes & their love for one another. When Nan-young visits an audio equipment repair shop to fix an old record player her mom left behind, she runs right into Jay, and a romance slowly blossoms. Lost in Starlight will...

Choi Hyun-Wook’s 5 Must-Watch K-Dramas (Photo Credit – Netflix/Instagram)

Choi Hyun-Wook is currently trending all over social media platforms by giving a small cameo in the action revenge K-drama Weak Hero Class 2 starring Park Ji-Hoon. The South Korean actor began his career with the drama Real:Time:Love. Since then, he has been gaining a lot of attention from the audience for his charm and versatility. He was recently seen in the rom-com drama My Dearest Nemesis alongside Moon Ga-Young and won millions of hearts with his performance.

But My Dearest Nemesis can never justify Hyun-Wook’s worth as a versatile actor. So, we have curated a recommendation list to check out his performance in various K-dramas. Here are 5 of his best dramas from Twinkling Watermelon to Weak Hero Class 1.

Twinkling Watermelon

Choi Hyun-Wook plays Ha I-Chan in this coming-of-age fantasy romance comedy drama, Twinkling Watermelon. The story revolves around a Coda...

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Weak Hero is a South Korean action revenge thriller drama series co-written by Yoo Soo-min and Kim Jin-seok. Based on the Naver webtoon of the same name by Seopass and Kim Jin-seok, the Netflix series follows Yeon Si-eun, a highly intelligent student who refuses to back down to bullies and soon decides to take them down by using his intelligence. Weak Hero stars Park Ji-hoon, Choi Hyun-wook, Hong Kyung, Ryeoun, Choi Min-young, Lee Min-jae, Yoo Su-bin, Bae Na-ra, and Lee Jun-young. So, if you loved the thrilling story, bloody action, and compelling characters in Weak Hero, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Revenge of Others (Hulu) Credit – Disney+

Revenge of Others is a South Korean mystery, revenge, thriller, drama series written by Lee Hee-myung. The Disney+ series follows Ok Chanmi, a Shooting champion who...

Top 5 Lee Jun-Young K-Dramas To Watch Amid Weak Hero Class 2 Release(Photo Credit –Netflix/Hotstar)

Lee Jun-Young debuted as a K-pop singer, rapper, and dancer in the South Korean entertainment industry. However, his fate had something else planned. Even after he gained a lot of appreciation and even won titles for being a part of the groups, Jun-Young made his way into the acting industry in 2017. Although he has featured in many shows, his career has skyrocketed after becoming an actor. Currently, he is trending everywhere for his performance in Weak Hero Class 2.

For the unversed, in Weak Hero Class 2, Jun-Young plays Geum Seung-Je, one of the antagonists who bullies and punches others because he finds it fun and romantic. But this is not the first time the actor has awed everyone with his performance. If you don’t know, Jun-Young has proved his worth as a versatile actor by starring in various projects,...

"Let's keep our distance... because someday, I'll be flying off to space." Netflix has revealed the first look teaser trailer for Lost in Starlight, made by Korean filmmaker Han Ji-won. The upcoming film is Netflix's very first Korean-language animated feature film - starring the voices of K-drama powerhouses Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung. When an astronaut leaves Earth for Mars, the vastness of space divides the star-crossed lovers. This wonderful teaser trailer showcases some of the spectacular imagery. Director Bong Joon-ho has already given a comment - saying: "This visual masterpiece takes you around the universe." Set in 2050 Seoul, an astronaut dreaming of Mars and a musician with a broken dream find each other among the stars, guided by their hopes & their love for one another. This teaser opens with the fateful first meeting of Nan-young and Jay, accompanied by the film’s evocative soundtrack. When Nan-young visits an audio...

Seven years after debuting with “A Day” (2017), Cho Sun-ho presents his second feature. This time, however, he decided to direct a romantic comedy rather than a thriller. A remake of the Taiwanese “Hear Me” (2009), “Hear Me: Our Summer” premiered at the 29th Busan International Film Festival and was screened at the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam.

Though his college life has ended, Yong-jun (Hong Kyung) finds himself at a loss, without a clear goal to pursue. Pressured by his mother (Jung Hye Young), he reluctantly takes up a part-time job delivering lunch boxes. While working, he meets Yeo-reum (Roh Yoon-seo) and instantly falls in love with her. While their relationship is developing timidly, Yeo-reum’s younger sister, Ga-eul (Kim Min-ju), cheers them on.

