Locarno Film Festival Live Updates: Director Hong Sang-Soo and Partner Kim Min-Hee Win Big
The creative union between Hong and Kim began with the 2015 feature Right Now, Wrong Then, which won the Golden Leopard at Locarno. That initial success catalyzed an extraordinary era of productivity. Over the following decade, the pair premiered titles at Cannes, Venice, and the Berlin International Film Festival, capturing major prizes including the Silver Bear for Best Actress for Kim in 2017’s On the Beach at Night Alone.
Rather than slowing their cadence, the duo accelerated their output. Hong transitioned toward micro-budget independence, handling screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, and scoring himself. Within this stripped-down framework, Kim emerged not merely as an actress-for-hire, but as a foundational artistic collaborator shaping the visual and thematic texture of each project.
| Year | Film Title | Festival Platform | Major Award / Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Right Now, Wrong Then | Locarno Film Festival | Golden Leopard (Grand Prize) |
| 2017 | On the Beach at Night Alone | Berlin International Film Festival | Silver Bear for Best Actress (Kim Min-hee) |
| 2020 | The Woman Who Ran | Berlin International Film Festival | Silver Bear for Best Director (Hong Sang-soo) |
| 2022 | The Novelist's Film | Berlin International Film Festival | Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize |
| 2024 | By the Stream | Locarno Film Festival | Pardo for Best Performance (Kim Min-hee) |
| 2026 | Nowhere to Lay My Eyes | Locarno Film Festival | Special Jury Distinction / Feature Prize |