25th Busan International Film Festival

The 25th Busan International Film Festival took place on October 21 to 30, 2020 at the Busan Cinema Center in Busan, South Korea. A total of 192 films from 68 countries were screened at the festival, the numbers reduced from the previous edition.[1]

25th Busan International Film Festival
Official poster
Opening filmSeptet: The Story of Hong Kong
Closing filmJosee, the Tiger and the Fish
LocationBusan Cinema Center
Founded1995
Awards
  • New Currents Award:
  • A Balance by Harumoto Yujiro
  • Three by Pak Ruslan
  • Kim Jiseok Award:
  • Drowning In Holy Water by Navid Mahmoudi
  • The Slaughterhouse by Abbas Amini
No. of films192 films from 68 countries
Festival dateOctober 21–30, 2020
Busan International Film Festival

The festival was scheduled to be held on October 7–16, 2020, but was postponed due to concern over the spread of COVID-19 after Chuseok holidays. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the attendance of BIFF had been downsized and no international guests were invited to the festival. All outdoor events were also cancelled in order to prevent crowds.[2] The screening limit capacity were only up to 50 people. The judging of all films took place online.[3]

The most prestigious awards of the festival, New Currents, were handed to A Balance and Three.[4]

Juries

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New Currents

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Kim Jiseok Award

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BIFF Mecenat Award

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  • Nick Deocampo, Filipino director
  • Park Inho, South Korean film critic
  • Chalida Uabumrungjit, Thai archive director

Sonje Award

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  • Ifa Isfansyah, Indonesian director
  • Kim Yi-seok, South Korean film professor
  • Sharipa Urazbayeva, Uzbekistani director

Actor and Actress of the Year

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FIPRESCI Award

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  • Sanja Struna, Slovenian film critic
  • Sung Il-kwon, South Korean film critic
  • Alin Taciyan, FIPRESCI deputy secretary

NETPAC Award

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  • Riccardo Gelli, Florence Korean Film Festival director
  • Kim Kyoung-wook, South Korean film critic
  • Hassan Muthalib, Malaysian writer, film critic, and film historian

DGK Megabox Award

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  • Kim Ho-jun, South Korean director
  • Lee Sang-cheol, South Korean director
  • Cho Chang-ho, South Korean director

KBS Independent Film Award

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CGK&SamyangXEEN Award

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  • Nam Dong-keun, South Korean cinematographer
  • Park Jung-hun, South Korean cinematographer
  • Sung Seung-taek, South Korean cinematographer

Official selection

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Opening and closing films

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English title Original title Director(s) Production countrie(s)
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (closing film) ジョゼと虎と魚たち Kotaro Tamura Japan
Septet: The Story of Hong Kong (opening film) 七人樂隊 Ann Hui, Patrick Tam, Yuen Woo-ping, Johnnie To, Ringo Lam, Hark Tsui, Sammo Hung Hong Kong, China

Gala Presentation

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English title Original title Director(s) Production countrie(s)
In the Mood for Love 花樣年華 Wong Kar-wai Hong Kong, China
Love After Love 第一爐香 Ann Hui China
Minari Lee Isaac Chung United States
True Mothers 朝が来る Naomi Kawase Japan
Wife of a Spy スパイの妻 Kiyoshi Kurosawa Japan

Icons

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English title Original title Director(s) Production countrie(s)
A Night in Haifa Laila in Haifa Amos Gitai Israel, France
Another Round Druk Thomas Vinterberg Denmark
City Hall Frederick Wiseman United States
Days 日子 Tsai Ming-liang Taiwan
Dear Comrades! Дорогие товарищи Andrei Konchalovsky Russia
First Cow Kelly Reichardt United States
Hopper/Welles Orson Welles United States
Minamata Mandala 水俣曼荼羅 Kazuo Hara Japan
New Order Nuevo orden Michel Franco Mexico, France
Sun Children خورشید Majid Majidi Iran
Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue 一直游到海水变蓝 Jia Zhangke China
The Salt of Tears Le Sel des larmes Philippe Garrel France, Switzerland
The Woman Who Ran 도망친 여자 Hong Sang-soo South Korea
Undine Christian Petzold Germany, France

