▲ This poster of South Korean film "Assassins," starring Yoo Hae-jin, is provided by film distributor Hive Media Corp. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, July 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korean film "Assassins," starring Yoo Hae-jin, has been officially invited to the Gala Presentations section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, its production company Hive Media Corp. said Wednesday.

 

The Toronto International Film Festival is one of North America's largest film festivals and is regarded as one of the world's leading film events alongside those in Cannes, Venice and Berlin.

 

The Gala Presentations section showcases some of the year's most anticipated films. Previous Korean selections include "No Other Choice" (2025), "Harbin" (2024) and "Smugglers" (2023).

 

Director Hur Jin-ho will attend the festival for the third time following the screenings of "Dangerous Liaisons" in 2012 and "A Normal Family" in 2023.

 

Cameron Bailey, chief executive officer of the Toronto International Film Festival, described the film as "a gripping story about a shocking chapter in Korean history, masterfully directed by one of our favorite filmmakers, Hur Jin-ho."

 

He also praised the performances of Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho.

 

"Assassins" is based on the assassination attempt on South Korea's first lady during a Liberation Day ceremony on Aug. 15, 1974. The film reconstructs the story by blending historical records with fictional interpretations of questions that remain unresolved.

 

Yoo plays Cheol-gu, a detective investigating the truth behind the incident. Park portrays Jae-hwan, the head of a newspaper's social affairs desk, while Lee plays Young-il, a rookie reporter.

 

The film will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, scheduled for Sept. 10-20, before opening in South Korean theaters around the Chuseok holiday.

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