Acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook has been honored with the Best Director award for his latest dark comedy film "No Other Choice" at the prestigious Sitges Film Festival in Spain. The announcement was made by CJ ENM, the movie's local distributor, marking another significant international recognition for the celebrated auteur.
The award was presented during the 58th edition of the Sitges Film Festival, a renowned event that has been celebrating fantasy and horror genres since its establishment in 1968. The festival has built a reputation as one of Europe's most important showcases for genre cinema, making Park's victory particularly meaningful given his expertise in dark, psychological storytelling.
"No Other Choice" is based on "The Ax," a 1997 satirical thriller novel by acclaimed American author Donald E. Westlake. The film tells the compelling story of Man-soo, portrayed by veteran actor Lee Byung-hun, who plays a desperate father of two children. After losing his long-held job, Man-soo finds himself waging a personal battle for survival, leading to increasingly desperate measures as he struggles to maintain his family's livelihood.
This latest recognition at Sitges continues Park Chan-wook's successful relationship with the Spanish festival. His previous achievements at the event include winning the Best Film award for his internationally acclaimed masterpiece "Oldboy" in 2004, which helped establish his reputation as a visionary filmmaker. More recently, he received the Grand Audience Award in 2017 for his erotic thriller "The Handmaiden," demonstrating his consistent appeal to international audiences and critics alike.
The Sitges honor represents just the latest achievement in an impressive series of international accolades that "No Other Choice" has garnered since its release. Last month, the film captured the International People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), one of the most prestigious film festivals in North America. Additionally, the movie competed for the coveted Golden Lion at this year's Venice International Film Festival, placing it among the world's most celebrated cinematic works.
Further highlighting its international appeal and critical acclaim, "No Other Choice" has been officially submitted as South Korea's entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming Academy Awards. This submission represents the country's hopes for Oscar recognition and demonstrates the film's potential to reach even broader global audiences through one of cinema's most prestigious platforms.