A Window on Asian Cinema

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English title Original title Director(s) Production countrie(s)
18 Kilohertz 18 килогерц Farkhat Sharipov Kazakhstan
200 Meters ٢٠٠ متر Ameen Nayfeh Palestine, Jordan, Qatar, Italy, Sweden
A'hr കയറ്റം Sanal Kumar Sasidharan India
All the Things We Never Said 生きちゃった Yuya Ishii Japan
Bittersweet बिटर स्वीट Ananth Narayan Mahadevan India
Captive नजरबंद Suman Mukhopadhyay India
Cleaners Glenn Barit Philippines
Coalesce Les affluents Jessé Miceli Cambodia, France
Death of Nintendo Raya Martin Philippines, United States
Drowning in Holy Water مردن در آب مطهر Navid Mahmoudi Afghanistan, Iran
Everyday Is a Lullaby Putrama Tuta Indonesia
Farida's 2000 Songs Фариданинг икки минг қўшиғи Yalkin Tuychiev Uzbekistan
Happy Old Year ฮาวทูทิ้ง..ทิ้งอย่างไรไม่ให้เหลือเธอ Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit Thailand
Killer Spider عنکبوت Ebrahim Irajzade Iran
Little Big Women 孤味 Joseph Chen-Chieh Hsu Taiwan
Living In Your Sky 空に住む Shinji Aoyama Japan
Mama 妈妈和七天的时间 Li Dongmei China, France
Matto's Bicycle Matto Ki Saikal M. Gani India
Milestone मील पत्थर - Milestone Ivan Ayr India
Ora, Ora Be Goin' Alone おらおらでひとりいぐも Shuichi Okita Japan
Sister Sister Chị Chị Em Em Kathy Uyen Vietnam
Soirée ソワレ Bunji Sotoyama Japan
Striding Into the Wind 野马分鬃 Wei Shujun China
The Disciple Chaitanya Tamhane India
The Paper Tigers Quoc Bao Tran Vietnam
The Salt in Our Waters নোনা জলের কাব্য Rezwan Shahriar Sumit Bangladesh, France
The Slaughterhouse کشتارگاه Abbas Amini Iran
There Is No Evil شیطان وجود ندارد Mohammad Rasoulof Iran, Germany
Tiong Bahru Social Club Bee Thiam Tan Singapore
Where Is Pinki? Pinki Elli? Prithvi Konanur India
Wind 随风飘散 Dadren Wanggyal China
Yellow Cat Сары мысық Adilkhan Yerzhanov Kazakhstan
Your Eyes Tell きみの瞳が問いかけている Takahiro Miki Japan
Highlighted titles and daggers (†) indicate Kim Joseok Award winners.

New Currents

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English title Original title Director(s) Production countrie(s)
A Balance 由宇子の天秤 Yujiro Harumoto Japan
A Leave 휴가 Lee Ran-hee South Korea
Bilesuvar Elvin Adigozel Azerbaijan, France
Butterfly on the Windowpane ऐना झ्यालको पुतली Sujit Bidari Nepal
Chnchik Aram Shahbazyan Armenia, Germany, Netherlands
Harami हरामी Shyam Madiraju India, United States
Money Has Four Legs ခြေလေးချောင် Maung Sun Myanmar
Snowball # ↓ 최선의 삶 Lee Woo-jung South Korea
Summer Blur 汉南夏日 Han Shuai China
Three Tpu Ruslan Pak Kazakhstan, South Korea, Uzbekistan
Highlighted titles and daggers (†) indicate New Currents winners.
Highlighted title and double-dagger (‡) indicate FIPRESCI Award winner.
Hashtag (#) indicates KTH Award winner.
Down-arrow (↓) indicates CGK&SamyangXEEN Award winner.

