‘Colony’ Lands at FrightFest Ahead of UK Release

A biotech conference descends into chaos when a rapidly mutating virus escapes containment in Colony, the latest zombie thriller from acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho.

Following its world premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Studiocanal has confirmed the film will arrive in UK and Irish cinemas on 28 August, with a UK premiere at Tubi FrightFest taking place the previous evening.

Set in the heart of Seoul, Colony follows Professor Se Jeong, who attends what should have been an ordinary scientific conference before witnessing a catastrophic outbreak. Within minutes, attendees begin transforming as an experimental virus spreads through the building, forcing authorities to seal off the entire complex. Trapped inside, the remaining survivors must navigate confined spaces filled with increasingly unpredictable infected while racing against time to avoid contamination themselves.

The film stars Gianna Jun, Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hyun-been, Kim Shin-rok and Go Soo, reuniting Yeon with Koo following their previous collaboration on Peninsula. Produced by Wowpoint and Smilegate in association with Midnight Studio, Colony marks the director’s latest return to the zombie genre that helped establish his international reputation.

Yeon’s name has become closely associated with modern Korean horror since Train to Busan transformed the zombie film into an international success in 2016. He later expanded that universe with the animated prequel Seoul Station and the follow-up Peninsula, while also exploring supernatural themes in projects such as Hellbound. Rather than simply revisiting familiar territory, Colony shifts the action into a sealed conference venue, replacing cross-country escape with an increasingly claustrophobic struggle inside a single location.

The timing of the film’s FrightFest screening also carries added significance. This year’s festival will celebrate the tenth anniversary of Train to Busan with a retrospective screening, while Seoul Station will also return to the programme, giving audiences an opportunity to revisit two of Yeon’s earlier works alongside his newest feature.

Colony receives its UK premiere at Tubi FrightFest on Thursday, 27 August 2026, before opening in UK and Irish cinemas through Studiocanal on 28 August 2026.
For tickets, visit: frightfest2026

Colony trailer