Chapter 149
Time passed quickly.
CEO Han Taesung and I spent each day running through three or four distribution and investment meetings, along with all kinds of official and unofficial Cannes Film Festival events.
We were so busy that we barely noticed the days passing.
And before we knew it, the final day of the Cannes Film Festival had arrived.
The morning of the closing ceremony didn’t feel particularly different from any other day.
As usual, we gathered in the hotel lobby around nine, ate breakfast together, and talked about our schedules for the day.
Director Song Jaehyun and the actors had several interviews scheduled, just like any other day.
After that, they planned to return to the hotel and prepare for the closing ceremony.
CEO Han Taesung, Film Team Leader Ju Hanyoung, and I still had distributor meetings lined up until the very end, so we planned to return to the hotel after finishing those.
Once everyone had handled their schedules, we gathered back at the hotel at three, finished preparing for the closing ceremony, then met again in the lobby at four.
Woo Jungin and Ju Hanyoung were both dressed up in elegant evening wear.
“Yes, please send me the detailed information again by email.”
Ju Hanyoung was still speaking to someone in English over the phone.
“I probably won’t be able to review it properly until I return to Korea, so my reply may be delayed by two or three days... ah, yes. Thank you.”
After ending the call, he let out a tired sigh.
“Wow.”
“I never imagined I’d still be working right up until the closing ceremony.”
Woo Jungin looked almost wistful.
“I still can’t believe today is the last day.”
“Seriously.”
Ju Hanyoung nodded.
“I barely watched a single movie, and ten days have already passed.”
“I’m the opposite.”
Woo Jungin laughed.
“It’s only been ten days, but it feels like a whole year.”
As everyone shared their thoughts about the final day of Cannes, Song Jaehyun sighed.
“I just want this to end so we can go back to Korea.”
“I miss kimchi stew.”
“And jajangmyeon.”
Everyone immediately nodded with intense agreement.
“Seriously. Just thinking about food makes me want to fly back to Korea right now.”
“I want doenjang stew.”
Woo Jungin sighed dreamily.
“My mom’s doenjang stew with white rice mixed into it...”
“Hey, stop.”
Someone groaned.
“You’re already making my mouth water.”
Cha Seungjoon clicked his tongue at everyone.
“You people are hopelessly old-fashioned.”
“It’s only been ten days, and you’re already talking about kimchi stew and doenjang stew.”
Baek Seonghan immediately glared at him.
“Oh, really, Manager Cha?”
“So that’s how you’re going to act?”
“We were planning to go straight to a restaurant when we land in Korea.”
“You’re not eating anything.”
“Understood?”
“Come on, PD Baek.”
Cha Seungjoon laughed.
“When it comes to things like this, you really know how to hold a grudge.”
Then he abruptly changed the subject.
“By the way, Director.”
“If you happen to win the Palme d’Or today, could you please mention my name in your acceptance speech?”
Baek Seonghan smirked.
“Look at him changing the subject because he’s losing.”
Then he turned toward Song Jaehyun.
“Since we’re talking about it, Director Song, have you thought about what you’d say if you win?”
“An acceptance speech?”
Song Jaehyun laughed awkwardly.
“Come on. Let’s not count our chickens before they hatch.”
“What do you mean, counting chickens?”
Baek Seonghan scolded him.
“You’ve seen the articles.”
“Of course there’s no reason to get ahead of ourselves, but shouldn’t you at least prepare something?”
“Exactly.”
Cha Seungjoon nodded eagerly.
“No one knows what’s going to happen.”
“So if you do win, don’t forget to say my name.”
“It’s my mother’s wish.”
He shamelessly acted cute toward Song Jaehyun.
Just then, local coordinator Kim Jihoon approached us.
“Ah, sorry I’m late.”
“Traffic was bad.”
He looked around.
“We should get going. The car is waiting outside.”
And so, we headed toward the Palais des Festivals for the closing ceremony.
The area around the red carpet at the Palais des Festivals was packed with reporters and spectators trying to capture the final excitement of the festival.
Actors and directors crowded the red carpet all at once to mark the closing ceremony, turning the entire area into a sea of people.
Maybe it was true that humans could adapt to anything.
After walking the opening-ceremony red carpet, the gala red carpet, and several others throughout the festival, we were able to stroll across this final red carpet with relative ease.
Once we entered the Lumière Theatre, we exchanged brief greetings with people we had grown acquainted with during Cannes.
Director Jean Dumont was also attending the closing ceremony.
Han Taesung and I greeted him briefly.
“If I had to choose the most special experience I had during this festival, I think it would be meeting you, Director.”
Jean Dumont smiled.
“Thank you for saying that.”
“I’ve actually been invited to this year’s Busan International Film Festival.”
“If the opportunity comes, perhaps we could meet again in Busan.”
“Of course.”
I smiled.
“If you come, I’ll run out to greet you barefoot.”
At 6:30 p.m., the closing ceremony finally began.
The festival’s executive chairman stepped onto the stage, and applause broke out across the audience.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the closing ceremony of the 66th Cannes Film Festival.”
His opening remarks continued.
Then a highlight video featuring various filmmakers who had shone throughout this year’s festival played on the enormous screen.
The concentrated power of the images and music filling the entire wall drew the audience into silence.
Scenes from Kingdom of Crime were included as well.
The moment our film appeared on the screen, I saw Song Jaehyun clench his hands nervously.
I also held my breath and stared at the stage.
After roughly thirty minutes of opening events, the awards ceremony finally began.
“Now, allow me to introduce this year’s Cannes Film Festival jury.”
Nine jury members, including jury president Steven Berg, appeared onstage.
They were directors, actors, and critics.
The theater erupted in loud applause.
Steven Berg stepped toward the microphone at center stage.
“This year’s Cannes Film Festival was filled with truly remarkable works.”
“Because of that, our jury faced extremely difficult choices.”
“After many discussions, we reached our decisions.”