Korean Cinema Today

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Panorama

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English title Original title Director(s) Production countrie(s)
Beasts Clawing at Straws 지푸라기라도 잡고 싶은 짐승들 Kim Yong-hoon South Korea
CICADA 매미소리 Lee Chung-ryoul South Korea
Days of Green 청산, 유수 Shin Dong-il South Korea
Deliver Us from Evil 다만 악에서 구하소서 Hong Won-chan South Korea
Empty Body 인간증명 Kim Ui-seok South Korea
Everglow 빛나는 순간 So Joon-moon South Korea
Me and Me 사라진 시간 Jung Jin-young South Korea
More Than Family 애비규환 Choi Ha-na South Korea
Peninsula 반도 Yeon Sang-ho South Korea
Spring Song 스프링 송 Yoo Jun-sang South Korea
Steel Rain 2: Summit 강철비 2: 정상회담 Yang Woo-suk South Korea
The Man Standing Next 남산의 부장들 Woo Min-ho South Korea
Three Sisters 세자매 Lee Seung-won South Korea
Time to Hunt 사냥의 시간 Yoon Sung-hyun South Korea
Vestige 달이 지는 밤 Kim Jong-hwan, Jang Kun-jae South Korea

Vision

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English title Original title Director(s) Production countrie(s)
And There Was Light 온 세상이 하얗다 Kim Ji-seok South Korea
Beyond You 그대 너머에 Park Hong-min South Korea
Fighter 파이터 Jéro Yun South Korea
Good Person ‡ § 좋은 사람 Jung Wook South Korea
Limecrime 라임크라임 Lee Seung-hwan, Yoo Jae-wook South Korea
Our Joyful Summer Days 기쁜 우리 여름날 Lee Yu-bin South Korea
Our Midnight 아워 미드나잇 Lim Jung-eun South Korea
Short Vacation 종착역 Kwon Min-pyo, Seo Han-sol South Korea
The Slug 태어나길 잘했어 Choi Jin-young South Korea
Young Adult Matters ‡ # 어른들은 몰라요 Lee Hwan South Korea
Highlighted title and dagger (†) indicate NETPAC Award winner.
Highlighted titles and double-daggers (‡) indicate DGK MEGABOX Award winners.
Section sign (§) indicates CGV Arthouse Award winner.
Hashtag (#) indicates KTH Award winner.
Up-arrow (↑) indicates KBS Independent Film Award winner.

World Cinema

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English title Original title Director(s) Production countrie(s)
All Hands on Deck À l'abordage! Guillaume Brac France
Ammonite Francis Lee United Kingdom, Australia, United States
And Tomorrow the Entire World Und morgen die ganze Welt Julia von Heinz Germany, France
Beginning Დასაწყისი Dea Kulumbegashvili France, Georgia
Berlin Alexanderplatz Burhan Qurbani Germany
Death Knell Hil kanpaiak Imanol Rayo Spain
Digger Georgis Grigorakis Greece, France
Falling Viggo Mortensen Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark
Gagarine Fanny Liatard, Jérémy Trouilh France
I Carry You with Me Heidi Ewing Mexico, United States
I Met a Girl Luke Eve Australia
I Never Cry Jak najdalej stąd Piotr Domalewski Poland, Ireland
Ibrahim Samir Guesmi France
In the Dusk Sutemose Šarūnas Bartas Lithuania, France, Czech Republic, Serbia, Portugal, Latvia
La fortaleza Jorge Thielen Armand Venezuela, France, Netherlands, Colombia
La Verónica Leo Medel Chile
Listen Ana Rocha de Sousa United Kingdom, Portugal
Love Affair(s) Les choses qu'on dit, les choses qu'on fait Emmanuel Mouret France
Lowdown Dirty Criminals Paul Murphy New Zealand
Mandibles Mandibules Quentin Dupieux France, Belgium
My Favorite War Mans mīļākais karš Ilze Burkovska-Jacobsen Norway, Latvia
My Tender Matador Tengo miedo torero Rodrigo Sepúlveda Chile, Argentina, Mexico
Night of the Kings La Nuit des rois Philippe Lacôte Ivory Coast, France, Canada, Senegal
Nowhere Special Uberto Pasolini United Kingdom, Italy, Romania
Padrenostro Claudio Noce Italy
Passion Simple Danielle Arbid France, Belgium
Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time Felkészülés meghatározatlan ideig tartó együttlétre Lili Horvát Hungary
Quo Vadis, Aida? Jasmila Žbanić Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Romania, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, France, Norway, Turkey
Rascal Vaurien Peter Dourountzis France
Red Soil Rouge Farid Bentoumi France
Saint-Narcisse Bruce LaBruce Canada
She Dies Tomorrow Amy Seimetz United States
Shorta Anders Ølholm, Frederik Louis Hviid Denmark
Slalom Charlène Favier France
Spring Blossom Seize printemps Suzanne Lindon France
Teddy Ludovic Boukherma, Zoran Boukherma France
The Best Families Las mejores familias Javier Fuentes-León Peru, Colombia
The Death of Cinema and My Father Too מותו של הקולנוע ושל אבא שלי גם Dani Rosenberg Israel
The Third War La Troisième Guerre Giovanni Aloi France
The Works and Days (of Tayoko Shiojiri in the Shiotani Basin) C.W. Winter, Anders Edström United States, Sweden, Japan, United Kingdom
Tragic Jungle Selva Trágica Yulene Olaizola Mexico, France, Colombia
Zanka Contact Ismaël el Iraki France, Morocco, Belgium

