At 24, Heewan (Kim Minha) struggles to find hope and the will to live. Then, her first love, Ramwoo (Gong Myoung), reappears after six years—but as a grim reaper. Ramwoo warns Heewan of her impending death and proposes that they spend her remaining week fulfilling her bucket list. Thus begins their week-long journey. The story traverses between their playful high school years and the present, weaving together a time-traveling adventure, a connection between the living and the dead, and a mix of secrets and love in this fantasy coming-of-age romance. Gong Myoung and Kim Minha gradually build the tender and poignant emotions of their characters. Directed by Kim Hyeyoung and Choi Hana, the talents behind two impressive debut features IT’S OKAY! (2023) and More Than Family (2020), with creator Roh Deok, known for her unique genre style, this drama offers everything from wit and depth to genre appeal. (JEONG Jihye)

The third feature film by director Dani Rosenberg, who was invited to the International Competition section of the 2023 Locarno Film Festival with his second feature The Vanishing Soldier. Dar, a 16-year-old Israeli girl, returns to the kibbutz where she lived in order to find her lost dog during the Hamas attack in October 2023. There, amidst the ongoing terror of war, Dar encounters various individuals one by one, including those who try to maintain their faith in humanity and others who vow revenge, witnessing the horrific reality left by the war. To capture reality as it was, the film was shot on location in a kibbutz near the Gaza Strip border about a month after the Hamas attack, involving non-professional actors and local crew members. Through the journey and perspective of Dar, a fictional character inserted into an unprocessed reality, director Rosenberg deeply reflects on one of the most pressing issues of our time. (JO Ji-hoon)

Jinwoo (Jin-young) and his friends, who are each experiencing the peak of their puberty, have their own unique interests and causes of trouble. The one common interest among them is Seon-ah (Da-hyun), the model student who embodies both grace and beauty. To them, Seon-ah looks like an unattainable dream, even though she’s in the same class. Despite their contrasting personalities and academic performances, Jin-woo and Seon-ah develop a close bond by showing interest in each other’s different sides. Their relationship navigates through the lovey-dovey and bittersweet phases of high school and into the heart of their poignant youth. You Are the Apple of My Eye, a stylish remake of the Taiwanese film of the same name, vividly captures the lively moments of young people in the 2000s, the nuanced emotions of first love, and the intricate journey of first love over 15 years. (HONG Eunmi)

Jin Joo-seok works as an insert director on a commercial movie set. When Ma Chu-hyun, who has a strange aura, joins the film team, the two become close and spend the night together. However, the next day, Ma Chu-hyun gets angry with Jin Joo-seok for some reason. Afterwards, Jin Joo-seok waits for Ma Chu-hyun with a longing heart. This is the second feature film by director Lee Jong-su, who was invited to the New Currents section and won the KB New Currents Audience Award with Heritage (2023). Like in his previous work, sudden dark humor continues to shine in this film. The unpredictable and distinctive characters are also charming. The film creates an unfamiliar rhythm with witty dialogue, situations, and irregular twists, occasionally suddenly stopping to capture beautiful landscapes and portraits from time to time. It is a sarcastic commentary on cinema, yet above all, a poignant, biting, and charming love story. (JUNG Hanseok)

Anchan and Deokwoo are inseparable friends, one helping the other approach girls and write love letters. Yet their feelings are drifting in different directions. This teenage romance movie delicately unfolds the narrative of “you don’t know how I really feel” with a sense of calm and tenderness. (KANG Sowon)

Ani is a young Uzbek-American stripper from Brighton Beach, a Russophone enclave in New York City. As she is somewhat conversant in Russian, her boss fixes her up with Russian-speaking clients. After meeting Vanya, the son of a Russian oligarch, a romance kindles that, in addition to his desire to avoid deportation, leads to their elopement. Their fairytale marriage is threatened when Vanya’s parents travel to New York intending to force an annulment. Anora is a 2024 American comedy-drama film written, directed and edited by Sean Baker. Mikey Madison who is in the title role as an exotic dancer delivers a superb performance. Anora premiered this year In Competition at Cannes where it won the Palme d’Or, the first American film to do so since 2011’s The Tree of Life. It earned a 10-minute standing ovation at the end of its screening and became an almost unanimous crowd pleaser. Anora, Sean Baker’s eighth feature film, shows why he is the one of the most beloved American independent filmmakers working today.

