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.

The Korean Cinema Award is presented to cineastes that have made a notable contribution in the globalization of Korean cinema.

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 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.

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 (approx. USD 7,600) with the purpose of assisting their next production.

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 (approx. USD 7,600) to each director.

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 (approx. USD 3,800) each.

The Choon-yun Award was established in honor of the late Chairman of the Korean Association of Film Art & Industry, Lee Choon-yun. This award is given to one newly emerging producer with a cash prize of KRW 10,000,000 (approx. USD 7,600), sponsored by IOK Company.

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 (approx. USD 15,000) is awarded to the director.

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 (approx. USD 7,600) is awarded to the director.

This award is given to well-made works that reflect its experimental and progressive spirit, among those presented in the New Currents section.

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 LG OLED New Currents Award is given to an Asian feature film in the New Currents section, that demonstrates an innovation in visual aesthetics. The award recipient will be chosen by the New Currents jurors, and will be granted prizes sponsored by LG OLED including KRW 30,000,000 (approx. USD 22,500) cash award.

The LG OLED Vision Award is given to one Korean film in the Korean Cinema Today - Vision and New Currents section, that demonstrates an innovation in visual aesthetics. The award recipient will be granted prizes sponsored by LG OLED including KRW 30,000,000 (approx. USD 22,500) cash 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 (approx. USD 3,800). This cash prize is sponsored by Directors Guild of Korea and PLUS M.

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 (approx. USD 7,600) sponsored by CJ CGV.

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 10,000,000 (approx. USD 7,600). This cash prize is sponsored by KBS.

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 (approx. USD 3,800).

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 (approx. USD 7,600).

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 (approx. USD 7,600) respectively. This cash prize is sponsored by Aurora Media.

This award is established to support short film directors in Korean cinema. Two short films chosen from Wide Angle - Korean Short Competition section will be given a cash prize of KRW 5,000,000 (approx. USD 3,800). This cash prize is sponsored by Watcha.

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 (approx. USD 7,600) for supporting the director’s next production.

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 (approx. USD 3,800). The jury of college students, including numerous students from the cinema-related departments of six universities in Busan region, select the winner.