Flash Forward

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English title Original title Director(s) Production countrie(s)
Beasts La terre des hommes Naël Marandin France
Emptiness Vacío Paúl Venegas Ecuador, Uruguay
Nadia, Butterfly Pascal Plante Canada
Palmyra Пальмира Ivan Bolotnikov Russia
Rival Rivale Marcus Lenz Germany
The Art of Dying Far Away A Arte de Morrer Longe Júlio Alves Portugal
The Macaluso Sisters Le sorelle Macaluso Emma Dante Italy
The Predators I predatori Pietro Castellitto Italy, France
Tigers Tigrar Ronnie Sandahl Sweden, Italy, Denmark
Trouble Will Find Us Alexander Milo Bischof United Kingdom
Highlighted title and dagger (†) indicate Flash Forward winner.

Wide Angle

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Korean Short Film Competition

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English title Original title Director(s) Production countrie(s)
Ava from My Class 연극 수업 Kang You-min South Korea, United States
Georgia 조지아 Jayil Pak South Korea
HERO 히로 Jang Jun-young South Korea
High Surf Expected 울렁울렁 울렁대는 가슴안고 Ahn Jae-hong South Korea
House of Heeji 희지의 세계 Lee Hyo-jung South Korea
Peace River 화천 Jang Min-joon South Korea
Snail 달팽이 Kim Tae-yang South Korea
The Migration-ship 이주선 Oh Yoo-bin South Korea
Tree 나무 Cho Hyun-suh South Korea
Where Does the Wind Come From? 바람 어디서 부는지 Kim Jee-hye South Korea
Wolves Lee Seung-wan, Choi Rack-won, Kim Ju-hyeong South Korea
Highlighted title and dagger (†) indicate Sonje Award winner.

Asian Short Film Competition

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English title Original title Director(s) Production countrie(s)
A Scarecrow Rajesh Prasad Khatri Nepal, France, Hong Kong, China
All the Time هرگز، گاهی، همیشه Shadi Karamroudi Iran
Bình Ostin Fam Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand
How to Die Young in Manila Petersen Vargas Philippines
Kanya கன்யா Apoorva Satish India, Czech Republic
Kids on Fire Kyle Nieva Philippines
Mountain Cat Shiluus Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir Mongolia, United Kingdom
Sunrise in My Mind ថ្ងៃរះក្នុងចិត្ Danech San Cambodia
The Cloud Is Still There 蓝蓝天空 Mickey Lai Malaysia
Transit Ariq Anam Khan Bangladesh, United Kingdom
Highlighted title and dagger (†) indicate Sonje Award winner.

Documentary Competition

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English title Original title Director(s) Production countrie(s)
Children of the Night Behrouz Nouranipour Iran
Fear(less) and Dear 誠惶(不)誠恐,親愛的 Anson Hoi Shan Mak Hong Kong, China
Mishima: The Last Debate 三島由紀夫vs東大全共闘 50年目の真実 Keisuke Toyoshima Japan
Sasang: The Town on Sand 사상 Park Bae-il South Korea
School Town King School Town King แร็ปทะลุฝ้า ราชาไม่หยุดฝัน Wattanapume Laisuwanchai Thailand
Self-portrait 2020 셀프-포트레이트 2020 Lee Dong-woo South Korea
Sewing Sisters 미싱타는 여자들: 전태일의 누이들 Kim Jung-young, Lee Hyuk-rae South Korea
Sister J 재춘언니 Lee Soo-jung South Korea
Song Hae 1927 송해 1927 Jéro Yun South Korea
The Art of Living in Danger Mina Keshavarz Iran, Germany
The Invisible Shore 无尽的航程 Zhao Qi China
When a Hen Crows 암탉이 울면 Dabin South Korea
Highlighted titles and daggers (†) indicate BIFF Mecenat Award winners.

