Song Joong-ki and fellow cast members of director Kim Chang-hoon’s film “Hopeless,” which was invited to the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes International Film Festival this year, expressed their excitement for the Cannes invitation Friday.

“Hopeless” is a dark noir depicting the story of Yeon-gyu, played by newcomer Hong Xa-bin, who wants to escape the harsh realities of his life when he meets Chi-geon, played by Song. Yeon-gyu then steps into the world of organized crime with Chi-geon.

“It is an honor to be invited, and I am very excited,” Song was reported to have said through a press release from Plus M Entertainment, the distributor for “Hopeless.” “’Hopeless’ is a film that was made through the pure passion from everyone involved. I am happy to be able to showcase this film on a global stage at Cannes. I look forward to showing audiences the strength and force of ‘Hopeless’ that I felt when I first read the script.”

“I would like to thank everyone involved for this invitation, and I am grateful for the chance to show our film at Cannes,” Hong said in the same press release. “It was an honor to be able to participate in ‘Hopeless.’”

Director Kim Chang-hoon, whose past works include short films “After the Sequence” (2014) and “Dance With My Mother” (2012), also expressed gratitude for the Cannes invitation, saying that it was “a dream [he] had from his childhood” to be part of the world’s largest film festival.

“Hopeless” will screen in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes International Film Festival and be released in Korea in the second half of this year.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]