THE APEX TIMES
Korea Selects Lee Chang-dong’s ‘Possible Love’ as Oscars Best International Feature Contender
The Korean Film Council has named Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love as South Korea’s official entry for the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature category, as Netflix confirmed it will bring the film to Oscar-qualifying theaters in Korea, the U.S. and other select territories.
South Korea has selected Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love as its official entry for the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature category, the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) announced on Aug. 25. The designation places the film in the international eligibility track for one of the Academy Awards’ most closely watched categories for non-English-language productions.
KOFIC’s choice of Possible Love continues the long-running process by which each country names a single feature that meets Academy rules for submission and eligibility. The Academy Awards category is limited to one nominated film per participating country, making the national selection an important gatekeeping step for filmmakers seeking global recognition.
Netflix is tied to the film’s path toward Academy consideration. Deadline reported that Netflix financed Possible Love and holds international rights, positioning the streamer as a central player in the movie’s release strategy for eligibility in key markets.
As part of that strategy, Netflix recently confirmed it would secure an Oscar-qualifying theatrical release for Possible Love. Deadline said the plan covers Korea, the United States and other select territories, with the qualifying run scheduled to follow the film’s premiere.
The decision to pursue theatrical eligibility reflects the Academy’s requirement that submitted international features meet specific exhibition conditions in the country or countries where they are released for the awards cycle. For rights holders and distributors, that typically means arranging qualifying screenings that satisfy timing and run-length expectations during the awards period.
With KOFIC’s selection now on the record, the film’s next steps are procedural and calendar-driven: it must maintain eligibility while competing through the Academy’s review and shortlist phases before any final nomination decisions. Netflix’s announced release approach in multiple territories is intended to ensure Possible Love remains in compliance with the Academy’s theater-release standards as the awards process moves forward.
Why It Matters
- The national selection by KOFIC is the required first step for a film to enter the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature competition from South Korea.
- An Oscar-qualifying theatrical release can affect distribution timelines, marketing windows, and exhibitor scheduling in multiple territories.
- Netflix’s financing and rights position it to control key eligibility steps, including arranging qualifying theater runs to keep the film eligible.
- The Academy Awards’ rules make compliance with theatrical eligibility standards a central factor for international contenders, influencing how rights holders plan releases during the awards cycle.
- For audiences, qualifying releases in Korea and the U.S. can expand access beyond the premiere and shape what becomes broadly available during the awards period.
Key Facts
- KOFIC selected Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love as South Korea’s official entry for the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature category.
- Deadline reported that Possible Love is the film chosen to represent Korea in the Oscars eligibility and submission process.
- Netflix financed Possible Love and holds international rights to the film, according to Deadline.
- Deadline reported that Netflix confirmed an Oscar-qualifying theatrical release for Possible Love in Korea, the United States, and other select territories.
- Netflix’s qualifying theatrical release is planned to occur after the film’s premiere.