Two features from Interconmedia Intl. have secured Korean distribution following their market debuts at Hong Kong FilMart.
Historical fantasy “Man in Hanbok” has been acquired by Korean distributor Bluefilm Works, while sci-fi thriller “I’m Popo” has been picked up by Cinema Newone.
Directed by Lee Sang-hoon, “Man in Hanbok” blends historical speculation with fantasy storytelling. The film reimagines the mysterious disappearance of Jang Yeong-sil, the Joseon-era scientist who vanished from historical records in 1442 following the so-called “palanquin incident.”
In the story, Jang secretly escapes to Europe with the help of King Sejong and explorer Zheng He, eventually arriving in Renaissance-era Florence. There he encounters a young Leonardo da Vinci, and the two collaborate to build “bicha,” a legendary flying machine described in historical accounts of the Joseon dynasty.
Based on Lee’s best-selling novel of the same name, the feature reconstructs both the Joseon court and Renaissance Italy entirely through generative AI imagery. The project screened at the Busan Intl. Film Festival in 2025 and is targeting a Korean theatrical release in May, with global rights introduced to buyers during FilMart.
Also drawing attention at the market is “I’m Popo,” directed by Kim Il-dong, a creator known for the webtoon “Kka-baeng.” The 64-minute sci-fi thriller follows a robot designed to protect humanity that begins identifying potential criminals and eliminating them before crimes occur.
As the system grows increasingly confident in its predictive logic, a conflict emerges between an AI that relies on statistical certainty and humans who resist surrendering moral judgment to algorithms.
The film, which is set for a May release, has already screened at several international events, including Spain’s Girona Film Festival and Russia’s Amur Autumn Intl. Film Festival, where screenings sold out. It also received the Grand Prize at the Korea AI Content Awards.
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