The 29th edition of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), one of Asia’s premier cinematic events, came to a grand close on October 11, 2024, with an awards ceremony celebrating exceptional achievements in global and Asian cinema.

The prestigious festival, held from October 2 to 11, 2024, at the Busan Cinema Center, showcased a diverse range of films from across the world, with a special focus on Asian filmmakers. Attended by jury members, filmmakers, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts, the festival highlighted both established talents and emerging voices in cinema.

The coveted New Currents Award, the festival's top honor for emerging Asian filmmakers, was jointly awarded to The Land of Morning Calm by South Korean director Park Ri-woong and MA - Cry of Silence, a multinational co-production by The Maw Naing. Both films received the $30,000 prize, with the jury led by Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof praising their creativity and cinematic excellence.

The Kim Jiseok Award, named after the late program director of BIFF, was shared by Village Rockstars 2 by Rima Das (India/Singapore) and Yen and Ai-LEE by Tom Lin Shu-Yu (Taiwan), each receiving $10,000 for their artistic achievements.

In the documentary category, the Mecenat Award was given to Works and Days from Taiwan and Another Home, a co-production between Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, and France. The Sonje Award for short films was awarded to Yurim (South Korea) and A Garden in Winter, a Japan-France co-production. Both awards carried a prize of $7,400.

The FIPRESCI Award, presented by the International Federation of Film Critics, went to Tale of the Land, a collaboration between Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Qatar, further underscoring the festival's global reach.

The NETPAC Award for promoting Asian cinema was also awarded to The Land of Morning Calm, which notably secured the Audience Award in the New Currents section, marking a major victory for South Korean cinema at this year’s festival.

BIFF 2024 featured 10 films in the New Currents competition and 28 films in the A Window on Asian Cinema section, with additional screenings highlighting world cinema, Korean cinema, and retrospectives. The festival also paid tribute to renowned Portuguese director Miguel Gomes and honored the late Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun with special screenings.

The event included industry programs such as the Asian Film Market, reaffirming Busan’s significance as a central hub for Asian cinema and global film discourse.

The 29th BIFF not only celebrated cinematic excellence but also provided a platform for cultural exchange and emerging talent, reinforcing its status as a leading festival in the international film community.