[Dispatch=Reporter Jung Tae-yoon] Iranian film "Bread and Books" (directed by Majid Majidi) won the Busan Award Grand Prize.
The closing ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) was held on the 15th at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan. It was hosted solely by actor Lim Si-wan.
The results of the Busan Award judging in the competition section were announced that day. The Grand Prize went to "Bread and Books." Director Majid Majidi is known for his representative work "Children of Heaven."
"Bread and Books" depicts the story of teacher "Solan." It sheds light on the dark side of society through his struggle to protect the school while living as a teacher by day and an oil smuggler by night.
The Busan International Film Festival was added to the "A-List" alongside the world's three major film festivals this year. "Bread and Books," the Grand Prize winner, has earned eligibility for submission to the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
Director Majidi said, "A few months before filming this movie, I lost my mother," and "Thanks to the energy my mother gave me, it seems I received such a great award." He continued, "I dedicate this glory to the Iranian people. They continue to resist oppression," and expressed his hope that "a world without war will come."
The Jury Special Prize was awarded to "My Mother" directed by Edy Chaho. The Director's Award went to "To Be Ordinary" directed by Li Won-chan.
The Acting Award was received by Zhou Xun from "The Loneliness We Met First" and Himeno Kasun from "Satoko is Always." The Artistic Contribution Award was taken by Li Danfeng (sound) from "The Loneliness We Met First."
The New Currents Award was given to "Birds in Darkness" directed by Shaashank Walia and "Tae-joo That Day" directed by Lim Ha-yeon.
This year's Busan International Film Festival screened 315 films. An audience of 200,043 attended over ten days. This is the first time the festival's audience has exceeded 200,000 since 2015.
<Photo source=Film poster, Dispatch DB>
