Directing

Lee Sang-cheol

Lee Sang-cheol (b. 1975, Seoul) is a South Korean filmmaker recognized for his sharp social observation and versatility across genres. He graduated from the Department of Theater and Film at Hanyang University in 2001 and completed the directing program at the prestigious Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) in 2003. Lee built a solid foundation in visual storytelling by working in the directing department for stylistic master Lee Myung-se on Duelist (2005) and serving as assistant director for M (2007). He also gained production experience as the producer of the horror film Two Moons (2012). He made a powerful impact on the independent film scene with Jesus Hospital (2012), co-directed with Shin A-ga. This intense family drama won the Citizen Critics’ Award at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) and the Grand Prize at the Seoul Independent Film Festival, drawing international praise for its realistic portrayal of religious and familial conflict. Lee continued to expand his filmography with the social satire The Snobs (2019), invited to the Panorama section of BIFF, and the action-crime film Two Big Men (2020). In his latest work, Blesser (2023), Lee presents a profound shift in his directorial gaze. Premiering at the 28th Busan International Film Festival, the film captures the arduous yet transformative journey of a mother raising a child with developmental disabilities. Praised for its sincere narrative and detailed direction, Blesser demonstrates Lee Sang-cheol’s evolution into a storyteller who deeply resonates with the fragility and resilience of the human spirit.