Director Lee Hwan’s crime noir ‘Project Y,’ featuring Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo, has won the Best Film award at the 10th London East Asia Film Festival (LEAFF) held on November 2, 2025, in London. Celebrated for its gripping narrative and innovative female-centric storytelling, the film impressed the jury with a fresh take on noir, centering women’s experiences in a story of ambition, betrayal, and survival.
Set against the contrasting backdrop of Seoul’s glamorous yet gritty Gangnam nightlife, ‘Project Y’ follows childhood friends Mi-sun (Han So-hee) and Do-kyung (Jeon Jong-seo), both in their early thirties. Facing the harsh realities of poverty, the duo plans a high-stakes heist to steal hidden cash and gold bars worth 8 billion KRW, seeking one last chance at freedom. What unfolds is a suspenseful chain of events filled with tension, moral ambiguity, and shifting loyalties.
The jury praised the film for subverting traditional noir tropes, putting female agency and perspective at the forefront. By exploring ambition, survival, and ethical complexity through strong female leads, ‘Project Y’ opens new possibilities for storytelling in Asian cinema.
Supporting performances by Kim Shin-rok as the senior figure Ga-young and Kim Sung-cheol as the antagonist “Boss To” heighten the stakes, while Lee Hwan’s signature realistic and intense directorial style elevates the film’s impact.
LEAFF also honored Kang Yoon-sung’s ‘Run to The’ with the Future of Asia Cinema Award, and closed with the sold-out screening of ‘Kokuho’ by Korean-Japanese director Lee Sang-il. Executive Director Jeon Hye-jung highlighted the festival’s growth into a key platform for Asian cinema in the UK, applauding the daring experimentation and anticipating continued innovation in the years ahead.
With its bold narrative, powerful female leads, and stylish execution, ‘Project Y’ marks a milestone in Asian crime cinema, establishing a new benchmark for the genre on the international stage.
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