History
The Asian Filmmaker of the Year
This award is granted annually to the Asian filmmaker or filmmaking organization who made the most significant contribution to the advancement of the Asian film industry and culture throughout the year. This year’s recipient is Kurosawa Kiyoshi, who has led popularity with a large body of films including Cure (1997), Pulse (2001), Bright Future (2002), and Wife of a Spy (2020). This year two of his latest films—Serpent’s Path (2024) and Cloud—will be screened as part of the Gala Presentation section.
KUROSAWA Kiyoshi
Japan | Director
Born in Kobe, 1955, Kurosawa Kiyoshi began making 8mm films at university and debuted with his commercial feature Kandagawa Pervert Wars (1983). Fixing his name as a key figure of the Japanese horror genre with the internationally acclaimed Cure (1997), Kurosawa directed a strong line of horror films including Pulse (2001), Loft (2005), Retribution (2006) and Creepy (2016). Yet rather than genre, it is the deeper philosophical concerns of human existence and piercing insights into modern Japanese society that lie at the heart of Kurosawa’s cinema, notably with Barren Illusions (1999), Bright Future (2002) and Tokyo Sonata (2008), the final having been awarded the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival 2008 and Best Film at Asian Film Awards 2009. To the Ends of the Earth (2019) was screened as the closing film at Locarno Film Festival 2019, and Wife of a Spy (2020) was awarded Silver Lion for Best Direction at Venice Film Festival 2020.
Korean Cinema Award
This award is presented to cineastes who have made a notable contribution towards the globalization of Korean cinema. This year the award will be presented to the late actor Lee Sun-kyun who passed away in 2023. Lee Sun-kyun was a significant and widely loved actor of his generation, and worked with major Korean directors including Bong Joon-ho and Hong Sangsoo.
LEE Sun-kyun
Korea | Actor
The late Lee Sun-kyun garnered attention for his role in Paju (2009), directed by Park Chan-ok. He went on to reach the pinnacle of his career as he received international acclaim for his role in Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite (2019), which was markedly the first Korean film to receive the Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival as well as winner of four awards at the Academy Awards. For 20 years, Lee Sun-kyun showed great depth in his acting, across a variety of genres, notable works including Our Sunhi (2013), A Hard Day (2014), The Advocate: A Missing Body (2015), The King’s Case Note (2016), Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning Rage (2019), Kingmaker (2022), Killing Romance (2023), Sleep (2023), and Land of Happiness. In 2024, he received a special award from Austin Film Critics Association.
Camellia Award
Throughout history, pioneering women around the world have made enormous contributions to the film industry in areas including direction, production, screenwriting, and cinematography. Today, their creative journeys, which dare to challenge traditional norms and modes of thinking, are a source of strength and inspiration, forging a path for future generations of women in the industry. Created in 2024 to celebrate the power of women in film, the Camellia Award is given to a prominent filmmaker or industry professional whose work has enhanced the status of women in the field. Selected by The Busan International Film Festival and CHANEL, the inaugural Camellia Award will be presented to Production Designer RYU Seong-hie.
RYU Seong-hie
Korea | Production Designer
Ryu Seong-hie, the first recipient of the award, is a prominent Korean Production Designer who majored in ceramics at Hongik and studied film at the American Film Institute (AFI). She has established a distinguished career through numerous works, including Memories of Murder (2003), Oldboy (2003), The Host (2006), Thirst (2009), The Front Line (2011), Ode to My Father (2014), Assassination (2015), Decision to Leave (2022) and more. Notably, she has frequently collaborated with director Park Chan-wook, and with The Handmaiden (2016), she became the first Korean to win the Vulcan Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, demonstrating the world-class level of Korean film art.
New Currents Award
The 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.
The Land of Morning Calm
The Land of Morning Calm demonstrates Park Ri-woong's impressive storytelling skills and ability for subtle emotional depth. The film explores the personal struggles of its characters while shedding light on the hardships of a rural coastal community. Through precise, deliberate pacing, Park navigates themes of economic uncertainty, loss, xenophobia, and societal prejudice, creating a narrative that never falters. The ensemble cast delivers terrific performances, portraying layered characters with nuance, while Park brings clarity to their inner turmoil and the broader social issues, resulting in a powerful, resonant drama.
