The short film “Ghost,” directed by Lee Jung-Jin (a.k.a. Ma Dahci), has been selected for the Short Film Competition of the 64th Cannes Film Festival.

“Ghost” is a 10-minute thriller about a criminal hiding in an empty house in a deserted town where gentrification has been discontinued. 

The Short Film Competition is an official competition category that highlights young talent. In 1999, Korean director Song Il-gook’s “Picnic” won the Jury Prize for Best Short Film.

Nine short films from nine different countries have been invited in the competition category this year. The jury, lead by French filmmaker Michel Gondry, will award the Short Film Palme d’Or at the closing ceremony on May 22.

Five Korean films have been invited to the official selection of the 64th Cannes Film Festival. Three feature films ― Kim Ki-duk’s “Arirang,” Na Hong-jin’s “Yellow Sea,” and Hong Sang-soo’s “The Day He Arrives” ― will be shown in Un Certain Regard section.

Son Tae-gyum’s “Fly by Night” was also invited to Cinfondation selection, which presents movies from film schools all over the world. “Ghost” by Lee Jung-jin is the only Korean film invited to the competition section of the film festival this year.

Also, “The Immortal Man” by Moon Byoung-gon and “In Front of the House” by Lee Tae-ho have been selected in the short film section of International Critics’ Week, the oldest parallel competitive section of the Cannes Film Festival.

By Joo Hye-mi (hyemjoo@gmail.com)