REinvent International Sales is very proud to announce that the poignant coming-of-age drama HANA KOREA by Frederik Sølberg has been officially selected for the Flash Forward Competition at the Busan International Film Festival 2025. The festival runs from September 17th-26th.
HANA KOREA comes from feature film debutant, Frederik Sølberg, who has previously worked within the documentary genre. The film is co-written by the famous interpreter, writer and director, Sharon Choi known for her close alliance with Bong Joon-ho on the Academy Award winning film, “Parasite” and latest the Berlinale selectee, “Mickey 17”.
Director Frederik Sølberg says: “With HANA KOREA, my intention has been to create a film that is both specific and universal: a story that reflects the struggles of displacement while resonating with broader questions of who we are, where we belong, and how we are shaped by the societies we inhabit. To have the world premiere in front of a Korean audience at BIFF goes beyond my wildest dreams. I’m so honored to be part of the official selection. ”
The Korean-Danish-producer team, Heejung Oh and Sara Stockmann says: “HANA KOREA is the fruit of a true collaboration between Korea and Denmark. By bringing together different cultural perspectives and experiences, we were able to capture a story that resonates with greater universality and emotional force. Beyond the division between North and South, the film speaks to the borders we carry within ourselves, our search for belonging, and the human pursuit of dignity and agency in today’s world.”
“The selection of HANA KOREA reaffirms its artistic strength, its human and political relevance, and above all its outstanding quality. With an extraordinary, internationally recognized cast bringing the story to life, this is a film I will carry in my heart and not soon forget,” says Rikke Ennis, CEO of REinvent.
Sales and Marketing director, Helene Aurø follows: “HANA KOREA is a culturally rich and emotionally nuanced debut that captures the tension between personal freedom and societal norms in South Korea’s hypermodern world. We are certain that there will be an audience for this important film internationally.”
The film features an internationally acclaimed cast consisting of Minha Kim, known for her appearance in Apple’s multiple award-winning and Emmy-nominated series, “Pachinko” (2022) and Joo-Ryung Kim (Memories of Murder, 2003; Squid Game, 2021) – one of South Korea’s most popular actresses with more than 20 years of experience and finally Seo-hyun An known for the 2017 Cannes feature, “Okja”.
Recognised as Asia’s most prestigious film event, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) continues to be a vital launchpad for filmmakers around the world. The Flash Forward section is reserved for bold, original films by non-Asian directors or films that, reflect diverse voices and global perspectives.
HANA KOREA is a Korean-Danish co-production, produced by Sonntag Pictures and Seesaw Pictures, with support from Danish Film Institute, Korean Film Council, DR, Seoul Film Commission, DMZ Industry, KCA, KFCIN, and Eurimages. The team counts several award-winning figures such as Cannes-winning Producer Sara Stockmann, Korean Producer Heejung Oh, Oscar-winning Executive Producer Sofie Wanting-Hassing, and the internationally awarded editor Denniz Göl Bertelsen, known for his work on the Academy-nominated documentary feature The Cave.