MA – Cry of Silence
MA – Cry of Silence is honored for its courageous portrayal of resistance to historical and ongoing political challenges under Myanmar's political junta. Poetic and contemplative, using precise language and a clear understanding of the economy of means, the film illustrates both individual and collective awakening of female factory workers in solidarity and resistance in the face of being confined to an oppressive system and brutal working conditions. The Maw Naing's film powerfully advocates for human rights and dignity under pressure in a repressive regime, serving as an urgent call to action.
KIM Jiseok Award
The KIM Jiseok Award, Established in 2017, is to remember and honor the late KIM Jiseok who devoted his whole life to discovering and supporting the growth of Asian cinema. The award is given to the films in the competition category for the Korean and Asian directors who has directed more than 3 feature films, and two best films are selected and awarded a cash prize of USD 10,000 each sponsored by BIFF Supporters Associaton.
Village Rockstars 2
An honest poetic expression of everyday life, showing the harmony between nature and mankind through the struggles and gaze of a young girl.
Yen and Ai-LEE
An unfinishing and bold portrayal of a traumatic mother and daughter relationship with powerful, beautiful performances
BIFF Mecenat Award
The BIFF Mecenat Award is granted to the best documentary from Korea and Asia in Wide Angle competition section. The winner will be granted KRW 10,000,000 with the purpose of assisting their next production.
Works and Days
The Best Korean Documentary award in the Wide Angle section is presented to a film that is a cinematic portrait of our collective anxiety in the face of machines replacing humanity.
Another Home
The award for Best Documentary in the Wide Angle section is presented to a film that captures the spirit of a society in a state of revolution within the context of everyday life.
Sonje Award
The Sonje Award is given to the best Korean and Asian short films in the Wide Angle section, to assist them in producing the next project by providing KRW 10,000,000 to each director.
Yurim
In contrast to other short films that resemble Korean TV dramas, this film presented a profound contemplation on its structure as a short film, particularly in how it captures the actors through the camera and the deliberate choices of what to frame and what to exclude. The film delicately explores the themes of familial connections, fate and choice, and that the power to change our perspectives lies within ourselves. The world surrounding the two women resonates deeply, both emotionally and viscerally.
A Garden in Winter
This intricately crafted work beautifully captures the intersections of cultures, exuding a sense of wonder and softness. It illustrates a new form of relationship, where diverse individuals can unite towards a common goal without encountering. At the film’s final moments, it eloquently delivers the miraculous and beautiful instant through the language of cinema. A feeling of tranquility, reminiscent of the awe one feels while gazing at a river's gentle flow, infuses the entire film.
Actor of the Year
The Actor of the Year is the award to focus on the newcomer in the independent Korean films among the New Currents and Korean Cinema Today – Vision section. The renowned Korean actor and actress select one actor and one actress with outstanding performance. The winners will be awarded at the closing ceremony with a cash prize of KRW 5,000,000 each.
YOO Lee-ha
The Final Semester brings close to the audience the joys and sorrows of young laborers in Korea. The film delicately dissolves into the narrative the emotions of Chang-woo, Woo-jae, and Seong-min, cheering on and comforting our young friends who are entering the real world for the first time.
Actor Yoo Lee-ha managed to subtly portray the character of Chang-woo as a teenager becoming a breadwinner in today’s society. His manner of acting through his eyes and through word duly conveyed to the audience the troubles he was facing, and also his internal struggles. By showing how the character adapts to each setting of the workplace, school and home, Yoo Lee-ha through Chang-woo managed to represent how teenagers feel at the brink of graduating high school. I look forward to his acting, which shows a good balance of emotion - not too much, not too little.