A new film by female animation director Yamada Naoko, who directed A Silent Voice (2016) and Liz and the Blue Bird (2018). The team that worked with Yamada Naoko, including screenwriter Yoshida Reiko and music composer Ushio Kensuke, has reunited. Totsuko, a high school girl attending a Catholic boarding school, has a unique ability to see people’s colors. She was captivated by Kimi at school, but one day is shocked to hear that Kimi has left school and sets out to find her. Totsuko meets Kimi working at a bookstore and inadvertently forms a band with a male student, Rui. After twists and turns, they decide to perform at the Valentine’s festival. As an animated youth film, it captivates thanks to Yamada Naoko’s signature drawing style and color palette, while the charm of the music is also considerable given that it’s a band story. While it lacks the grand fantasy typically associated with animation, it’s a unique animation that naturally depicts the psychology and behavior of teenage girls. (NAM Dong-chul)

A Real Pain follows mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) who reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when old tensions between the odd couple resurface against the backdrop of their family history. A Real Pain is a 2024 comedy drama film, written, directed, and produced by American actor Jesse Eisenberg. With this funny and emotional drama, Jesse Eisenberg clearly displays impressive talent in directing and writing. Plus, Kieran Culkin delivers a superb performance throughout the film, stealing the show. When it premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, it became an audience favorite, with Jesse Eisenberg winning the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. A Real Pain is his second feature film after When You Finish Saving the World (2022).

May has lost everything. Now, she lives a self-sustaining life in a shabby house floating on the sea. Long ago, she lived on land with her family as a Dayak native, but due to mining development, she lost her land and was rescued by an elderly man who brought her here. In the process, she lost her parents and lost contact with her relatives. She has been surviving on the sea for over a decade but doesn’t dare set foot on land. Even touching the ground causes her to faint. Although the land has become a dangerous and ominous place for her, she still longs for it and the life it supports. She has no idea how long her old, crumbling house will continue to float. Indonesian newcomer director Loeloe Hendra’s Tale of the Land is a cinematic exploration of the struggles of a person trapped by trauma and her journey toward inner growth. (PARK Sungho)

Minjae, an archer nearing retirement, bets all the money she earned from match-fixing on her own loss. For her, this is the final match after an eight-year downward spiral following her last victory. The film is a gripping sports drama that centers on the competition, leading up to a surprising twist with a touch of fantasy. (KANG Sowon)

Set in Southern Kazakhstan after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1993, Abel tells the story of a shepherd who faces new hardships when his collective farm is disbanded. When the farm where Abel spent his entire life herding sheep is disbanded in the wake of the changing political landscape, the farm’s workers wait for the farm property to be divided fairly. Unfortunately, corruption and deception run rampant among the leaders, and the rapid encroachment of capitalism proves too much for Abel and his family to handle. The film meticulously and realistically follows Abel and his family’s struggles with an unflinching, observational camera. The 13-and-a-half-minute one-shot scene in the first sequence, which intricately captures the dynamics between characters, and other well-crafted long takes showcase director Elzat Eskendir’s persistent and dedicated artistry. (PARK Sun Young)

Motherland focuses on the survival story of Dao-ayen, a member of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF) from the Ifugao tribe in northern Luzon. He is called to the southernmost part of the Philippines for a special operation authorized by the president, leaving behind his pregnant wife and elderly mother. The mission is to eliminate Marwan, a terrorist and bomb maker. This dangerous operation, which has been postponed or canceled multiple times for various reasons, seems to proceed smoothly with his team as they navigate the darkness in an unfamiliar land. However, during their return, they find themselves surrounded by hundreds of enemy forces. Based on the true events of the 2015 Mamasapano clash, which resulted in numerous casualties, the film raises questions about the nature of nation and heroism. (PARK Sungho)