South Korea chooses Park Chan-wook’s Venice sensation ‘No Other Choice’ for Oscars

South Korea has selected Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice” as its entry for best international feature film at the 2026 Academy Awards after the film’s acclaimed premiere on Aug. 29 at the Venice Film Festival.

The thriller, adapted from Donald E. Westlake’s novel “The Ax,” follows a paper factory worker who, after losing his job, resorts to eliminating competitors in a desperate bid to return to employment. Its Venice debut earned a nine-minute standing ovation and immediate international attention.

Park, widely known for classic films like “Oldboy” (2003) and “The Handmaiden” (2016), brings his signature mix of sharp visuals and moral ambiguity to the story. At Venice, critics praised the film’s balance of bleak satire and black comedy, calling it one of Park’s most incisive works. The Korean Film Council confirmed the Oscars selection on Sept. 3, citing the film’s strong reception and global resonance. Comparisons have been drawn to Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite,” which also gained early traction through festival acclaim before securing multiple Academy Awards in 2020.

The cast features prominent Korean actors, including Lee Byung-hun as the everyman turned anti-hero, Son Ye-jin as his wife Mi-ri, Park Hee-soon as Choi Seon-chul, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, Cha Seung-won and Yoo Yeon-seok in supporting roles. The film is scheduled to open the 30th Busan International Film Festival in mid-September before its theatrical release in South Korea on Sept. 24. Neon has acquired North American rights while Mubi will distribute in the United Kingdom, Europe and other territories.