Cannes: Director Na Hong-jin's sci-fi thriller "Hope" is set to compete for the prestigious Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival, which will commence on Tuesday. The film is among 21 titles invited to the competition section of the 79th edition of the festival.

According to Yonhap News Agency, "Hope" marks the first Korean film in four years to vie for the top honor since Park Chan-wook's "Decision to Leave" and Hirokazu Kore-eda's "Broker," both of which competed in 2022. Set in a small coastal town near the Demilitarized Zone, "Hope" depicts the sudden appearance of mysterious entities, featuring Hwang Jung-min as a local police chief and Zo In-sung as a villager.

The film boasts a star-studded ensemble, including "Squid Game" star Jung Ho-yeon and Hollywood talents Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Taylor Russell. "Hope" is scheduled to premiere globally in Cannes on Sunday, with Na and the cast expected to grace the red carpet during the festival, which runs until May 23 in the southern French resort city.

This sci-fi piece is Na Hong-jin's fourth feature film to be invited to Cannes. His debut, "The Chaser," was showcased in the Midnight Screenings section in 2008, followed by "The Yellow Sea" in Un Certain Regard in 2011, and "The Wailing" in the festival's noncompetition section in 2016. The anticipation is high to see if "Hope" will continue the winning streak for Korean cinema following "Decision to Leave's" best director award and Song Kang-ho's best actor accolade for "Broker" in 2022.

Adding to the Korean presence at Cannes, Park Chan-wook will serve as jury president, a first for a Korean. Additionally, Yeon Sang-ho's zombie thriller "Colony," featuring Jun Ji-hyun, Ji Chang-wook, and Koo Kyo-hwan, will be screened in the Midnight Screenings section. Meanwhile, July Jung's "Dora," a coming-of-age drama, has been invited to the Cannes Directors' Fortnight, an independent section running concurrently with the festival from May 13 to 23.