The 26th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) ended on Oct. 15, wrapping up as the first international event in South Korea to be held during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Strict health and safety protocols were implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It opened on Oct. 6 with over 1,000 attendees who tested negative within 72 hours before the event or who got a second dose of the vaccine 14 days before the ceremony.
Theaters were operated at 50 percent capacity and the BIFF recorded a seat occupancy rate of 80 percent.
Last year, the BIFF did not invite foreign guests due to COVID-19 but this year, a small number of international guests attended the festival including directors Hamaguchi Ryusuke and Leos Carax.
A total of 223 films from 70 countries were chosen as official selections for the BIFF. The festival drew 76,072 moviegoers.
The Asian Project Market and the E-IP Market, which were held on-site for Koreans and online for foreign participants, recorded over 1,300 meetings, the highest in its history.
Here are the winners at the 26th Busan International Film Festival:
Awards
New Currents Award
“Farewell, My Hometown” - Wang Er Zhuo, China
“The Apartment with Two Women” - Kim Se-in, Korea
Kim Jiseok Award
“The Rapist” - Aparna Sen, India
‘Gensan Punch” - Brillante Mendoza, Philippines/Japan
Special Mention - “The Bargain” - Wang Qi, China
BIFF Mecenat Award
Winner-Korea 206: “Unearthed” - Heo Chul-nyung, Korea/Thailand
Winner-Asia Self-Portrait: “Fairy Tale in 47km” - Zhang Mengqi, China
Sonje Award
“A Winter Glove” - Lee Hyeonju, Korea
“The Sea Calls for Me” - Tumpal Tampubolon, Indonesia
Special Mention - “Sarira” - Li Mingyang, China
Actor and Actress of the Year
Actor of the Year- Kwon Daham - “Through My Midwinter,” Korea
Actress of the Year - Im Jee-ho - “The Apartment with Two Women,” Korea
KB New Currents Audience Award (Voted by the Audience)
“The Apartment with Two Women” - Kim Se-in, Korea
Flash Forward Audience Award (Voted by the Audience)
“Mass “ - Fran Kranz, US
FIPRESCI Award
“Seire” - Park Kang, Korea
NETPAC Award
“The Apartment with Two Women” - Kim Se-in, Korea
DGK MEGABOX Award
“Through My Midwinter” - Oh Seongho, Korea
“A Lonely Island in the Distant Sea,” Kim Miyoung, Korea
CGV Arthouse Award
“Chorokbam” - Yoon Seo-jin, Korea
KBS Independent Film Award
“Hot in Day, Cold at Night” - Park Songyeol, Korea
CGK Award
“Chorokbam” - Choo Kyeong-yeob, Cinematographer, Korea
Critic b Award
“Hot in Day, Cold at Night” - Park Songyeol, Korea
Watcha Award
“Through My Midwinter” - Oh Seongho, Korea
“The Apartment with Two Women” - Kim Se-in, Korea
Citizen Critics’ Award
“Chorokbam” - Yoon Seo-jin, Korea
Busan Cinephile Award
“I’m So Sorry” - Zhao Liang, Hong Kong, China/France/Netherlands