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History
New Currents Award
New Currents Award is given to the two best feature films selected from the first or second works of new Asian directors introduced in the New Currents section (a competitive section of BIFF for Asian films). A grand prize of 30,000 USD 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 Donor
Knife in the Clear Water
Special Mention
Parting
BIFF Mecenat Award
This award is granted to the best Korean and Asian documentary pictures in the Wide Angle Competition section. Winners are granted 10,000,000 KRW (approx. 10,000 USD) each with the purpose of assisting in their next production.
Neighborhood
The Crescent Rising
Sonje Award
This award is granted to the best Korean and Asian short films in the Wide Angle Competition section. Winners are granted 10,000,000 KRW (approx. 10,000 USD) each with the purpose of assisting in their next production.
Viewer
Off-season
Special Mention
The Doomed Way
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. 5,000 USD) each.
Jane
Jane
KNN Award
This award is given to the film that gained most acclaim from festival audiences, among the films introduced in the New Currents section. The award is granted by the KNN foundation and its winner is awarded 20,000 USD.
In Between Seasons
Busan Bank Award
This award is given to the film that is most highly rated by festival audiences. Approximately 10 films from the Flash Forward section are selected beforehand to participate in this competition. A total of 20,000 USD is granted by the BNK Busan Bank. 10,000 USD is awarded to the director and the other half is used to support the distribution of the film in Korea. BIFF character, Pine Tree sign , will be marked next to the eligible candidates.
Night of a 1000 Hours
Citizen Critics’ Award
Citizen critics from the Busan Cinematheque choose the best film from those screened in the Korean Cinema Today Vision section and its director is granted the award. The winner is awarded 10,000,000 KRW (approx. 10,000 USD) with the purpose of assisting in their next production.
Jamsil
Vision-Director’s Award
The Vision-Director's Award is given to 2 directors who have shown the most outstanding production skills, a prize of KRW 5,000,000 (approx. USD 5,000) will be given as a part of the award. The prize money is sponsored by MEGABOX,Inc.
Autumn, Autumn
Hyeon’s Quartet
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 award aims to provide independent films, indie films, new films, and low budget films with distribution and screening opportunities.
Jane
Busan Cinephile Award
This award is given to the best world documentary film presented in the Wide Angle Documentary Showcase. The winner is awarded 5,000,000KRW (approx. 5,000 USD). The jury consists of college students, including 70 students from the cinema-related departments of 7 universities in Busan region.
The Apology
Daemyung Culture Wave Award
Sponsored by Daemyung Group to promote Korean independent films. The award with KRW 20,000,000 (approx. USD 20,000) grant goes to a Korean film from Korea Cinema Today-Vision and New Currents. Daemyung Holdings will also distribute the winning film.
Yongsoon
NETPAC Award
This award is given to the year’s best Korean film from either the New Currents or the Korean Cinema Today Vision section. NETPAC is an international organization founded in 1990 devoted to the expansion of Asian film distribution and screening.
Merry Christmas Mr. Mo
FIPRESCI Award
The FIPRESCI Award is awarded to well-made works that reflect its experimental and progressive spirit, among those presented in the New Currents section.
White Ant
The Asian Filmmaker of the Year
This award is granted to the Asian filmmaker who has made the most significant contribution to the advancement of Asian film industry and culture throughout the year.
Abbas KIAROSTAMI
Director | Iran
Born in 1940 in Tehran, Iran, Abbas Kiarostami majored in Art at university and worked in visual graphics, including title design and film advertising. He made his first short film,The Bread and Alley (1970) and in 1974, he made his first feature filmThe Traveller(1974). In 1997, he was awarded the Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival and became a world renowned filmmaker.
He passed away July 4th 2016. His legacy will include 3 year dedication to his posthumous film, 24 Frames. Abbas Kiarostami is also famous for his work, Where Is The Friend’s Home? (1987), Close Up(1990), And Life Goes On… (1991), The Wind Will Carry Us(1990), Shirin (2008),Certified Copy(2010) and Like Someone in Love(2012).
Korean Cinema Award
This award is granted to the notable figure that has made significant contribution in promoting Korean cinema worldwide.
Laurence HERSZBERG
Director-general of Forum des Images | France
Laurence Herszberg received a master’s degree in Political Science and Public Law in Paris; after, she completed her postgraduate program in European Law in Bruges, Belgium. In 1987, she assembled 15 countries and established a French Theatre Festival in Quebec, for the International Summit of French Speaking Nations as manager of the Théâtre international de langue française. In addition, in 2000, she worked as a professor at l'institut d'etudes politiques de Paris, and as a member of the Vivendi Universal Group. In 2005, she created an International Pocket Films Festival, then in 2010, she created the famous Festival Series Mania, the biggest international series festival of the genre. She has been working as the Director-general of the Forum des Images since 2002.