Check also this video

At its core, “Hear Me: Our Summer” is a story of love, youth, and personal growth. Underlining the value of empathy and understanding,...

After conquering the world with several of its twisty and genre-bending movies like Parasite and The Handmaiden, South Korea is putting the spotlight on another style of storytelling: animation. Now, Netflix is releasing its first-ever Korean original animated film. Lost in Starlight is a futuristic movie that tells the story of star-crossed lovers, and it debuts on the platform on May 30. You can check out the trailer in this article.

Lost In Starlighttakes place in 2050 and follows an astronaut named Nan-young (Kim Tae-ri) and a musician named Jay (Hong Kyung). Nan-young has the mission of going to Mars after her scientist mom didn't make it back during a probe, while Jay spends his day making music and fixing retro sound instruments. The lovers' lives change when Nan-young gets a rare chance to visit the Red Planet as a member of a new probe project. They will have to figure out...

After losing his best friends to school violence, an introverted straight-a student transfers to a high school teeming with delinquents, only to face off with its most dangerous tyrant. Along the way, he bands together with a small crew of misfits and, together, they put up the fight of their lives. From Weak Hero Class 1 director You Su-min, Weak Hero Class 2 stars Park Ji-hoon, Ryeo Un, and Choi Min-yeong. The K-drama series is based on the webtoon Weak Hero.

Stream it on Netflix now.

Check it out at the top of this page.

When we left Yeon Si-eun (Park), he’d just transferred to Eunjang High from his former school, Byuksan. He was expelled from Byuksan after his best friend Oh Beom-seok (Hong Kyung) betrayed him, while his other best friend, Su-ho (Choi Hyun-wook), was left in a coma after a violent altercation with bully Jeon Yeong-bin (Kim Su-gyeom...

A quiet mathlete with a temper bands together with an ass-kicking slacker and the timid new guy in town to defeat their many school bullies. Weak Hero Class 1, based on a webtoon, stars Park Ji-hoon, Choi Hyun-wook, and Hong Kyung. The K-drama, created by You Su-min and Han Jun-hee (Coin Locker Girl), was directed by You and Park Dan-hee (Blue Birthday).

Stream it on Netflix now.

Si-eun, a star student at Byuksan High School, is a constant target for bullies — and his refusal to bow to their demands incites their deepest ire. But when Si-eun meets slacker Su-ho and transfer student Beom-seok, the trio combine forces to fight back.

Yes, it’s based on the webtoon Weak Hero by Seopass and Razen, aka Kim Jin-seok.

The series takes place somewhere in South Korea, at the fictional Byuksan High School.

Yep. The second installment is on its way and will...

Weak Hero Season 2 Netflix (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Weak Hero Class 1, based on a popular Naver webtoon of the same name, initially premiered on Korea’s Ott platform Wavve, but after its massive success, it got released on Netflix on March 25. Now, Netflix is its streaming platform. Audience loved the storyline and related to the characters so much that a second season has been dropped. Many even claimed that it was “life-changing drama” which made it to the viewership charts, but do you think the second season will be able to create the same hype?

For those who don’t know, the storyline revolves around Yeun Si-Eun (played by Park Ji-Hoon), the topper of the class who gets targeted by a group of bullies and fights them back not with his physical strength but with his brain. He soon became friends with a former Mma fighter, Ahn Su-Ho, and a new school transfer student,...

Park Ji-Hoon K-Drama Recap(Photo Credit –Netflix)

One of the most anticipated K-dramas of 2025 has to be Weak Hero Class 2, featuring Park Ji-Hoon, Ryeo-Un, Choi Min-Young, Lee Min-Jae, Lee Jun-Jung, and others. As per reports, it will premiere on Netflix on April 25, 2025. So, before you start binge-watching the new season, let’s take a walk down memory lane and get a quick recap of the first season that made us fall in love with the world of Yeun Si-Eun (Ji-Hoon).

Weak Hero Class 1 is probably one of the best-made K-dramas that shows bullying, friendship, and how insecurity can be so dangerous that it can risk one’s life. Season 1 welcomed us to the world of three friends – Yeun Si-Eun (played by Park Ji-Hoon), Ahn Su-Ho (Choi Hyun-Wook), and Oh Beom-Seok (Hong Kyung). The series, based on a popular webtoon, initially began premiering on Wavve, but after gaining immense popularity,...

