CJ ENM triumphs at 2023 Cannes International Series Festival with “Bargain” and “Island”

Leading entertainment company CJ ENM announced TVING originals “Island” and Bargain” had an outstanding performance at the 2023 Cannes International Series Festival (hereinafter referred to as “Canneseries”).

Action thriller “Island” successfully screened at this year’s Canneseries, and was met with an enthusiastic ovation from audiences at the event. Actress Heo Jung-hee, who played the role of Boo Yeom-ji, represented the series, and even walked the Pink Carpet at the festival earlier.

Produced by CJ ENM's production house Studio Dragon, "Island" is a Korean drama that follows a group of individuals who are destined to fight against an evil force that seeks to destroy the world. The series is available for streaming on Prime Video and TVING, and has been officially selected for screening in the Rendez-vous section of the Canneseries. The festival showcases some of the best drama series from around the world and is one of the most prestigious events in the television industry.

Actress Heo Jung-hee expressed her gratitude for the enthusiastic interest in the series and said “I am happy that many people welcomed me and still can't believe it. I think it's because everyone, including the actors and staff, worked hard to create this work. Part 2 of the series, which has not yet been released in France, will be released through Prime Video later this month. Yeom-ji is expected to show more activity in part 2, so please show a lot of interest in part 2 as well. I will continue to work hard to show good works and develop to be able to visit Cannes again.”

Ben Lee, Head of Marketing and Strategy at CJ ENM, emphasized the uniqueness of the series' storytelling and said, "we're thrilled to have showcase this in Canneseries. We believe that the quality of our storytelling and production is what sets "Island" apart and are excited to showcase it on such a prestigious platform. CJ ENM always explores universal themes, such as identity and belonging. We're grateful for the opportunity to connect with a wider audience and share our passion project with the world."

"Island" has already garnered positive reviews and has ranked in the top 10 on Prime Video in more than 60 countries worldwide, according to Flixpatrol. It is currently streaming on TVING in Korea and Prime Video in other territories outside of Korea.

TVING original series “Bargain” has won the Best Screenplay nod at the Canneseries competition. “Bargain” is the first Korean OTT original series to attend and win at the Canneseries competition, further attesting to the global competitiveness of Korean content and creators. 

A TVING representative remarked “We are thrilled that TVING original series ‘Bargain’ has won at the Canneseries competition, the first Korean drama to achieve this honor, and carry on the K-content syndrome. We will continue to do our best to discover content that will bring fun and excitement to people around the world and promote TVING’s content competitiveness."

“Bargain” is a CJ ENM-launched OTT TVING original and is scheduled to launch internationally this summer where Paramount+ is available. The series is licensed by Paramount Global Content Distribution outside of Korea, Japan and Taiwan.