Korean actress Jung Yi-seo and actor Jang Sung-bum who both won the Korean Fantastic Actors Awards at BIFAN last year, lead through ceremony. Festival director Shin Chul reported about the results of the festival which is still going on till this Sunday, July 14.
At first the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) presented the NETPAC Award to Who'll Stop the Rain by Su I-hsuan. The Méliès International Festivals Federation that aims to discover and promote Asian genre films gave the MIFF Award for Best Asian Film to Steppenwolf, directed by Adіlkhan Yerzhanov this year. The BIFAN Strange Children Jury selected the best film from the Odd Family section, giving Odd Family Award to Pigsy directed by Chiu Li Wei.
The main prize of the Korean Fantastic: Features,
Best Korean Fantastic Film went to
Esper’s Light, directed by Jung Jae-hoon. The jury said: “
Esper’s Light boldly deconstructs the internal and external boundaries of cinema, encouraging viewers to adopt a radical perspective. The film introduces a new and thought-provoking narrative characterized by a unique composition, language, and direction, seamlessly blending the realities and fantasies of adolescents as portrayed in both documentary and fiction. Moreover, it skillfully integrates elements from games and online communities into its storytelling.” Director JungJae-hoon said:
“I think this is the beginning. I'll do my best to release the film properly in the cinema.”
The
Korean Fantastic Best Director Award went to
Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary, directed by Kim Min-ha.
Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary also won the
Watcha’s Pick for Korean Fantastic Award thus becoming a double winner at BIFAN 2024.
The
Korean Fantastic Actors Awards went Kim Daegun for his role in
The Tenants, directed by Yoon Eunkyoung, and Park Ju-hyun for her role in
You Will Die in 6 Hours, directed by LEE Yun-seok.
The
Korean Fantastic Audience Award went also to
You Will Die in 6 Hours, directed by Lee Yun-seok.
The
Nonghyup Distribution Award was given to
Base Station, directed by Park Syeyoung and YEON Yeji. The jury gave a Special Mention to
Pig That Survived Foot-and-Mouth Disease, directed by Hur Bum-wook.
¡ã (Francis GALLUPPI, winner of the Best of Bucheon Award for The Last Stop in Yuma County
Director JT MOLLNER, winner of the Best Director Choice Award for Strange Darling
LIAO Ming Yi, winner of the Jury’s Choice Award for Suffocating Love
BIFAN’s top prize, the Best of Bucheon Award, went to The Last Stop in Yuma County directed by Francis Galluppi. The jury commented: “The film portrays a series of unforeseen events occurring in a small restaurant specializing in the sale of ‘rhubarb pie’ adjacent to a secluded gas station in Arizona. The narrative intricately delves into the lives of the characters, offering a profound exploration of the multifaceted aspects of human nature as serendipitous events and aspirations intersect.” Francis Galluppi thanked the jury saying: “This movie took almost five years of my life. I had two children in the time it took to make this movie. I can't tell you how this means. I'm in shock. Thank you so much.” The Last Stop in Yuma County also won the Audience Award thus becoming a double winner at BIFAN 2024.
Director JT Mollner scored the Best Director Choice Award for his feature film Strange Darling.
The Jury’s Choice Award was scored by Suffocating Love , directed by Liao Ming Yi.
¡ã The Hosts of the closing ceremony, actress JUNG Yi-seo (left) and actor JANG Sung-bum (right) with Soi CHEANG the director of the closing film Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (middle)
Following the award ceremony, Soi Cheang, director of the closing film Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In went on stage to meet the audience. Soi Cheang, a figure synonymous with HK-style martial arts action introduced his reminiscence of the golden era of 90s Hong Kong cinema, who was officially invited to the Cannes Film Festival this year, introduced his movie saying: "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In is a film about people. There have been many films set in the Kowloon Walled City before, but most of them focus on the crime and chaos that takes place there. I'm grateful that a lot of audiences like Hong Kong cinema, and I hope that you like my film as well.” The closing ceremony concluded with the screening of the closing film.
¡ã Group photo with all winners of the 28th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, CHO Yong-eek, Mayor of Bucheon City and film director CHUNG Jiyoung, the two chairmen of the Festival Organizing Committee, and festival director SHIN Chul
BIFAN’s 28th edition will continue till Sunday, July 14, at Bucheon City Hall, CGV Sopung, and the Korea Manhwa Museum. Films can be also watched through the online platform wave. Beyond Reality, BIFAN’s XR runs at the Bucheon Art Bunker B39 and the special exhibition "One and Only Son Yejin” can be enjoyed at the Hyundai Department Store Jungdong Branch.