Netflix’s ambitious strategy for Korean content took center stage at the streamer’s ongoing Apac showcase in Tokyo, where executives and filmmakers offered an in-depth look at their upcoming slate, with special emphasis on “Lost in Starlight,” the platform’s first Korean animated feature.

The animation milestone, arriving in Q2, represents a significant step in Netflix’s expanding Korean content universe, which continues to build on the global success of hits like “Revelations,” directed by Yeon Sang-ho, which topped Netflix’s Non-English film chart for two weeks across 65 countries.

Vincent Taewon Kim, director of content for Netflix Korea, spoke about the company’s strategic focus on “diversifying the genre, as well as enhancing the quality and entertainment value” for its seven-film 2025 slate, which spans animation, romance, thriller, sci-fi and action genres.

Director Han Ji-won, joining virtually from Seoul, detailed the painstaking five-year journey behind “Lost in Starlight,” which tells...

‘Weak Hero Class 1’ is a South Korean drama that delves into the harsh realities of school violence through the experiences of Yeon Si-eun, a top student who confronts bullying head-on. The series offers a raw portrayal of the challenges faced by students in a hostile environment.

About the Series

Based on the Naver webtoon ‘Weak Hero’ by Seopass and Kim Jin-seok, the series stars Park Ji-hoon as Yeon Si-eun, Choi Hyun-wook as Ahn Su-ho, and Hong Kyung as Oh Beom-seok. It originally premiered on Wavve in November 2022 and is now available on Netflix.

‘Weak Hero Class 1’ Ending Explained:

Throughout the series, Yeon Si-eun, despite his physical frailty, uses his intellect and strategic thinking to combat bullying at his school. He forms alliances with Ahn Su-ho, a strong fighter, and Oh Beom-seok, a fellow student with a troubled past. However, tensions arise when Beom-seok feels overshadowed and marginalized within the group.

Picture: The Potato Lab, When Life Gives You Tangerines and Revelations

Thanks to the recent string of announcements, 2025 is going to be a busy year. But first, we look ahead to March 2025, which has its own batch of exciting new K-dramas.

In case you missed them, we’ve also tracked the latest K-drama releases in February 2025 and all the new K-dramas coming in 2025 and beyond.

New Netflix Original K-Dramas Coming to Netflix in March 2025 When Life Gives You Tangerines (Season 1) N

Episodes: 16

Genre: Drama, Romance | Runtime: 70 Minutes

Cast: Iu, Park Bo Gum, Moon So Ri, Park Hae Joon, Kim Tae Yeon

Netflix Release Date: March 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, 2025

Netflix is no stranger to weekly K-drama releases, but it is unusual for one fully produced by the streamer. Four batches of four episodes will be released across March as fans of Iu and Park Bo Gum get to see the pair in an on-screen romance.

Picture: Weak Hero Class

Ahead of releasing the highly anticipated second season of Weak Hero Class season 2, Netflix has finally picked up the license to the first season of Weak Hero Class, which will be streamed globally on the streaming service from March 2025.

Weak Hero Class is a South Korean action-drama series written and co-directed by You Su Min, with Park Dhan Hee as the other co-director. It is the adaptation of the popular webtoon Weak Hero from author SeoPass.

When is Weak Hero Class season 1 coming to Netflix?

Korean news site Naver has reported that Weak Hero Class will be released on Netflix worldwide on Tuesday, March 25th, 2025.

What is the plot of Weak Hero Class?

Si Eun is a model student and ranks at the top of his school, but what he makes up for in intelligence is that he is severely lacking in physical strength, resulting in...

Picture: Hong Kyung in Good News – Netflix

Netflix is producing an exciting new film from Kill Bok Soon director Byun Sung-hyun, Good News. Filming is ongoing and stars Sul Kyung-gu, Hong Kyung, and Ryoo Seung-bum. Good News will be released on Netflix in Q4 2025.

Good News is an upcoming South Korean Netflix Original movie written and directed by Byun Sung-hyun, who previously directed the revenge action film Kill Bok Soon. Star Platinum produces the film.

When is the Netflix release date for Good News?

Netflix has confirmed that Good News will be released late this year in Q4 2025!

What is the plot of Good News?

The only plot details known so far is a brief synopsis from the press release:

“Set in 1970, the film depicts a suspicious operation carried out by a group determined to land a hijacked airplane by any means necessary.”

Picture: Sul Kyung Gu in Good News...

