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- 1st (1996)
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. This year’s awardee is Tony Leung, an actor who has starred in numerous prominent films such as A City of Sadness (1989), Chungking Express (1994), Happy Together (1997), In the Mood for Love (2000), and Infernal Affairs (2002), and actively leads Hong Kong films on the global stage.
Tony LEUNG
Actor | Hong Kong, China
Tony Leung Chiu Wai is an actor and singer from Hong Kong, who is internationally recognized as one of Asia’s most accomplished actors. Well-known for his roles in Chungking Express (1994), Happy Together (1997), and In the Mood for Love (2000), all directed by Wong Kar Wai, he has also appeared in three Golden Lion winners of the Venice International Film Festival: A City of Sadness (1989), Cyclo (1995), and Lust, Caution (2007). Furthermore, Leung built his filmography by starring in Hero (2002), which was a nominee for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards 2003, Infernal Affairs (2002), and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021). Since the beginning of his career in the 1980s, he has received numerous awards. Along with winning the Best Actor at Cannes Film Festival 2000, he is a five-time winner at the Hong Kong Film Awards and a three-time winner at the Golden Horse Film Awards; and he holds the record for the most awards in the Best Actor category.
Korean Cinema Award
The Korean Cinema Award is presented to cineastes that have made a notable contribution in the globalization of Korean cinema.
Goran TOPALOVIC
Co-Founder of the New York Asian Film Festival | United States
For over 20 years, Goran Topalovic has been among the leading proponents of Korean Cinema in the US as a festival organizer, film curator, and writer. He’s the founding member and board director of Subway Cinema, a New York-based non-profit arts and culture organization, which was among the first in America to bring attention to Korean cinema. Goran is also the co-founder, former programmer, and executive director of the annual New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF). During his 14 years at NYAFF, he was the driving force behind making Korean cinema into one of the pillars of the festival’s program, screening over 100 films. He was instrumental in organizing retrospectives on Korean actors such as Choi Min-sik and Lee Jungjae, and has led on-stage conversations with Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon Ho, and other leading filmmakers. Recently, Goran worked with Film at Lincoln Center on Relentless Invention: New Korean Cinema, 1996-2003 retrospective and curated a New Korean Cinema program on the Criterion Channel.
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 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.
a Wild Roomer
Shivamma
KIM Jiseok Award
The KIM Jiseok Award, newly established in 2017, is to remember and honor the late KIM Ji-seok 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.
Scent of Wind
Alteration
BIFF Mecenat Award
The BIFF Mecenat Award is granted to the best documentary from Korea and Asia in Wide Angle competitive section.
The winner will be granted 10,000,000 KRW.
A Table for Two
The Football Aficionado
BIFF Mecenat Award Special Mention
Dear Mother, I Meant to Write about Death
Sonje Award
The Sonje Award is given to the best Korean and Asian short films in the Wide Angle section, providing 10,000,000 KRW to each director.
Southern Afternoon
I’m Here
Sonje Award Special Mention
Other Life
Actors of the Year
Actors 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 section. 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 a cash prize of KRW 5,000,000 (approx. USD 4,300) each which is sponsored by BIFF Supporters Association.
KIM Youngsung
Big Sleep | Korea
Jury Comment
It has been a wonderful time watching the splendid films at the 27th Busan International Film Festival, appropriate to the stature of the festival. Watching the impressive acting of the Actors of the Year candidates as a jury member, I was able to take the chance to ruminate my own acting, as well as become aware of the numerous hidden gems in our films, who have yet to be discovered. I send my congratulations to the awardee and hope that the Busan International Film Festival may shine brighter as a festival for us all.
KIM Geumsoon
Star of Ulsan | Korea
Jury Comment
I wish to send a big round of applause to Kim Geumsoon, who displayed an Ulsan-sea-like acting, wide and deep, and also blame my ignorance for being unaware of such brilliant talent. She is an amazing actress, young and refreshing, who is worthy of wide recognition and high acclaim this year.
The Choon-yun Award
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 10,000,000 KRW, sponsored by IOK Company. Producer Baek Jaeho, who participated in the production of Snowball (2021), was selected as the recipient of the first edition of the Choon-yun Award.
BAEK Jaeho
Producer | Korea
Baek Jaeho started his career as a producer after participating in numerous films and drama series as minor, supporting roles. After participating in Ordinary Days (2012) as producer, cinematographer, and actor, he was the producer for Santa Barbara (2013) and Jane (2016). Baek made his directorial debut with We Will Be Ok (2014) and went on to create his second directorial production, The Goose Goes South (2018). In addition to Snowball (2021), producer Baek Jaeho showed his range by participating in various independent films such as Jane (2016)and Moments of Role (2021). Furthermore, his talents in various positions, from actor and director to full-time writer for IndieForum, received much attention.
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 (approx. USD 18,000) is awarded to the director.
The Winter Within
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, 10,000,000 KRW is awarded to the director.
Riceboy Sleeps
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.
Thousand and One Nights
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.
a Wild Roomer
DGK MEGABOX Award
The DGK MEGABOX Award goes to two Korean films from the Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. Each winner will be granted KRW 5,000,000 (approx.USD 3,700). This cash prize is sponsored by Directors Guild of Korea and Megabox.
Big Sleep
Star of Ulsan
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 (approx. USD 7,400) sponsored by CJ CGV.
Greenhouse
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 sections to receive KRW 10,000,000 (approx. USD 7,400). This cash prize is sponsored by KBS.
a Wild Roomer
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 (approx. USD 4,300).
Hail to Hell
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. The winner will receive KRW 10,000,000 (approx. USD 7,400).
a Wild Roomer
Watcha 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 (approx. USD 7,400) respectively. This cash prize is sponsored by Watcha.
Peafowl
Greenhouse
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 (approx. USD 3,700). This cash prize is sponsored by Watcha.
Other Life
Aurora 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 (approx. USD 7,400) respectively. This cash prize is sponsored by Aurora Media.
Greenhouse
Big Sleep
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 (approx. USD 7,400) for supporting the director’s next production. This cash prize is sponsored by Johnnie Walker.
Birth
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 (approx. USD 4,300). The jury 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 CANADA GOOSE.
While We Watched