The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has concluded its ten-day run, marking a milestone year with the introduction of its newly established competitive section, the Busan Awards. The top prize for Best Film was presented to the Korean-Chinese director Zhang Lu for his latest work, Gloaming In Luomu.
A Prize for Poetic Cinema
Zhang Lu’s winning film follows a woman’s journey to the remote village of Luomu, in southwestern China, as she seeks to piece together the remnants of a past love with a boyfriend who vanished three years prior. Known for a style characterized by warmth and subtle humor, Zhang’s work was praised for its contemplative exploration of the meaning found in everyday life. The film was the unanimous choice of the jury.
Zhang, accepting the award, expressed a long-standing connection to the festival. “This is my second time standing on this stage — I received the New Currents Award here 20 years ago,” he recalled. “I hope to be back on this stage again for the festival’s 100th anniversary,” he added, to a standing ovation.
New Directors and Honored Veterans
The award for Best Director went to the Taiwanese actress and filmmaker Shu Qi for her directorial debut, Girl. Her film focuses on the challenging subject of domestic violence. Shu Qi, whose initial career was in acting, was grateful for the support of her peers.
Read more: ‘Genie, Make a Wish’: K-Drama Stars Kim Woo-bin and Suzy Reunite in a New Netflix Fantasy Rom-Com
“I’m especially grateful to director Hou Hsiao-hsien for supporting this film without hesitation,” she said. Addressing those who may have suffered similar pain, she added, “To every girl who carries emotional scars — I want to say, be brave, step out into the world, and move toward a brighter future.”
The festival’s Special Jury Award went to Funky Freaky Freaks, directed by Korea’s Han Chang-lok.
Other acting accolades were split. The Best Actor award was given to the actress Lee Jiwon for her performance in En Route To, while a second Best Actor award was presented to the male ensemble—Takumi Kitamura, Go Ayano, and Yuta Hayashi—for the Japanese feature Baka’s Identity. En Route To also captured the New Currents Award, one of BIFF’s most prestigious honors for emerging filmmakers.
The Busan Award for Artistic Contribution was presented to Liu Qiang and Tu Nan, the production designers for the Chinese film Resurrection, recognizing their visually groundbreaking work.
The Juries and the Festival’s Scope
The main competition jury was presided over by Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin. It included a diverse group of artists and industry professionals from across Asia and the U.S., including Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka-fai, Indian actor and filmmaker Nandita Das, and U.S.-based filmmaker Kogonada.
Read more: South Korea Selects Park Chan-wook’s ‘No Other Choice’ for Oscar Consideration
The BIFF executive committee held a press conference to review the results of this year’s event, noting that the introduction of the new competitive section successfully advanced their goal of elevating Asian cinema. The festival, which opened with Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, featured a total of 328 titles. Organizers reported that 175,889 people attended screenings, an increase of twenty thousand from the previous year.
