Director Na Hong-jin’s upcoming film Hope has secured a North American theatrical release through a partnership with U.S. distributor NEON, following its invitation to the competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival.
According to the film’s investor and distributor Plus M Entertainment, NEON has signed on to handle North American distribution for Hope, marking another collaboration between the company and a high-profile Korean production.
Founded in 2017, NEON has built a reputation for bringing globally acclaimed films to North American audiences. The company notably distributed Parasite, directed by Bong Joon-ho, as well as a string of Palme d’Or-winning titles including Titane, Triangle of Sadness, and Anatomy of a Fall. The partnership with Hope continues NEON’s track record of championing internationally recognized films.
In a statement, NEON said it is “thrilled” to collaborate with Na, along with production company Forged Films and Plus M Entertainment, to bring the highly anticipated project to global audiences.
Hope tells the story of a local official stationed near the Demilitarized Zone who is alerted by villagers about the appearance of a tiger. As the entire village is thrown into turmoil, the narrative unfolds into an unexpected and surreal chain of events.
The film has already drawn attention from Cannes organizers, who praised it for its genre-defying storytelling and originality. It is set to make its world premiere at Cannes in May, ahead of a theatrical release later this summer.