Lee Chang-dong's new film 'Possible Love' has officially entered the Oscar race for major nominations at the Academy Awards. Supported by global distributor Netflix, the director and lead actors have begun local campaigns, raising anticipation for whether this journey will lead to nominations announced on January 21 at the 99th Academy Awards.
The Oscar race refers to the extensive promotional campaigns conducted months in advance to win the votes of members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). This process involves significant investment and effort, including screenings in major North American cities, audience Q&As, attendance at major film awards and guild events, and hosting parties, rather than relying solely on the film's artistic merit.
Netflix is heavily invested in this Oscar race. The company has formed a dedicated awards team to support the film, and the 'Possible Love' team is currently engaged in screenings and Q&As targeting the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and various associations in cities like New York and Toronto, with plans for a rigorous campaign schedule ahead.
A Netflix representative stated, "There haven't been many films that received international recognition through festivals, so we are actively working to provide support. We are doing our best to run a campaign without regrets." Netflix has submitted 'Possible Love' for major categories, including Best Picture, Best International Feature Film, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Lee Chang-dong, and Best Actress for Jeon Do-yeon. The director has already traveled abroad to manage a busy schedule.
'Possible Love' won the Silver Lion (Jury Prize) at the Venice International Film Festival in September and has been nominated for three categories at the Gotham Awards, including Best International Feature Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Actress (Jeon Do-yeon). American media outlet The Hollywood Reporter has positively highlighted Jeon Do-yeon's chances for a Best Actress nomination and the film's potential for major nominations.
However, Lee Chang-dong remains realistic about the Oscar race. In an interview, he remarked, "I've mentioned this in overseas interviews, but it's still difficult to break into the Academy. There is an illusion created by the success of 'Parasite,' but such a major success is rare and won't happen often."
He continued, "The barriers for Asian films, including those from Korea, remain high, whether they are American or European films. The Academy is trying to improve its inclusivity, but those barriers won't easily come down. We are latecomers. It's been less than two months since the film premiered in Venice, and we have to start campaigning now, which is quite challenging."
Despite this, the director emphasized his sense of responsibility in the campaign. When asked about expectations for awards, he said, "It depends on how we proceed with the campaign from here on out. Regardless of whether I want it or not, I've been chosen to represent Korea, so I must do my best. It's not just about me winning an award, but about maximizing the potential for the actors and staff who worked hard on this film to receive recognition or rewards. I believe Netflix shares that sentiment as well."
Jeon Do-yeon, who won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for 'Milyang,' is also contributing to the 'Possible Love' campaign. She shared, "Having experienced it firsthand, I can say we are indeed running an Oscar campaign, but the barriers still feel high. When I read about it in articles, I thought, 'Oh, I see,' but now I feel the challenges of the process firsthand."
When asked about her expectations and pressures regarding the Oscar race, she replied, "I can't say I have no expectations, but honestly, I don't feel much pressure. In the past, I might have felt burdened, but having won an award at Cannes a long time ago, I know that one award doesn't suddenly transform me into a completely different actress. Regardless of whether I win, I believe I'm having the best time as an actress through this project, and I'm fully enjoying this journey."
'Possible Love' was released in theaters on October 23, allowing domestic audiences to see it first, and it is set to be released globally on Netflix on December 6. As the campaign gains momentum ahead of the release, the extent of Netflix's support for the 'Possible Love' team will be revealed when the final Oscar nominations are announced on January 21.
The Oscar race refers to the extensive promotional campaigns conducted months in advance to win the votes of members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). This process involves significant investment and effort, including screenings in major North American cities, audience Q&As, attendance at major film awards and guild events, and hosting parties, rather than relying solely on the film's artistic merit.
Netflix is heavily invested in this Oscar race. The company has formed a dedicated awards team to support the film, and the 'Possible Love' team is currently engaged in screenings and Q&As targeting the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and various associations in cities like New York and Toronto, with plans for a rigorous campaign schedule ahead.
A Netflix representative stated, "There haven't been many films that received international recognition through festivals, so we are actively working to provide support. We are doing our best to run a campaign without regrets." Netflix has submitted 'Possible Love' for major categories, including Best Picture, Best International Feature Film, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Lee Chang-dong, and Best Actress for Jeon Do-yeon. The director has already traveled abroad to manage a busy schedule.
'Possible Love' won the Silver Lion (Jury Prize) at the Venice International Film Festival in September and has been nominated for three categories at the Gotham Awards, including Best International Feature Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Actress (Jeon Do-yeon). American media outlet The Hollywood Reporter has positively highlighted Jeon Do-yeon's chances for a Best Actress nomination and the film's potential for major nominations.
However, Lee Chang-dong remains realistic about the Oscar race. In an interview, he remarked, "I've mentioned this in overseas interviews, but it's still difficult to break into the Academy. There is an illusion created by the success of 'Parasite,' but such a major success is rare and won't happen often."
He continued, "The barriers for Asian films, including those from Korea, remain high, whether they are American or European films. The Academy is trying to improve its inclusivity, but those barriers won't easily come down. We are latecomers. It's been less than two months since the film premiered in Venice, and we have to start campaigning now, which is quite challenging."
Despite this, the director emphasized his sense of responsibility in the campaign. When asked about expectations for awards, he said, "It depends on how we proceed with the campaign from here on out. Regardless of whether I want it or not, I've been chosen to represent Korea, so I must do my best. It's not just about me winning an award, but about maximizing the potential for the actors and staff who worked hard on this film to receive recognition or rewards. I believe Netflix shares that sentiment as well."
Jeon Do-yeon, who won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for 'Milyang,' is also contributing to the 'Possible Love' campaign. She shared, "Having experienced it firsthand, I can say we are indeed running an Oscar campaign, but the barriers still feel high. When I read about it in articles, I thought, 'Oh, I see,' but now I feel the challenges of the process firsthand."
When asked about her expectations and pressures regarding the Oscar race, she replied, "I can't say I have no expectations, but honestly, I don't feel much pressure. In the past, I might have felt burdened, but having won an award at Cannes a long time ago, I know that one award doesn't suddenly transform me into a completely different actress. Regardless of whether I win, I believe I'm having the best time as an actress through this project, and I'm fully enjoying this journey."
'Possible Love' was released in theaters on October 23, allowing domestic audiences to see it first, and it is set to be released globally on Netflix on December 6. As the campaign gains momentum ahead of the release, the extent of Netflix's support for the 'Possible Love' team will be revealed when the final Oscar nominations are announced on January 21.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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