The 30th Busan International Film Festival announces its 2025 award winners

Mansour Jahani - Official awards of the 30th Busan International Film Festival were announced in Korea and a grand prize the Best Film award in the newly established “Competition” of USD 35,000 was awarded to Chinese film “Gloaming in Luomu” directed by ZHANG Lu. 

According to the report of Mansour Jahani, an independent and international cinema journalist, the closing ceremony of the 30th Busan International Film Festival was held on Friday night, September 26, 2025, in Busan, Korea, and awards from various competitive sections, including the newly established “Competition”, Winners of New Currents Award, the “Vision” Asia section, Mecenat Documentary Award, Sonje Award, FIPRESCI Award “International Federation of Film Critics”, NETPAC Award, etc were presented to the winners.

Awards for the newly established “Competition” 

The members of the jury for the newly established “Competition” at the 30th Busan International Film Festival who were; NA Hong-Jin, director, screenwriter and producer (Korea) - President of the Jury, Tony LEUNG Ka-fai, actor (Hong Kong), Nandita Das, director and actress (India), Marzieh Meshkini, director (Iran), Kogonada director (United States), Yulia Evina Bhara, producer (Indonesia) and HAN Hyo-joo, actress (Korea) announced their votes as follows:

The Best Film Award, including a cash prize of $35,000, to: “Gloaming in Luomu” by ZHANG Lu (China).

The Best Director Award, including a cash prize of $14,000, to: Shu Qi for directing the feature film “Girl” (Taiwan).

Special Jury Prize

The Special Jury Award for its Outstanding Cinematic Achievement, including a cash prize of $7,000, to “Funky Freaky Freaks” by Han Chang-lok (Korea).

The Best Actor Award, including a cash prize of $7,000, to LEE Jiwon for acting in the “En Route To” (Korea) and KITAMURA Takumi, AYANO Go and HAYASHI Yuta for their acting in the “BAKA′s Identity” (Japan).

The Artistic Contribution Award recognizes outstanding achievement in a technical or creative field other than directing or acting in Competition films, including; a cash prize of $7,000 jointly to: LIU Qiang and TU Nan for Production Designer of the “Resurrection” (China, France).

The members of the jury of the New Currents Award in the 30th Busan International Film Festival, who were; Jessica Kiang Festival Programmer of the Berlinale International Film Festival (Ireland), Alexandre Koberidze, director (Georgia) and OH Seung Uk, director (Korea), announced their votes as follows:

The New Currents Award is presented to the most promising directorial debut from Competition section or Vision sections, which includes a cash prize of $14,000 to: “En Route To” by YOO Jaein (Korea).

The jury members of the documentary of the Mecenat Award in the Wide Angle competition, which included; ITO Shiori, director (Japan), KIM Mire, documentary filmmaker (Korea) and Basil Tsiokos, Senior Programmer of Sundance International Film Festival (United States); announced their votes as follows:

The Best Korean Documentary Award, including a cash prize of $7,000, to: “Raining Dust” by KIM Taeil and JU Romi (Korea).

The Best Asian Documentary, including a cash prize of $7,000, to: the feature-length documentary “Singing Wings” by Hemen Khaledi (Iran, Georgia, Belgium).

Special Mention, to: “Relay Race” by KO Hyoju, (Korea).

The members of the Sonje Award jury in the Wide Angle competition of the 30th Busan International Film Festival, which included; Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, director (Thailand), BYUN Young-joo, director (Korea) and LEE Hong-chi, director and actor (Taiwan), announced their votes as follows:

The Best Korean Short Film, including a cash prize of $7,000, to: “It Sounds Louder on Rainy Days” by Kim Sang-yun (Korea).

The Best Asian Short Film Award, including a cash prize of $7,000, to: “Delay” by WANG Han-xuan (China).

Special Mention, to: “INTERFACE” by KAWAZOE Aya )Japan.(

The jury members of the FIPRESCI award section of the International Federation of Film Critics in this artistic event included; Narendra Bandabe, a film critic, Contributor ABP Network )India(, Sofía Ferrero Carrega, a film critic )Argentina(, and Kim Meehyun, Visiting Professor, Sungkyunkwan University )Korea(, presented the award for best film to: “On Your Lap” by Reza Rahadian (Indonesia, Saudi Arabia).

