Official awards ofthe 31st Busan International Film Festival were announced in Korea and a grand prize the Best Film award in the established “Competition” of $37,000 was awarded to Iranian film “Midday Meal” directed by Majid Majidi.
According to the report of Mansour Jahani, an independent and international film journalist, the closing ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival was held, in Busan, Korea, and awards from various competitive sections, including the established “Competition”, Winners of New Currents Award, the “Vision” Asia section, Mecenat Documentary Award, Sonje Award, FIPRESCI Award “International Federation of Film Critics”, NETPAC Award, etc were presented to the winners.
Awards for the established “Competition”
The members of the jury for the established “Competition” at the 31st Busan International Film Festival who were; Zhang Yimou, director (China) – President of the Jury, Bi Gan, director (China), Samal Yeslyamova, actress (Kazakhstan), Kei Ishikawa, director (Japan), July Jung, director (Korea), Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, producer, head of project market and DANAFF talents at Da Nang Asian Film Festival (Vietnam) and Moon Choi, actress (Korea); announced their opinions as follows:
Best Film Award
The Best Film Award, including a cash prize of $37,000, to: “Midday Meal” directed by Majid Majidi (Iran).
Jury Commentary: Through its simple, restrained cinematic language, the film carries forward Majid Majidi’s longstanding humanistic vision and his deep understanding of and compassion for ordinary people facing difficult circumstances. What is most moving is that the weight of fate, which has loomed over the protagonist from the very beginning, ultimately spares him, only to claim another life—a loss that is even more heartbreaking. This tragic turn of fate gives the story the power of classical tragedy and a resonance that transcends time.
“Midday Meal” eligible to compete in the 2027 Academy Awards
By winning the Busan Grand Prize, “Midday Meal” is now eligible to compete in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards.
Special Jury Prize
The Special Jury Award for its Outstanding Cinematic Achievement, including a cash prize of $7,500, to “Ibuku” directed by Eddie Cahyono (Indonesia / Japan).
Best Director Award
The Best Director Award, including a cash prize of $15,000, to: Lee Yun Chan for directing the feature film “To Be Ordinary” (Taiwan).
Best Actor Award
The Best Actor Award, including a cash prize of $7,500, to Zhou Xun for acting in the “The First Taste of Loneliness” (China) and Kashun Himeno for their acting in the “Satoko Always” (Japan).
Artistic Contribution Award
The Artistic Contribution Award recognizes outstanding achievement in a technical or creative field other than directing or acting in Competition films, including; a cash prize of $7,500, to: LI Danfeng for Sound Director of the “The First Taste of Loneliness” (China).
The best film of the New Currents Award
The members of the jury of the New Currents Award in the 31st Busan International Film Festival, who were; Rima Das, director (India), Shan Zuolong, producer (China) and Shim Eun-kyung, actress (Korea); announced their opinions as follows:
The New Currents Award is presented to the most promising directorial debut from Competition section or Vision sections, which includes a cash prize of $15,000 to: “Birds in the Dark” directed by Shashank Walia (India).
Special Mention
Special Mention, to: “Beach Fictions” directed by Lim Hayeon, (Korea)
Mecenat Award
The jury members of the documentary of the BIFF Mecenat Award is given to exceptional Korean and Asian documentaries in Wide Angle Competition, which included; Rintu Thomas, director (India), Kim Taeil director (Korea) and Zhou Hao, director (China); announced their opinions as follows:
Best Korean Documentary
The Best Korean Documentary Award, including a cash prize of $7,500, to: “Can I Talk to You?” directed by Yi Seungjun (Korea).
Jury Commentary: What this film keeps at a distance, it holds most tenderly. Restrained yet warm, it lets girls at the world’s edge simply breathe. We cannot solve what they endure — but it refuses to let us look away.
Best Asian Documentary
The Best Asian Documentary, including a cash prize of $7,500, to: the feature-length documentary “Agaar” directed by Yang Bo (China / France).
Jury Commentary: Situated in the liminal yet very real space between the Internet and a grassland, this film portrays the resilience, heartbreaks and wit of a modern Mongolian family in a deeply moving narrative.
Special Mention
Special Mention to: “A Woman Dancing on the Waves” directed by Choi Se-dam, (Korea).
The Best Short Films of the Sonje Award
The members of the Sonje Award jury is given to exceptional Korean and Asian short films in Wide Angle Competition of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, which included; Lee Ran-hee director, actress (Korea), Abinash Bikram Shah, director and writer (Nepal) and Anuparna Roy, director and screenwriter (India); announced their opinions as follows:
Best Korean Short Film
The Best Korean Short Film, including a cash prize of $7,500, to: “Toe’s” directed by Yun Taerang (Korea).
Jury Commentary: “Toe’s” reveals the structures of exploitation and suffering in our society with sharp insight and symbolism. Delivering an engaging narrative, a rich blend of humor and emotional resonance, along with profound questions, it is a truly distinctive and standout short feature film.
Best Asian Short Film
The Best Asian Short Film Award, including a cash prize of $7,500, to: “Fatima” directed by Soroush Shahpouri (Iran).
