The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the Korea Communications Agency (KCA) are supporting the promotion and overseas export of Korean broadcast and online video service (OTT) content and media technology in connection with the 8th Cannes International Series Festival (hereafter “Canneseries”), held from Thursday, April 24 to Tuesday, April 29.

* Cannes International Series Festival: An international content market held annually in Cannes, France since 2018, aimed at promoting and developing new series (dramas, documentaries, etc.).

This year, 10 Korean programs have been selected across three categories by the MSIT for Canneseries. These outstanding programs combine Korea’s unique storytelling with cutting-edge AI technology.

The non-competition screening event, “Rendez-vous,” supported by the MSIT, will take place on Tuesday, April 29. Three titles will be screened for local audiences and industry professionals: The Scalpel Hunter (Soul Creative), a suspense thriller about a sociopathic forensic doctor tormented by fear and anxiety; 'Nursery Rhymes: Haunted Tales' (COTOP Media), a mystery horror drama that reinterprets familiar Korean nursery rhymes through a chilling lens; and 'Fairy Fasting Center' (Film Company Now), a charming coming-of-age romance following a girl who enters a fasting center to pursue her dream of becoming a singer.

Actors featured in these titles, including Park Ju-hyun (The Scalpel Hunter), Hong Soo-hyun and Nam Gyu-ri (Nursery Rhymes: Haunted Tales), and Jo Hye-jung (Fairy Fasting Center), will promote their works in Cannes through photocalls, pink carpet events, and stage greetings.

In addition to these three works, ‘The Intimate Traitor’ (MBC), a 2024 MSIT- and KCA-supported production previously aired on MBC, has been invited to Cannes for a special non-competitive screening.

On Saturday, April 26, the "Korea AI·Technical Screening" will be held, spotlighting Korean broadcasting content produced using advanced AI technologies. The event will also feature a technical presentation where AI tech companies will directly introduce and promote the technologies applied to the productions. Two titles will be screened.

‘The Holy Relics’ (KBS) is a documentary supported by the MSIT in 2024, exploring global religious relics through stories of faith, history, and humanity. The project used Korean AI human technology (OPIMDigital) to restore and recreate visuals of actual saints, including portraits and photographs, thereby enhancing the documentary’s completeness and viewer immersion.

‘AI Cruel Fairy Tales’ (MooAm) is an AI-based thriller drama inspired by traditional Korean poetry and fairy tales. Uniquely, it features AI-generated actors created by training real human data, and utilizes AI throughout the entire production process—from planning to editing.

Also on April 26, the "Korea AI·Technical Pitching" session will be held, offering international co-production and investment opportunities for broadcasting content projects utilizing AI and digital technologies.

This pitching event will present new proposals incorporating domestic AI technologies to global producers and investors. The lineup includes five titles—one drama and four variety shows—designed to boost production efficiency and creativity through AI: ‘School Law Firm’ (Kang Hyun Lee), a courtroom drama where generative AI writes legal dialogue; ‘Global Play’ (Ji-sook Jung), featuring AI vs human commentary in e-sports broadcasting; ‘Baek Bo Jeon’ (Hee-sun Yang), a quiz show for job seekers using AI-generated questions; ‘Unlock’ (The Lead Company), about tricking AI facial recognition with makeup; and ‘Adventure in Love (Ringaring)’, a dating reality show using AI emotion analysis systems.