The jury members of the NETPAC Award the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema in this period of the festival, which were; Diana Ashimova, producer (Kazakhstan), BAEK Jaeho, Chairman of the Association of Korean Independent Film & Video (KIFV) and TENG Lee Yein, director (Malaysia), presented the Best Film award in this category to: “Malika” by Natalia Uvarova (Kazakhstan, Moldova, Ireland).

The Vision Asia Award, including a cash prize of $7,000, was presented by the International Film Festival of India to: “Black Rabbit, White Rabbit” by Iranian filmmaker Shahram Mokri (Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates).

KB Vision Audience Award is given to an Asian film in Vision section that receives the highest audience votes, including a cash prize of $14,000, to: “On Your Lap” by Reza Rahadian (Indonesia, Saudi Arabia).

The Award is presented to an Asian filmmaker who has made exceptional contributions to the advancement of Asian film industry and culture throughout the year. This year’s recipient is Jafar Panahi, whose powerful body of work, including The White Balloon (1995), The Mirror (1997), The Circle (2000), Taxi (2015), and It Was Just an Accident (2025), has resonated with audiences worldwide.

The Award is presented to individuals who have made notable contributions in bringing Korean cinema to global audience. This year’s honoree is Chung Jiyoung, whose works have earned both critical and audience acclaim for their incisive portrayal of the underlying realities and pressing issues of contemporary Korean society.

Throughout history, pioneering women around the world have made enormous contributions to the film industry in areas including direction, production, screenwriting, and cinematography. Today, their creative journeys, which dare to challenge traditional norms and modes of thinking, are a source of strength and inspiration, forging a path for future generations of women in the industry. Created in 2024 to celebrate the power of women in film, the Camellia Award is given to a prominent filmmaker or industry professional whose work has enhanced the status of women in the field. Selected by The Busan International Film Festival and CHANEL, this year’s Camellia Award will be presented to Sylvia Chang, one of Asia’s most acclaimed directors, actors, producers, and screenwriters.

The BIFF Cinema Master Honorary Award is a lifetime achievement award given to masters who have built outstanding artistry and innovative cinematic worlds. Marco BELLOCCHIO has made significant contributions to Italian and world cinema since the 1960s, addressing social and political themes in his work. With the 60th anniversary of his debut feature Fists in the Pocket (1965) coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Busan International Film Festival, this will be a meaningful occasion.

The Master Class is an official program event at the Busan International Film Festival, in which a distinguished maestro reflects on his life and world of cinema. This year, Iranian director Jafar Panahi discussed “The Power of Storytelling”, American director and screenwriter Michael Mann reviewed “Heat” and Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa discussed “The Art of Witnessing”, Italian director and screenwriter Marco Bellocchio the filmmaker who never stopped raising his fist and renowned French actress Juliette Binoche presented a topic titled Between Motion and Emotion; they shared their latest lasting experiences with cinema enthusiasts.

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is one of the largest and most important film festivals in Asia and is one of the 22 festivals approved by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). This prestigious film event is held annually with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea, the Busan City Government, and the Korean Film Council.

The festival opens with the Korean film “No Other Choice”

The 30th Busan International Film Festival opened with the screening of theKorean film “No Other Choice” directed by PARK Chan-wook.

This edition of the festival will feature works by filmmakers from different countries around the world in several competitive and non-competitive sections, including; the "New Currents" competition section, the "Open Angle" short film competition section, the "Open Angle" Asian short film competition section, the "Open Angle" documentary film competition, 

The 30th Busan International Film Festival, showing films by filmmakers from different countries of the world in several competition, including; the newly established “Competition”, New Currents Award, Wide Angle competition, the Vision Asia, Mecenat Award, Netpac Award, Sonje Award, FIPRESCI Award as well as out of competition including; A Window on Asian Cinema, Gala Presentation, Open Cinema, Icons, On Screen, Special Program, World Cinema, Korean Cinema Today, Flash Forward, the Asian Film Academy, the Special Screening, Asian Cinema Fund, Asian Film Market etc, it was held from September 17 to September 26, 2025, at the Busan Cinema and other cinemas in Busan, Korea.