Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love has won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, adding another major award to the director’s first film in eight years. The film will open in select cinemas on October 23 before arriving on Netflix on November 6, 2026.
Possible Love also received the FIPRESCI Award for best film in competition, presented by the International Federation of Film Critics. The two Venice honors come as the film begins a wider festival run and prepares to represent South Korea in the Best International Feature Film race at the 99th Academy Awards.
Possible Love wins two awards at Venice
Lee Chang-dong accepted the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize during the festival’s closing ceremony.
“I made this film to ask what cinema can and should do in times like these, and take this award as a sign that you want me to keep asking these questions,” Lee said in his acceptance speech.
The FIPRESCI Award was announced on Friday. The jury praised Possible Love as a “multi-layered and perfectly paced film” and highlighted its exploration of class, exploitation, love, desire and storytelling.
The Venice premiere begins an international festival run for the film. Possible Love will have its North American premiere in the Special Presentations section of the Toronto International Film Festival. It is also part of the Main Slate at the New York Film Festival and will have its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.
Possible Love comes to Netflix on November 6
Following its festival run, Possible Love will receive a select theatrical release on October 23, 2026. Its Netflix release date is November 6.
The film marks Lee Chang-dong’s first collaboration with Netflix and his first new feature since Burning.
It also reunites Lee with Jeon Do-yeon for the first time since Secret Sunshine, the 2007 film that earned Jeon the Best Actress award at Cannes. Sul Kyung-gu, who previously worked with Lee on Peppermint Candy and Oasis, also stars alongside Zo In-sung and Parasite star Cho Yeo-jeong.
What is Possible Love about?
Possible Love follows two married couples whose lives become increasingly intertwined.
Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon) lives with her laid-off husband Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu) and their young son Cheol. A funeral brings them into contact with documentary filmmaker Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jeong), who is making a film about laid-off workers, and her husband Sang-woo (Zo In-sung).
Their circumstances are very different. While Mi-ok and Ho-seok are dealing with unemployment, Ye-ji and Sang-woo live a much wealthier life.
Mi-ok agrees to take part in Ye-ji’s documentary and the two women grow closer. At the same time, Mi-ok finds herself drawn to Sang-woo, creating new tensions as the lives and relationships of the two couples begin to overlap.
Lee Chang-dong directed the film and co-wrote it with Oh Jung-mi. Jung Jaeil composed the music, with Kim Ji-yong serving as cinematographer and Kim Da-won as editor.
Possible Love opens in select cinemas on October 23 and premieres on Netflix on November 6, 2026.
