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The Asian Filmmaker of the Year
The Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award is presented to an Asian film professional or organization that has made the most outstanding contribution to the development of Asian film industry and culture. The recipient this year is director Im Kwon-taek, who has continuously made films for around 60 years, from his debut in 1962 with the film Farewell Duman River to his most recent film Revivre (2014), which is his 102nd work.
IM Kwon-taek
Director | Korea
Born in 1934, director Im Kwon-taek debuted in 1962 with his film Farewell Duman River, and went on to direct 102 films. He distinguished himself in the global film industry after receiving the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival 2002 with the film ChiHwaSeon and an Honorary Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival 2005. Through his films such as Seopyeonje (1993) and Chunhyang (2000), he was able to accurately portray Korean way of life and values on the big screen.
Korean Cinema Award
The Korean Cinema Award is presented to honor cineastes who have contributed to the globalization of Korean films. The recipient of this year’s Korean Cinema Award is the late Lee Choon-yun, the big brother figure of Korean cinema, who made great contributions to the Korean film industry as the chairperson of the Korean Association of Film Art & Industry.
LEE Choon-yun
Chairperson, KAFAI/CINE2000 | Korea
Born in Sinan County in the South Jeolla Province of South Korea, Lee Choon-yun studied theater at Chung-Ang University and started his film career in 1983. Beginning with the film Widow Dance in 1984, he produced dozens of films including My Mellow Rose (1988), Happiness Does Not Come In Grades (1989), Deep Scratch (1994), Hwang Jin Yi (2007), and The Terror Live (2013), that led the Korean cinema boom. Further, he produced the Whispering Corridors series, which widened the horizons for Korean horror films. This series launched the careers of many prominent actresses and directors.
New Currents Award
New Currents Award is given to the two best feature films selected from the first or second feature of new Asian directors introduced in the New Currents section (a competitive section of BIFF for Asian films). A grand prize of USD 30,000 is awarded to each film. The jury consists of world-renowned film experts who will choose winners to discover and encourage the hidden jewels of Asian cinema.
Farewell, My Hometown
The Apartment with Two Women
Kim Jiseok Award
It is to remember and honor the late Kim Ji-seok who devoted his whole life to discovering young Asian directors and supporting the growth of Asian cinema. A grand of prize of USD 10,000, sponsored by BIFF Supporters Association, is awarded to two films respectively.
The Rapist
GENSAN PUNCH
Kim Jiseok Award Special Mention
The Bargain
BIFF Mecenat Award
BIFF Mecenat Award is granted to the best documentary from Korea and Asia in Wide Angle competitive section. The winner will be granted KRW 10,000,000(approx. USD 8,500) with the purpose of assisting their next production.
206: Unearthed
Self-Portrait: Fairy Tale in 47KM
Sonje Award
Sonje Award is given to the best Korean and Asian short films in the Wide Angle section, to assist them in producing next project by providing KRW 10,000,000(approx. USD 8,500) to each director.
A Winter Glove
The Sea Calls for Me
Sonje Award Special Mention
Sarira
Actor & Actress of the Year
Actor & Actress of the Year is the award to focus on first-time actors in the independent Korean films among the New Currents and Korean Cinema Today Vision. The top-class Korean actor and actress select one actor and one actress with outstanding performance. The winners will be awarded at the closing ceremony with cash prize of 5,000,000 KRW (approx. 4,300 USD) each which is sponsored by BIFF Supporters Association.
KWON Daham
Actor | Korea
Kwon Daham, who played Kyunghak in Through My Midwinter, communicates with the audience by depicting the character’s psychology with his detailed approach to acting. At times, he invites the audience to the quotidian life that anyone can empathize with, while at other times, he provides an intensity that locks the viewers inside the mind of the character by creating a point of truthful identification. Once the identification is understood, the distance between the character and the viewer decreases naturally, leaving a lingering impression stemming from the sadness of the situation in the film. Moreover, Kwon Daham's sincere acting style resonated with me deeply, and certainly became a dagger to my heart. This is why I have no doubt that he deserves the Actor of the Year award. Finally, I was honored to be a part of the jury of the Actor & Actress of the Year. I want to express my deepest gratitude and compliment not only to the dedicated acting of all participating cast but also to the crew that contributed to the films with their passion and sincerity.
