Jun Ji-hyun Makes Cannes Debut as Director Yeon Sang-ho Returns with Zombie Thriller ‘Swarm’

Director Yeon Sang-ho’s latest film, ‘Swarm’, has made a stunning debut at the Cannes Film Festival!

Invited to the Midnight Screening section, ‘Swarm’ successfully completed its world premiere at the Lumiere Grand Theatre on the night of the 15th at 12:50 AM (local time).

‘Swarm’ tells the story of isolated survivors trapped in a building during a mysterious infection outbreak, fighting against infected beings that evolve in unpredictable ways. This marks Director Yeon Sang-ho’s return to the Midnight Screening section for the first time in 10 years since ‘Train to Busan’. Even more exciting, lead actress Jun Ji-hyun experienced the thrill of her first-ever official invitation to the Cannes Film Festival!

The red carpet event preceding the world premiere was a star-studded affair, with Director Yeon Sang-ho and actors Jun Ji-hyun, Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hyun-bin, and Kim Shin-rok drawing a flurry of flashes from global media. Despite the red carpet starting late at 12:50 AM due to a delay in the previous screening, the ‘Swarm’ team showed heartfelt appreciation to the fans who waited patiently.

This year’s Cannes Jury President, Director Park Chan-wook, made a surprise appearance on the red carpet despite his hectic schedule. Alongside Festival President Thierry Frémaux, Director Park warmly hugged Director Yeon Sang-ho and each of the actors on the stairs of the Lumiere Theatre, offering his encouragement and support to his Korean colleagues.

As the screening began, the Lumiere Grand Theatre erupted in cheers the moment the logos for the distributors and production company, Leader Film, appeared. The theater remained electric with laughter and gasps throughout the film, as the audience was completely immersed, witnessing the birth of a brand-new species of zombie.

When the credits rolled, the audience burst into cheers and applause, leading to a breathtaking 7-minute standing ovation. Director Yeon Sang-ho shared the joy of the first screening with a bright smile and a thank you to the crowd, while the actors expressed their overwhelming emotions at the enthusiastic response.

Director Yeon Sang-ho shared his thoughts, saying, “It is a true honor to present ‘Swarm’ at the Cannes Film Festival, a place I’ve dreamed of. This will be a memory that stays with me for a very long time.” He also expressed his gratitude in French, saying, “Merci beaucoup!”

International critics and festivals are already raving. Samuel Jamier, President of the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), praised the film, stating, “‘Swarm’ introduces a new physical grammar to zombies; it is formally innovative and possesses a gut-wrenching tension that is unprecedented in current genre cinema.” NYAFF has even selected ‘Swarm’ as the North American premiere opening film to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

The French magazine Trois Couleurs noted, “This well-crafted premise provides the perfect framework for Director Yeon Sang-ho, who excels in thriller and horror, to direct intense, sophisticated, and immersive action sequences. At times, it even evokes the world of video games.” Additionally, Matt Neglia, editor of the entertainment awards website Next Best Picture, raved, “A feast of non-stop thrills from start to finish, providing immense genre satisfaction.”

After its successful world premiere at Cannes, ‘Swarm’ is set to hit theaters in Korea on May 21.