31st Busan International Film Festival: Iran’s “Bread and Books” Takes Grand Prize; Director Calls for a World Without War [Comprehensive Report]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The 31st Busan International Film Festival concluded its nine-day journey by awarding the Grand Prize to Iranian master director Majid Majidi.

The closing ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) was held on the 15th at the Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan.

A total of 316 films were screened at this year’s Busan International Film Festival. Official selections included 247 films from 59 countries, among which a total of 103 films, including 93 world premieres and 10 international premieres, were shown for the first time to global or overseas audiences.

The competition section, newly established last year, entered its second edition this year. “Taeju on That Day” (Lim Ha-yeon, South Korea), “Between Two Lovers” (Hirosue Nanako, Japan), “The Day After Sunday” (Kato Takuya, Japan), “Loneliness at First Meeting” (Gou Yu, China), “Hill Roll” (Botir Abdurakhmanov, Uzbekistan), “Long Long Night” (Yeom Gyu-bok, South Korea), “Bread and Books” (Majid Majidi, Iran), “My Mother” (Edi Chahyono, Indonesia/Japan), “Satoko Is Always” (Okita Shuichi, Japan), “Names Carved in the Sea” (Yosep Anggi Noen, Indonesia), “Shaving” (Kim Jung-hoon, South Korea), “Silver Express” (Tanaka Miki, Japan), and “For the Sake of Being Ordinary” (Li Wenchan, Taiwan) were listed in the competition section.

In particular, this year’s Busan International Film Festival elevated its status by being selected as an A-list film festival accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). Accordingly, the winner of the Grand Prize in the competition section is granted eligibility to submit the work for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

The closing ceremony featured the awards presentation for the competition section, known as the “Busan Awards.” The Busan Award for Artistic Contribution went to Li Danfeng, who handled the sound for “Loneliness at First Meeting.” The New Currents Award was awarded to “Birds in the Dark” directed by Shashank Walia, while Lim Ha-yeon’s “Taeju on That Day” received a Special Mention from the New Currents Jury.

The Acting Award, presented to actors who delivered outstanding performances without distinction of gender or lead and supporting roles, went to Zhou Shun for “Loneliness at First Meeting” and Himeno Kasun for “Satoko Is Always.”

Jang Dong-gun, who served as the presenter for the Acting Award, offered heartfelt advice to his junior actors. He shared, “I have been an actor for over 30 years, but there are many times when I do not know if I have walked that path well. There is still much I do not know, and many times when I lack confidence.”

He continued, “Yet I believe the reason I keep walking this path is that the fear and excitement I feel when standing in front of the camera are still within me,” adding, “I hope that even amid the questions and doubts encountered on the road ahead, you will not lose yourselves and will quietly continue your steps.”

The Directing Award was won by Li Wenchan for “For the Sake of Being Ordinary,” while the Jury Special Prize went to director Edi Chahyono for “My Mother.”

The prestigious Grand Prize for Best Film was claimed by “Bread and Books,” directed by Iran’s Majid Majidi.

Director Zhang Yimou, who served as the jury president, announced the Grand Prize winner, praising it as “the ideal film I had in my heart” and “a wonderful work selected unanimously by all jury members.”

Upon taking the stage, Director Majid Majidi expressed his joy at receiving such an honor on his first attendance at the Busan International Film Festival, stating, “I dedicate this award to my family and the filmmakers who poured love into making our film.”

He further conveyed gratitude to the audience, saying, “The protagonist of our film is the audience. It is because you are here that a film can become a vibrant space. I make films filled with love.”

In particular, Director Majid Majidi shared moving remarks while recalling his late mother. He stated, “The protagonist of my film is my mother, because she is a hero in all our lives,” revealing, “I lost my mother a few months before starting this film.”

He added, “My mother supported me throughout my life. I am convinced that her energy and prayers influenced my films and became a great strength for me.”

His acceptance speech extended into a message to the Iranian people living under war and oppression. Director Majid Majidi stated, “I dedicate this honor to all the brave people of Iran and the Iranian citizens who have steadfastly held their ground without change.”

He emphasized, “For years, and even now, the Iranian people are resisting oppression. For the past 48 years, they have endured all kinds of harsh economic sanctions and pressure but have never surrendered.”

He continued, “All cities in our country were brutally attacked and bombed. On the first day of the war, a school in a village was attacked, and innocent students were harmed. Some bodies have not yet been found,” claiming, “More than 5,000 people lost their lives in this war.”

Director Majid Majidi raised his voice, asking, “What crime has our nation committed? Our nation simply wished to live independently; we are innocent,” declaring, “We will fight until the end to regain our independence.”

Finally, he concluded his acceptance speech with the message, “I wish for a world without war.”

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original