Busan International Film Festival
Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is accredited by FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations) as a Competitive Specialized Film Festival.
About
Busan International Film Festival (BIFF, previously Pusan International Film Festival, PIFF), held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan (also Pusan), South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia.
The first festival, held from 13 to 21 September 1996, was also the first international film festival in Korea. The main focus of the BIFF is to introduce new films and first-time directors, especially those from Asian countries.
The Busan International Film Festival has grown from Korea’s first international film festival to Korea’s largest, and has become a film festival loved by many filmmakers and audiences not only in Asia but also in the world.
Program Sections
Gala Presentation
Influential filmmakers and actors present their films in Busan to celebrate their artistic achievements.
Jiseok
A competition section for established Asian filmmakers with three or more feature films. The two best films are presented with the Kim Jiseok Award. The award was created in commemoration of the late Kim Jiseok, program director who devoted his life to nurture and support Asian cinema.
A Window on Asian Cinema
A peek into the various styles and visions within Asian Cinema, highlighting the latest films from well-established directors as well as the upcoming rookies of the industry. The audience can grasp the zeitgeist of Asian films of the year.
New Currents
A competition among up-and-coming Asian filmmakers’ first or second features that bestows two films with a New Currents Award. All films must be presented as World or International Premiere.
Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere
This section premieres the latest and representative selections of contemporary Korean mainstream commercial films with special public attractions and status.
Korean Cinema Today – Panorama
An introduction to the year’s most significant and popular Korean films, from commercial blockbusters to art house favorites.
Korean Cinema Today – Vision
A carefully selected lineup of Korean independent feature films of the year and a glimpse into the future of Korean cinema.
Korean Cinema Retrospective
A look back into the past that sheds light onto the history of cinema by spotlighting a Korean filmmaker who has made a significant contribution to the medium or one with a specific thematic oeuvre.
World Cinema
A showcase of the year’s non-Asian narrative features including the latest works from well-known filmmakers and international film festival awardees.
Flash Forward
A competition among non-Asian filmmakers’ first or second features that take an innovative and original approach to cinema. The winner is decided by the audience and awarded the Flash Forward Award.
Wide Angle
A section dedicated to outstanding short films and documentary films that offer broad cinematic viewpoints and distinct visions.
Open Cinema
A collection of new and internationally acclaimed films that offer an ideal mix of the popular with the artistic are screened at the hallmark outdoor theater.
Midnight Passion
A collection of horror, SF, and thriller films that are certain to keep diehard film fans awake throughout the night.
On Screen
Presentation of highly anticipated or most talked about drama series of the year.
Special Program in Focus
A special showcase of films by notable filmmakers or those working within a specific topic.
Awards
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.
Korean Cinema Award
The Korean Cinema Award is presented to cineastes that have made a notable contribution in the globalization of Korean cinema.
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 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.
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.
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 KRW 10,000,000 (approx. USD 8,500) with the purpose of assisting their next production.
Sonje Award
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 8,500) to each director.
Actor & Actress of the Year
The 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 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.
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.
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, KRW 10,000,000(approx. USD 8,500) is awarded to the director.
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.
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.
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.
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 winner will receive a cash prize of KRW 10,000,000 (approx. USD 7,400) sponsored by CJ CGV Arthouse.
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.
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).
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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