Cinema Guild just locked down the North American distribution rights to South Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo’s 35th feature, Nowhere to Lay My Eyes. The acquisition drops right before the film heads to Switzerland this August for its world premiere. It will compete for the top prize at the 79th Locarno Film Festival.
But this project carries a specific gravity. Kim Min-hee is stepping back in front of the camera for her first acting role since giving birth to her child in April 2025. She stars as Sang-hee and pulls double duty as the film’s production manager. Her casting, alongside the world premiere announcement, immediately elevates the festival buzz.
The plot keeps things remarkably tight. Clocking in at a brisk 72 minutes, the drama follows Sang-hee and her younger brother as they travel to Jeju Island. Their goal? Visiting their mother for the first time in ten years. Fans tracking the official cast and synopsis will also spot Choi Myung-gil, Kwon Hae-hyo, Shin Seok-ho, and Park Mi-so rounding out the ensemble. Finecut is managing the international sales.
Hong is known for his stripped-down, singular approach to filmmaking. He did not compromise here. Operating under his Jeonwonsa Film banner, he wrote, directed, shot, edited, and scored the entire project himself. That level of absolute creative control is a major reason he secured his historic fifth invitation to Locarno. He actually took home the Golden Leopard there back in 2015 for Right Now, Wrong Then. Now he is aiming to do it again.