Canneseries Goes Crazy for Jisoo as She Picks up Award, Thanks Fans: ‘I Wanted to Show You a New Side of Me’

The Canneseries television festival in France kicked off with palpable excitement as BLACKPINK's Jisoo received the Madame Figaro Rising Star Award during its opening night. The 29-year-old K-pop idol, born Kim Ji-soo and catapulted to international stardom following her debut under YG Entertainment in 2016, was greeted with a roaring ovation from the audience. This annual event, a prominent fixture in the global television calendar, has increasingly served as a platform for spotlighting emerging talent across diverse genres and regions. In recent years, Canneseries has drawn comparisons to its film counterpart, the Cannes Film Festival, but with a dedicated focus on serialized storytelling, making it a crucial venue for cross-industry recognition.

Visibly moved, Jisoo took the stage to express her gratitude. "I wanted to show you a new side of me through different projects, and I'm really happy to receive such an award that represents your support," she remarked. "I learned new things through them, and I received a lot of help from many people. I think all this encouragement gave me strength to take one more step forward." Already a music icon with global hits like "How You Like That," Jisoo is now actively forging a path in acting. Her filmography includes the 2021 series "Snowdrop," the upcoming zombie drama "Newtopia," and the forthcoming "Boyfriend on Demand." Industry experts note that her transition mirrors a broader trend in South Korea, where K-pop idols are increasingly leveraging their massive fanbases to break into acting, a shift that has reshaped both the music and television industries. She also acknowledged her fans, vowing to "never forget the gratitude you gave me" and promising to "show you a better side of me."

Richard Gianorio of Madame Figaro commended Jisoo's evolution from pop sensation to actress. "She's not a newcomer – she's a star. A pop star adored by millions of fans, and her cultural influence goes beyond music," he stated. He noted how she rapidly stepped out of her musical "comfort zone" to explore new creative horizons. "In 2021, she made her acting debut in 'Snowdrop,' and that series gained immediate recognition," he recalled. "Tonight, we are celebrating a young woman who had the courage to reinvent herself – and did so successfully." This sentiment resonated with attendees, many of whom consider Jisoo a pioneer for K-pop idols transitioning into acting—a path also taken by fellow BLACKPINK member Jennie, who appeared in HBO's "The Idol." YG Entertainment, the agency behind BLACKPINK, has historically encouraged such cross-disciplinary moves, with artists like Lisa and Rosé also pursuing solo ventures in fashion and music.

The ceremony also honored "Baby Reindeer" creator Richard Gadd with the Konbini Commitment Award, preceding the screening of "Half Man," a show he stars in alongside Jamie Bell. Earlier that day, Gadd shared insights into his creative approach: "Whenever I start a new project, I don't set out to break new ground or push the boundaries, I just call life how I see it. Which, for me, has always been full of difficulty and challenge. The world is in crisis at the moment, and there are many people out there who feel scared and confused. It's our duty to reflect these struggles on screen." Reflecting on his own past hardships, he admitted that during periods of "unbearable pain," he struggled to find content that mirrored his experiences. "And I really needed to hear that back then," he said, urging commissioners to "push boundaries, take risks and to tell stories that aren't necessarily comfortable but need to be heard." He concluded, "In these days of mass consumption and geopolitical uncertainty, now more than ever we need shows that speak to real life." Canneseries, which has grown in stature since its inception, is scheduled to wrap up on April 28, 2026.