PARK Seoyun
There are some childhood friends who you just cannot forget, even after not seeing them for so long, you remember ever so vividly their voice, their expression, their body language. And their feelings and mood. When an actor portrays a character, the message or the story might fade away in the audience’s mind over time, but if the character’s feelings can linger with the audience. It is as if the actor were to gift to the audience a new friend. Although I know the character is fictional, I feel as though I have made a new friend, Mi-jeong, through the actor.
Actor of the Year Special Mention
KIM See-eun
The face of Hwanhee | Korea
Seok-hee
Journey to Face Them | Korea
The Choon-yun Award
The Choon-yun Award was established in honor of the late Chairperson of the Korean Association of Film Art & Industry, Lee Choon-yun. This award is given to a promising producer or creator and includes a cash prize of KRW 10,000,000 (approximately USD 7,500), sponsored by NEXTWORLD Co., Ltd. This year’s winner of the Choon-yun Award is PARK Kwansu, CEO of Kirin Productions, who has participated in the production of Wonderland (2024), Ms. Apocalypse (2024) and An Old Lady (2020).
PARK Kwansu
CEO of Kirin Productions | Korea
Park Kwansu has built his career as a producer with many films and series, including Wonderland (2024), Ms. Apocalypse (2024), An Old Lady (2020), Kokdu: A Story of Guardian Angels (2019), Persona (2019), Marianne and Margaret (2017), Sa-kwa (2008) and more. He is a producer with excellent talent, capable of handling commercial films, independent films and even short films. And he is continuing to take on various attempts and challenges.
KB New Currents Audience Award
This award is given to the film that is most highly rated by festival audiences from the New Currents section. Sponsored by KB Kookmin Bank, KRW 20,000,000 is awarded to the director.
The Land of Morning Calm
Flash Forward Audience Award
This award is given to the film that is most highly rated by festival audiences from the Flash Forward section. Sponsored by BIFF Supporters Association, KRW 10,000,000 is awarded to the director.
Memories of a Burning Body
Documentary Audience Award
This award is given to the film that received the highest rating from festival audiences in the Wide Angle - Documentary Competition section. KRW 10,000,000 is awarded to the director.
K-Number
FIPRESCI Award
This award is given to well-made works that reflect its experimental and progressive spirit, among those presented in the New Currents section.
Tale of the Land
The winning film employs mesmerizing visual language to address the pressing issues of the broken harmony between humans and nature. By incorporating references to traditional culture, it transforms its story into a globally relatable message about the future. The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) prize is awarded to the film Tale of the Land by Loeloe HENDRA.
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 Land of Morning Calm
The film portrays the theme of discrimination faced by immigrant women in marriage in a broad and engaging way, well-crafted through a distinctive style. By the end, it leaves viewers with a sense of hope, reminding us of the importance of kindness and being good neighbors. It is a heartfelt thank-you for this uplifting reminder.
DGK PLUS M Award
The DGK PLUS M Award goes to two Korean films from the Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. Each winner will be granted KRW 5,000,000. This cash prize is sponsored by Directors Guild of Korea and PLUS M.
The Final Semester
The Final Semester is a piece that takes a step towards the world that we aspire for, leaping over dangerous obstacles that exist everywhere. The vision of the director which portrays not only the main characters but all the actors in a resilient manner gives us courage to step forward in the rough place that is the world. I send applause to the director, staff and actors who have created a work shining with courage and growth.
Red Nails
A debut feature which possesses the power to move the audience through subtlety and nuance. Hwang Seulgi’s delicate directing stands out as the ordinary characters craft compelling drama from their minimalistic relationships. We look forward to the forthcoming work of Director Hwang, who evokes empathy through the art of restraint.
CGV Award
This award was newly created in 2011 in collaboration with CJ CGV to shed new light on the Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. The winner will receive a cash prize of KRW 10,000,000 sponsored by CJ CGV.
Fragment
Fragment is a film that makes the audience contemplate upon who the real victim is, honing in on the family left behind in a murder case instead of focusing on the murderer and victim. For the well-structured story and fresh view as to how we can look at relationships, and anticipation for the director’s next project, this film has been selected as the recipient of the CGV Award.
KBS Independent Film Award
The 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 section to receive KRW 5,000,000. This cash prize is sponsored by KBS.