IM Jeeho
Actor | Korea
For the entire running time of The Apartment with Two Women, I was also saddened and lonely as I was following the emotional journey of the character. In particular, actress Im Jee-ho, who played the role of Yijung, builds the emotional trajectory layer by layer with her slow movements, engrossing the audience further in the film. She expressed the character in such an excellent way.
KB New Currents Audience Award
This award is given to the film that is most highly rated by festival audiences from from New Currents section. Sponsored by KB Financial Group Inc., KRW 20,000,000 (approx. USD 18,000) is awarded to the director.
The Apartment with Two Women
Flash Foward Audience Award
This award is given to the film that is most highly rated by festival audiences from Flash Forward section. Sponsored by BIFF Supporters Association, KRW 10,000,000(approx. USD 8,500) is awarded to the director.
Mass
FIPRESCI Award
FIPRESCI Award is awarded to well-made works that reflect its experimental and progressive spirit, among those presented in the New Currents section.
Seire
NETPAC Award
The NETPAC Award is given to the best film selected by the NETPAC jury among the films screened in the New Currents section. NETPAC is an international organization founded in 1990 devoted to the expansion of Asian film distribution and screening.
The Apartment with Two Women
DGK MEGABOX Award
DGK MEGABOX Award goes two Korean films from Korean Cinema Today-Vision section. Each winner will be granted 5 million KRW (approx.4,300 USD). This cash prize is sponsored by Directors Guild of Korea and Megabox.
Through My Midwinter
A Lonely Island in the Distant Sea
CGV Arthouse Award
This award was newly created in 2011 in collaboration with CJ CGV Arthouse to shed new light on the Korean Cinema Today_Vision section. The winner will receive a cash prize of 10 million KRW (approx. 8,500 USD) sponsored by CJ CGV Arthouse.
Chorokbam
KBS Independent Film Award
KBS Independent Film Award is given to support Korean independent films. One Korean film will be selected among Korean Cinema Today_Vision and New Currents sections to receive 10 million KRW (approx. 8,500 USD). This cash prize is sponsored by KBS.
Hot in Day, Cold at Night
CGK Award
CGK Award, sponsored by Cinematographers Guild of Korea, is given to one Korean film from either New Currents of Korean Cinema Today_Vision section. The winner’s cinematographer will be granted KRW 5,000,000 (approx. USD 4,300).
Chorokbam
Critic b Award
Critic b Award is given to one film chosen by Busan Film Critics Association among the selections in New Currents and Korean Cinema Today_Vision. The winner will receive a cash prize of 10 million KRW (approx. 8,500 USD) sponsored by Philip Morris Korea Inc.
Hot in Day, Cold at Night
Watcha Award
This award is established to support new directors in Korean cinema. Two Korean films chosen from New Currents and Korean Cinema Today-Vision will be given a cash prize of 10 million KRW (approx. 8,500 USD) respectively. This cash prize is sponsored by Watcha.
Through My Midwinter
The Apartment with Two Women
Citizen Critics' Award
Citizen critics from the Busan Cinematheque choose the best film from those screened in Korean Cinema Today_Vision section and its director is granted the award. The winner is awarded KRW 10,000,000 (approx. USD 8,500) for supporting the director’s next production. This cash prize is sponsored by Phillip Morris.
Chorokbam
Busan Cinephile Award
This award is given to the best Korean and Asian documentary film presented in the Wide Angle documentary showcase. The winner is awarded KRW 5,000,000 (approx. USD 4,300). The jury consists of college students, including numerous students from the cinema-related departments of six universities in Busan region, select the winner. This cash prize is sponsored by You Tube.
I′m So Sorry