[Kobiz] K-Content with AI Departs for Cannes International Series

The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the Korea Communications Agency (KCA) will support the promotion and overseas export of domestic broadcasting and online video service (OTT) content and media technology in conjunction with the 8th Cannes International Series Festival (hereafter 'Cannes Series')* held from Thursday, April 24 to Tuesday, April 29.

*Cannes International Series Festival: An international content market held in Cannes, France since 2018 to nurture and promote new series (dramas, documentaries, etc.)

This year, the MSIT's selections for Cannes Series include a total of 10 programs across three categories, featuring outstanding programs that combine Korea's unique material with advanced artificial intelligence technology.

First, the Cannes Series non-competitive section (Rendez-vous) screening event supported by the MSIT will be held on Tuesday, April 29. Three works will be screened for local audiences and industry professionals: the crime thriller drama "Hunter with a Scalpel" (Soul Creative) depicting the fear and anxious life of a sociopathic forensic doctor; the mystery horror thriller drama "Nursery Rhyme Ghost Stories" (Kortop Media), which reinterprets familiar Korean children's songs through the horror genre; and the cute coming-of-age romance "Fairy Diet Center" (Film Company Jigeum) about the process of entering a fasting center to become a singer.

Actors who appeared in these works, including Park Ju-hyun (Hunter with a Scalpel), Hong Soo-hyun, Nam Gyu-ri (Nursery Rhyme Ghost Stories), and Jo Hye-jung (Film Company Jigeum), will participate directly in Cannes, France to enhance promotional effects through photocalls, pink carpet events, and stage greetings.

Meanwhile, in addition to these three works, "Such an Intimate Betrayer" (MBC), which was broadcast on MBC in 2024 as a production supported by the MSIT and KCA, was also invited to Cannes and will be specially screened in the non-competitive section.

Additionally, the "Korea AI Technical Screening" will be held on Saturday, April 26. Two works will be screened, featuring broadcasting content produced using AI technology, along with a technical presentation session where AI technology companies will directly introduce and promote the technologies applied to the works.

"Sacred Objects" (KBS) is a documentary that tells the story of religion, history, and people centered around sacred objects from around the world and is a 2024 AI-assisted production supported by the MSIT. The documentary utilized domestic AI human technology (OPHIM Digital) to restore actual portraits and photographs of real saints as basic materials and produce reenactment scenes, maximizing the completeness and immersion of the work through AI technology.

"AI Cruel Fairy Tales" (MooAm Production) is an AI-based thriller drama based on traditional Korean poems and fairy tales. A key feature is the use of AI actors generated by learning from real people without using actual actors, and utilizing AI technology throughout the entire production process from planning to editing.

On the same day, Saturday, April 26, the "Korea AI Technical Pitching" will be held to provide opportunities for overseas investment attraction and international co-production for broadcasting content planning proposals using AI and digital technology.

At this event, new planning proposals that include plans to utilize domestic AI technologies in production will be introduced to producers and investors from around the world. A total of five pieces will be presented: the legal drama "School Law Firm" (Lee Kang-hyun) which uses generative AI to write courtroom scene dialogue; "Global Play" (Jung Ji-sook) which depicts a game broadcast as a human commentator vs. AI commentator competition; "Baekbo-jeon" (Yang Hee-sun), a job seeker quiz show utilizing AI-generated quizzes; "Unlock" (The Lead Company) about evading AI facial recognition technology through makeup; and "Adventure in Love" (Ringa Ring), a dating entertainment show using AI emotion analysis systems. These include one Korean drama and four entertainment programs that enhance production efficiency and strengthen originality through AI technology.