Jury Commentary: For its tender portrait of a young woman navigating the boundaries between the life she is given by society and the life she quietly imagines, finding in a fleeting smile the beauty of a freedom not yet fully hers.
Special Mention
Special Mention, to: “The Boy Who Fell to Earth” directed by Jung Jaeseo (Korea)
The best film of the FIPRESCI Award
The jury members of the FIPRESCI award section of the International Federation of Film Critics in this artistic event included; Ma Xingxu, Film critic (China), ROH Chul-hwan, Film Researcher and Professor (Korea) and Teresa Vena, Film critic (Switzerland); presented the award for best film to: “Zogsool” directed by Sakhya Byamba (Mongolia / Germany).
The best film of the NETPAC Award
The jury members of the NETPAC Award the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema in this period of the festival, which were; Matthew Poon, Senior Project Manager, HKIFF Industry, (Canada), Nina Kochelyaeva, Head of Department for the Development and Approbation of Film Education Methods at VGIK (Russia) and Lee Dongha, CEO of REDPETER FILMS, Chairperson of the Producers Guild of Korea (PGK) from (Korea); presented the Best Film award in this category to: “Zogsool” directed by Sakhya Byamba (Mongolia / Germany).
Vision Asia Award
The Vision Asia Award, including a cash prize of $7,500, was presented by the International Film Festival of India to: “The Cord” directed by Darkhan Tulegenov (Kazakhstan).
Flash Forward Audience Award
The Flash Forward Audience Award is given to the film that receives the highest audience acclaim in the Flash Forward section. Sponsored by BIFF Supporters Association, this award includes a cash prize of $7,500 and was presented to: “La Bola Negra” directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi (Spain / France).
The Asian Filmmaker of the Year
The Asian Filmmaker of the Year is presented to an Asian filmmaker who has made exceptional contributions to the advancement of the Asian film industry and culture throughout the year. This year’s recipient is Michelle Yeoh, a trailblazer who has made film history through works including Yes, Madam! (1985), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Reign of Assassins (2010), Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), and Wicked (2024).
Michelle Yeoh as a leading figure in Asian cinema
Born in 1962, Michelle Yeoh made her debut with Yes, Madam! (1985) and began to establish herself as a leading figure in Asian cinema. She rose to global prominence with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), followed by her Oscar-winning lead performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). In 2026, she became the first Asian actress to receive the Honorary Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Her recent screen credits include A Haunting in Venice (2023), Wicked (2024), and Star Trek: Section 31 (2025), as she relentlessly expands her defining presence on the global stage.
Korean Cinema Award
The Korean Cinema Award is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Korean cinema and its recognition worldwide. This year’s honoree is Kim Dong-ho, former chairperson of the Busan International Film Festival, who laid the groundwork for BIFF and guided its growth as its founding festival director. Through his work, he has served as a bridge connecting Korean and Asian cinema with the international film community.
Camellia Award
The Camellia Award, jointly established in 2024 by the Busan International Film Festival and CHANEL, is presented to filmmakers or industry professionals who challenge traditional norms and ways of thinking while advancing the status of women in cinema. This year’s recipient is Ann Hui, a director, screenwriter and producer who has built a reputation as one of Asia’s foremost filmmakers, with a legacy extending far beyond the region.
Master Class
The Master Class is an official program event at the Busan International Film Festival, in which a distinguished maestro reflects on his life and world of cinema. A premier program reflecting on the artistic vision and lifelong cinematic journey of world-renowned masters of film art.
This year, Na Hong-jin discussed “A Genre of His Own”, The Cinematic Visions of Alfonso Cuarón, Lav Diaz discussed “Time and Memory” and Bertrand Mandic, A Magician of Wild Cinema; they shared their latest lasting experiences with cinema enthusiasts.
Busan is one of the largest and most important film festivals in Asia
The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is one of the largest and most important film festivals in Asia and is one of the 22 festivals approved by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). This prestigious film event is held annually with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea, the Busan City Government, and the Korean Film Council.
The festival opens with the Korean film “The Table: Day and Night”
The 31st Busan International Film Festival opened with the screening of the Korean film “The Table: Day and Night” directed by Kim Jong-kwan.
Films from filmmakers from around the world
The 31st Busan International Film Festival, showing 169 works from 31 countries of the world in several competition, including; the newly established “Competition”, New Currents Award, Wide Angle competition, the Vision Asia, Mecenat Award, Netpac Award, Sonje Award, FIPRESCI Award as well as out of competition including; A Window on Asian Cinema, Gala Presentation, Open Cinema, Icons, On Screen, Special Program, World Cinema, Korean Cinema Today, Flash Forward, the Asian Film Academy, the Special Screening, Asian Cinema Fund, Asian Film Market etc, it was held from September 6 to September 15, 2026, at the Busan Cinema and other cinemas in Busan, Korea.
Credit images from the website of the Busan Film Festival
For more details:
https://www.biff.kr/eng/addon/10000001/page.asp?page_num=11121
