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Director’s Profile

Sohn Hyun-lok was born in Busan in 1992. He graduated from the Film and Moving Image Department at Hongik University and is currently studying filmmaking at the School of Film, TV & Multimedia, Korea National University of Arts. He directed several short films and his first feature, That Summer’s Lie (2023), premiered in the New Currents Section at Busan International Film Festival 2023, winning the FIPRESCI Award.

Synopsis

Students die when they fall from the roof of the school where Ye-ok (45) works as a homeroom teacher. Only Hye-jeong (17), Ye-ok′s daughter, who was with them, survives. Hye-jeong says that her friends died because of birds, but no one believes her. As the mother of the only survivor, Ye-ok is viewed with suspicion by the bereaved families and is in danger of losing her job. To discover the truth of the case, reporter Joo-young (45) contacts Ye-ok and Hye-jeong, but is unable to dig up any more clues, and the seemingly unprovoked deaths of students spread like a virus at other schools, becoming a national emergency. Amid the tragedy of the mysterious student deaths, Ye-ok′s eldest son, Kyu-min (18), dies. Ye-ok tracks down a YouTuber specializing in birds and together with Joo-young they head deep into the forest, where there may be aliens manipulating the flocks of birds.

Achievements

2026 Busan International Film Festival

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