The Final Semester
We have yet to learn that the existence, which responds naturally when called, comes with obligations and responsibilities once we step into the outside world. The Final Semester serves as an excellent guide for young newcomers, gently navigating their way as they experience society. This work was unanimously selected by the jury.
CGK Award
The CGK Award, sponsored by Cinematographers Guild of Korea, is given to one Korean film from either New Currents or Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. The winner’s cinematographer will be granted KRW 5,000,000.
Waterdrop
The cinematographic language of Waterdrop expresses desire and anxiety beyond hope in a rough-textured yet at the same time delicate manner. The light was tuned long and short according to main character Su-yeon’s state of mind and location, and the camera movement was bold and challenging, bringing harmony between solid shadow and light of hope. Though not all of the selections could receive the award, they were brilliant works that duly prove the cinematographers’ passion and contemplation. I hope many works from the New Currents and Korean Cinema Today sections will be able to meet the audience in cinemas.
Lastly, we would like to thank Aputure Korea and ARRI Korea for the sponsorship.
Lastly, we would like to thank Aputure Korea and ARRI Korea for the sponsorship.
Critic b Award
Critic b Award is given to one film chosen by Busan Film Critics Association among the selections in the New Currents and the Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. The winner will receive KRW 10,000,000.
Inserts
Insert introduces a fresh vitality and rhythm that have been rare in recent cinema. Director Lee Jong-su skillfully builds upon the eccentric humor and bold timing seen in his previous works, while steering the characters in unpredictable directions. We hope this film can invigorate Korean cinema.
Chorokbaem Media Award
This award is established to support new directors in Korean cinema. Two Korean films chosen from the New Currents and the Korean Cinema Today - Vision section will be given a cash prize of KRW 10,000,000 respectively. This cash prize is sponsored by Chorokbaem Media.
Waterdrop
Through the suspense created by unexpected dialogues, the sharp yet nuanced directing challenges adults who mistake the children’s resilience to survive for cunning, provoking deeper questions about the nature of protection and responsibility. The depth in the performance of actors who played Su-yeon and Seon-yul is another element that adds astonishment to the film.
Fragment
The film’s sense of stability was impressive; it brought out the story’s power to its maximum capacity. Instead of defining victim versus murderer, the film focused on the turmoil of emotion which happens within that relationship, and that resilient race was especially powerful. I also look forward to the three actors who showed good harmony in this film.
Watcha Short Award
This award is established to support short film directors in Korean cinema. A short film chosen from Wide Angle - Korean Short Competition section will be given a cash prize of KRW 5,000,000. This cash prize is sponsored by Watcha.
Lost Target
This work stands out for the director’s exceptional talent for directly conveying the protagonist’s dilemma to the audience. The archery scene, which could have easily come across as static, is instead transformed into a gripping experience through the compelling script and sophisticated editing, leaving a lasting impact.
Songwon Citizen Critics' Award
Citizen critics from the Busan Cinematheque choose the best film from those screened in Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. The winner is awarded KRW 10,000,000 for supporting the director’s next production. This cash prize is sponsored by Songwon Foundation.
The Final Semester
The Last Semester tackles a relatable story through characters facing an important transition period in their lives. While the theme has its weight, the director manages to relay this in a calm and humorous manner. The direction and photography which walk alongside the actors, while also maintaining distance, makes the audience look forward to the characters’ tomorrow as they steady on through a string of hardships.
Busan Cinephile Award
This award is given to the best Korean and Asian documentary film presented in the Wide Angle documentary showcase section. The winner is awarded KRW 5,000,000. The jury of college students, including numerous students from the cinema-related departments of six universities in Busan region, select the winner.
No Other Land
This film depicts the small Palestinian village of Masafer Yatta, where residents have been stripped of their right to live. As suggested by the title No Other Land, not only the film depicts the story of residents who have lost their village, but also implies that in the face of ongoing threats of war, there is no longer land of safety. We all hope for a better life. Reflecting on their deprivation of the right to envision a future, we have chosen this work as the winner for capturing what should not be forgotten.
