Together, a great time with “Busan International Short Film Festival”

The 33rd Busan International Short Film Festival (BISFF) closing press release

- International Competition’s Eden, Korean Competition’s Deer Flower, and Operation Kino’s SeongOk awarded Grand Prix

- Seol-Hee awarded the NETPAC Award

The five days of short film festival of the 33rd BISFF has come to a close. Held under the concept of “Us, Together”, the film festival screened a total of 140 films from 40 different countries 59 times, held 20 conversations with the audience, saw 341 cineastes participate in 2 program guides (film viewing information) and such, and met with 8,410 audience members.

The core programs of this competitive BISFF were the International and Korean Competition sections, which were highly competitive at a rate of 1 to 89 and filled with heated participation by both the audience and filmmakers.

The Grand Prix of the International Competition section was Eden, by director Andr?s Ram?rez Pulido, which excelled in its portrayal of innocence. In the Korean Competition, the Grand Prix went to Deer Flower, by director Kim Kangmin, who showcased his vision through innovation, creativity and originality. The NETPAC was awarded to Seol-Hee, by director Bae Yeonhee from Busan, with a simple, but powerful message. In addition, the short film production project funded by the Busan Jung-gu Office, Operation Kino’s Grand Prix was awarded to director Kim Noheul’s SeongOk, a story about a shoe repair shop in Nampo-dong, Busan. Selected directly by the cinephiles in the Busan area, the Busan Cinephile Award went to 90 Degrees North and Bargain. Bargain was a double award winner, having also been awarded the Jury Prize.

The variety of programs held alongside the film screenings such as Spot On: Austria Concert, Asia Short Film Forum, 2016 Busan International Transmedia Forum, and BISFF Talk received great response from not only the audience, but also professionals and filmmakers from all fields.

One of the main programs of BISFF, “Guest Country Program: Austria”, saw the participation of Austrian ambassador Elisabeth Bertagnoli, and 4 filmmakers and 9 artists from Austria. They participated in the opening ceremony, Spot On: Austria Concert, and BISFF Talk, allowing us to personally experience Austria’s experimental and creative culture.

Established last year, “Shorts for Family” and “Landscape of Asian Shorts” programs were also well received. Participation in “Shorts for Family” was noticeably greater, and the “Landscape of Asian Shorts” program had the participation of 15 Asian filmmakers sharing the beauty of Asian short films.

During the five days between April 22 and 26, BISFF has come one step closer as a platform for men and women of all ages to enjoy short films.

1. Award Details

△ International Competition

Jury Commentary

It was a great challenge to narrow down to only three winners in the international shorts category. The films not only reflected all corners of the world, but also represented a wide cross section of genres and artistic practice. We believe however, the five films we selected share in common exceptional talent, personal vision and the spirit of the short film.

⊙ Grand Prix for Best Picture

Eden Andrs Ramrez Pulido

The Grand Prix for Best Picture goes to Colombian filmmaker Andr?s Ram?rez Pulido’s Eden, a haunting depiction of innocence irretrievably lost. Following two young boys as they explore a Garden of Eden whose serpent is the culture of violence they’ve been raised within, it’s a beautiful yet disturbing film about the tragic transition between childhood and adulthood.

⊙ Excellence Award for Best Picture

Tenderness? Emila Zielonka

Tenderness engages with the fraught, controversial subject matter of abortion with admirable frankness, but rather than taking sides in the debate, Zielonka grounds the film in a perceptive, multi-faceted portrait of a particular couple’s emotional dynamics. A valuable stimulus to dialogue, it encourages us to confront the issue not in the abstract, but as real, lived experience.

⊙ Jury Prize

A Woman and Her Car Loc Darses

Part personal documentary and part experimental essay film, A Woman and Her Car depicts a woman’s pained but courageous attempt to confront the man who sexually abused her years ago. It is a fascinating portrait of both the woman and her abuser, and a profound meditation on the various ways we find to cope with unresolved wounds and to persevere in life.

⊙ Special Mention

Senior Teacher Sha Mo

A special mention goes to Senior Teacher, a portrait of a veteran teacher whose career is transformed when he strikes one of his pupils. The film is distinguished by its focus on a compelling but deeply problematic protagonist, one who resists easy identification or sympathy.

7 Sheep Wiktoria Szymanska

7 Sheep conjures up, through dreamlike cinematography, the lonely world of a young girl who is living with an elderly caretaker in the countryside. The specter of sexual abuse shadows the film without defining its thematics or overwhelming the portrait of an imaginative and self-reliant young girl, whose sensibility and vision of the world become the film’s reality.

⊙ Busan Cinephile Award

90 Degrees North Detsky Graffam

We live in a world surrounded by the walls of different cultures and societies, but during the past 5 days, those walls were torn down, allowing us to reach one another’s hearts. Our judging standard was based on how much the film allowed for audience members from all levels of social standings to make a subjective interpretation. Our evaluation of90 Degrees North was that it took our present social issues and portrayed them in a light, but impactful way.

△ Korean Competition

Jury Commentary

The jury wants to express its great admiration for a group of filmmakers who are able to express themselves by using a strong diversity of voices, viewpoints and cinematic styles. With their willingness to go beyond the boundaries of conventional storytelling modes and genres, they expand cinema’s possibilities.

⊙ Grand Prix for Best Picture

Deer Flower Kim Kangmin

The jury was impressed by the innovation, creativity and originality with which the director realized a highly personal vision. We were equally struck by its mix of vanguard and classic animation techniques and the careful balance of comic and tragic elements in a story that is rich with unique details and yet universal in its appeal.

⊙ Excellence Award for Best Picture

From Now On Lee Kyeongwon

The jury was delighted by the unforced sense of naturalism in both the film’s direction and performances. It achieves a rare quality of melancholy that’s all the more poignant when the story shifts into something more unexpected.

⊙ Jury Prize

Bargain Lee Chunghyun

The jury was enthralled by the filmmaker’s bravura and audacity in creating a work that continually redefines itself while defying expectations, conventions and limitations.

⊙ Best Acting Award

Park Sejae

The jury is happy to acknowledge the extraordinary lead performance by Park Sejae and her subtle ability to convey a vast array of emotions that her character must leave unspoken.

⊙ Special Mention

Choi Jinyoung

For the deftness of its dialogue and the remarkably harmonious performances of its two leading actors

Park Yongseok

For its ability to integrate a sharp political critique into a form that achieves a powerful rhythm in both visual and musical terms

⊙ Busan Cinephile Award

Lee Chunghyun

The film is the essence of black comedy, bringing a humorous satire of our society’s distrust, lies and social issues. The double entendre of the title and the acting of the actors were also impressive. The long take shooting of one scene one cut was also quite engaging, emphasizing the appeal only short films can have.

△ NETPAC Award

Seol-hee Bae Yeonhee

Seol-hee reveals our naked face through a girl who ignores a friend in danger. This film delivers strong message in a simple style.

△ Operation Kino

⊙ Operation Kino Grand Prix for Best Picture

Kim Noheul

⊙ Operation Kino Excellence Award for Best Picture

Underpass Market Choi Hyeonji