Documentary Showcase

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English title Original title Director(s) Production countrie(s)
A Rifle and a Bag Cristina Haneș, Isabella Rinaldi, Arya Rothe India, Romania, Italy, Qatar
Candlelight Revolution 나의 촛불 Kim Eui-sung, Joo Jin-woo South Korea
City of Outlanders 군산전기 Moon Seung-wook, Yoo Ye-jin South Korea
Good Light, Good Air 좋은 빛, 좋은 공기 Im Heung-soon South Korea
Hong Kong Moments Bing Zhou China, Germany
Irradiated Irradiés Rithy Panh France, Cambodia
My Body Il mio corpo Michele Pennetta Switzerland, Italy
Notturno Gianfranco Rosi Italy, France, Germany
Speed of Happiness 행복의 속도 Park Hyuck-jee South Korea
The Fight Eli Despres, Josh Kriegman, Elyse Steinberg United States
The Mole Agent El agente topo Maite Alberdi Chile, United States, Germany, Netherlands, Spain
The Painter and the Thief Kunstneren og tyven Benjamin Ree Norway
Your Face 니얼굴 Seo Dong-il South Korea

Open Cinema

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English title Original title Director(s) Production countrie(s)
DAEMUGA 대무가: 한과 흥 Lee Han-jong South Korea
My Missing Valentine 消失的情人節 Chen Yu-hsun Taiwan
Soul Pete Docter, Kemp Powers United States
Summer of 85 Été 85 François Ozon France
The Asadas 浅田家! Ryōta Nakano Japan
The Ties Lacci Daniele Luchetti Italy

Awards

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The following awards were presented at the 25th edition:[5]

  • New Currents Award
    • A Balance by Yujiro Harumoto
    • Three by Ruslan Pak
  • Kim Jiseok Award
    • Drowning in Holy Water by Navid Mahmoudi
    • The Slaughterhouse by Abbas Amini
  • BIFF Mecenat Award
    • The Art of Living in Danger by Mina Keshavarz
    • Sister J by Lee Soo-jung
  • Sonje Award
  • Actor & Actress of the Year Award
    • Actor of the Year: Ji Soo for Our Joyful Summer Days
    • Actress of the Year: Lim Seong-mi for Fighter
  • Flash Forward Award
  • FIPRESCI Award
    • Summer Blur by Han Shuai
  • NETPAC Award
    • Fighter by Jéro Yun
  • DGK MEGABOX Award
    • Young Adult Matters by Lee Hwan
    • Good Person by Jung Wook
  • CGV Arthouse Award
    • Good Person by Jung Wook
  • KTH Award
    • Snowball by Lee Woo-jung
    • Young Adult Matters by Lee Hwan
  • KBS Independent Film Award
    • Limecrime by Lee Seung-hwan and Yoo Jae-wook
  • CGK&SamyangXEEN Award
    • Snowball – Cinematography by Lee Jae-u

References

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  1. ^ Suh, Jung-min (October 22, 2020). "2020 Busan International Film Festival to proceed in spite of pandemic". The Hankyoreh. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  2. ^ Noh, Jean (September 11, 2020). "Busan International Film Festival downsizes and postpones for two weeks". Screendaily. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  3. ^ Frater, Patrick (September 13, 2020). "Busan Film Festival to Shrink, Open With 'Septet: The Story of Hong Kong'". Variety. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  4. ^ Noh, Jean (October 30, 2020). "'A Balance', 'Three' take New Currents awards at Busan film festival closing". Screendaily. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  5. ^ Frater, Patrick (October 29, 2020). "'A Balance' and 'Three' Win Busan Festival's Competition Awards". Variety. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
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