Iranian film 'Midday Meal' wins top honor at 31st BIFF
Summary
Iranian director Majid Majidi’s Midday Meal won the Best Film Award in Busan on Thursday. The honor was announced at the Busan Cinema Center during the closing ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival. The film became eligible for submission to the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film category and earned a 50 million won prize. BIFF recorded 200,043 attendees during its 10-day run.
Key Facts
- The seven-member jury unanimously selected Midday Meal from 13 films competing in the Busan Award section.
- Starting this year, the Busan Award grand prize winner automatically qualifies to submit for the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film category.
- Taiwanese director Lee Yun Chan won Best Director for To Be Ordinary, while Indonesian director Eddie Cahyono received the Special Jury Award for My Mother.
- BIFF’s attendance exceeded 200,000 for the first time since 2015, with organizers attributing the increase to an earlier opening day and five daily screenings.
Iranian director Majid Majidi, who won the Best Film Award at the 31st Busan International Film Festival with his film "Midday Meal," walks the red carpet during the closing ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center in Busan, Thursday. Yonhap
Iranian director Majid Majidi's "Midday Meal" won the Best Film Award, a grand prize at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on Thursday, securing a direct entry for consideration at the upcoming Academy Awards.
The top honor was announced during the closing ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center outdoor theater in Busan. Hosted solely by actor Yim Si-wan, the event wrapped up a 10-day festival run that began on Oct. 6.
Jury President Zhang Yimou praised "Midday Meal" as the ideal film and noted that all seven jury members agreed unanimously on the selection.
Starting this year, the grand prize winner under the Busan Award competition section automatically gains qualification to submit for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards. The Best Film Award also comes with a cash prize of 50 million won ($37,180).
The closing ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, hosted by actor Yim Si-wan, takes place at the Busan Cinema Center in Busan, Thursday. Yonhap
Receiving the award, Majidi expressed his gratitude to the festival. He said it was an honor to receive such a huge prize on his first visit to Busan, adding that the energy came from the love of his late mother.
"This award means everything to my journey," Majidi said during his acceptance speech.
The jury evaluated 13 invited titles in the competition section from across Asia, including Korea, Japan, China, Iran, Uzbekistan and Indonesia.
Other major honors under the Busan Award section went to prominent regional filmmakers. Taiwanese director Lee Yun Chan took home the Best Director Award for "To Be Ordinary." Indonesian director Eddie Cahyono won the Special Jury Award for "My Mother."
This year's festival recorded a total attendance of 200,043, marking the first time since 2015 that BIFF surpassed the 200,000 milestone. Organizers attributed the increase in audience numbers to moving the opening day from Wednesday to Tuesday and increasing daily screenings from four to five.
Read More
- Strong turnout, star power propel 31st BIFF into global spotlight
- Actor Michelle Yeoh sees endless possibilities after receiving BIFF award
- Busan Int'l Film Festival kicks off star-studded 10-day run
- 'The Assassin(s)' controversy divides viewers at Busan film festival
- Dad who wept over daughter's book brings 'Long, Long Night' to Busan
Explore More
- Q.
- Q.
- Q.