BUSAN — Iranian director Majid Majidi's film "Bread and Book" won the grand prize at the Busan Awards, earning automatic entry for the international feature film category at the U.S. Academy Awards.
The top honor went to Majidi's film at the closing ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), held on the 15th at the Busan Cinema Center in the city's Haeundae district. "I always say that the main characters of our films are the audience," Majidi said, thanking everyone who watched the film. He dedicated the award to his mother, who died several months before filming began, and to the Iranian people defending their country under difficult circumstances. Majidi, whose film conveyed the brutality of war, closed his remarks by saying he hoped for a world without war. Starting this year, the grand prize winner qualifies for submission to the international feature film category at the Academy Awards.
Elsewhere, the directing award went to Li Yunchan for "To Be Ordinary," while the special jury prize went to Eddie Cahyono's "My Mother." The acting awards went to Zhou Xun for "Loneliness We First Met" and Himeno Kashun for "Satoko Always." Sound director Li Danfeng was named for the artistic contribution award for "Loneliness We First Met."
The Busan International Film Festival, in its 31st edition this year, wrapped up its 10-day run with the Busan Awards.