Sony’s Venom: The Last Dance, starring Tom Hardy, grossed $2.2m, roughly a third of all ticket sales from Friday to Sunday, at the South Korean box office on its second weekend on release, November 1-3, according to Kobis.

The third instalment in the franchise now has a total gross of $6.6m as of November 4. This is less than its predecessor Venom: Let There Be Carnage, which opened during the pandemic but took $8.8m over its first two weekends.

After debuting in first place on Wednesday (October 30), Cj Enm’s local comedy title Amazon Bullseye fell to second over the weekend with $1.4m.

Streaming service Netflix unveiled its lineup of Korean movies scheduled for release in 2025 at a recent event during the Busan International Film Festival. The selection includes both movies from experienced directors and new talent.

One of the highlighted projects is Netflix’s first original Korean animated feature called “Lost in Starlight.” Directed by Han Ji-won, it will be her first full-length film. The movie explores a long-distance relationship through an astronaut voiced by Kim Tae-ri and a musician voiced by Hong Kyung.

Acclaimed director Yeon Sang-ho, known for “Train to Busan” and the Netflix series “Hellbound,” is working on the thriller “Revelations.” Ryu Jun-yeol plays a pastor searching for his missing son alongside detective Shin Hyun-been. Yeon, who co-wrote the script with Choi Gyu-seok from “Hellbound,” notes the changing expectations of audiences. He stated audiences now decide how streaming films differ from those in theaters.

Other anticipated titles include disaster...

Netflix showcased its Korean film slate for the coming year at an event in Busan, including Lost In Starlight, the first Korean-language animated feature to be produced by the streamer.

Directors from seven films set to release on the platform next year attended the event, held during Busan International Film Festival, to discuss their upcoming projects.

Lost In Starlight will mark the feature debut of director Han Ji-won and follows the long-distance relationship between an astronaut, voiced by Kim Tae-ri of The Handmaiden, and a musician, voiced by Hong Kyung of TV’s Revenant.

Also on the slate is Revelations,...

Netflix unveiled their 2025 film slate on the sidelines of the Busan International Film Festival (Biff).

Titles include Revelations, from Train to Busan and Hellbound director Yeon Sang-ho. The film follows a pastor and a detective, each driven by their own beliefs while dealing with a missing-person case. Ryu Jun-yeol (The Night Owl) and Shin Hyun-been (Hospital Playlist) star in the film.

“In my last few works, I’ve worked with heavy visual effects and computer graphics because my stories had monsters and creatures in them, but for Revelations, we didn’t have much computer graphics in it, so the work process has been very different,” Yeon said. “For example, we shot a lot with natural light and we sometimes have to wait to get the right light.”

After making several titles with Netflix, including Parasyte: The Grey and the upcoming second season of Hellbound, Yeon will mark his return to...

Netflix has unveiled an extensive lineup of Korean films set to debut on the streaming platform in 2025, showcasing the streaming giant’s continued investment in Korean content.

The diverse slate, revealed at an event on the sidelines of the Busan International Film Festival, which opened with Netflix’s “Uprising,” includes projects spanning genres from action and sci-fi to romance and animation, featuring both established and emerging talent in the Korean film industry.

Acclaimed director Byun Sung-hyun, known for his work on “The Merciless” and “Kill Boksoon,” returns with “Good News” (working title), a 1970s-set thriller centered around a hijacked airplane. The film stars Sul Kyung-gu, reuniting with Byun for a fourth collaboration, alongside Hong Kyung and Ryoo Seung-bum. Sul takes on the role of a mysterious fixer, with Hong playing an Air Force lieutenant and Ryoo portraying a government official overseeing a covert operation.

In the sci-fi disaster genre, “The...

‘Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere’ is a section that selects and premieres the latest and most prominent contemporary Korean commercial films, known for their mass appeal and significance. This year, the section has unveiled five films, including four world premieres, which are set to captivate the audience’s attention.

A Normal Family A Girl with Closed Eyes

The film A Girl with Closed Eyes (2024) is a thriller that delves into the complex and tense relationship between a criminal and a detective, who are reunited after the murder case of a bestselling author. The film features performances by Kim Minha, who gained global recognition from Pachinko (2022), and Moon Choi from Anarchist from Colony (2017). Director Hur Jin-ho’s latest work, A Normal Family (2023), is a well-crafted suspense thriller that depicts the unraveling lives of four individuals, each steadfast in their own beliefs, after they witness a crime scene involving their children captured on CCTV.