Introduction to the film festival
Awards
The Asian Filmmaker of the Year
This award is granted to the Asian filmmaker who has made the most significant contribution to the advancement of Asian film industry and culture throughout the year.
Korean Cinema Award
This award is presented to cineastes that have made a notable contribution in the globalization of Korean cinema.
New Currents Award
it is given to the two best feature films selected from the first or second feature of new Asian directors introduced in the New Currents section (a competitive section of BIFF for Asian films). A grand prize of USD 30,000 is awarded to each film. The jury consists of world-renowned film experts who will choose winners to discover and encourage the hidden jewels of Asian cinema.
Kim Jiseok Award
Kim Jiseok Award, newly established in 2017, is to remember and honor the late Kim Ji-seok who passed away this year after devoting his whole life to discovering young Asian directors and supporting the growth of Asian cinema. A grand of prize of USD 10,000 is awarded to two films.
BIFF Mecenat Award
BIFF Mecenat Award is granted to the best documentary from Korea and Asia in Wide Angle competitive section. The winner will be granted KRW 10,000,000 (approx. USD 8,500) with the purpose of assisting their next production.
Sonje Award
Sonje Award is given to the best Korean and Asian short films in the Wide Angle section, to assist them in producing next project by providing KRW 10,000,000 (approx. USD 8,500) to each director.
Actor & Actress of the Year
Actor & Actress of the Year is the award to focus on first-time actors in the independent Korean films among the New Currents and Korean Cinema Today Vision. The top-class Korean actor and actress select one actor and one actress with outstanding performance. The winners will be awarded at the closing ceremony with cash prize of 5,000,000 KRW (approx. 4,300 USD) each.
KB New Currents Audience Award
This award is given to the film that is most highly rated by festival audiences from the New Currents section. Sponsored by KB Kookmin Bank, KRW 20,000,000 (approx. USD 18,000) is awarded to the director.
Flash Foward Audience Award
This award is given to the film that is most highly rated by festival audiences from the Flash Forward section. Sponsored by BIFF Supporters Association, KRW 10,000,000 (approx. USD 8,500) is awarded to the director.
FIPRESCI Award
This award is given to the year’s best Korean film from either New Currents or Korean Cinema Today_Vision section.
NETPAC Award
The NETPAC Award is given to the best film selected by the NETPAC jury among the films screened in the New Currents section. NETPAC is an international organization founded in 1990 devoted to the expansion of Asian film distribution and screening.
CGV Arthouse Award
This award was newly created in 2011 in collaboration with CJ CGV Arthouse to shed new light on the Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. The winner will receive a cash prize of KRW 10,000,000 (approx. USD 8,500) sponsored by CJ CGV Arthouse.
KBS Independent Film Award
KBS Independent Film Award is given to support Korean independent films. One Korean film will be selected among Korean Cinema Today_Vision and New Currents sections to receive 10 million KRW (approx. 8,500 USD).
Critic b Award
Critic b Award is given to one film chosen by Busan Film Critics Association among the selections in the New Currents and the Korean Cinema Today - Vision. The winner will receive KRW 10,000,000 (approx. USD 8,500) sponsored by Philip Morris Korea Inc.
Citizen Critics' Award
Citizen critics from the Busan Cinematheque choose the best film from those screened in Korean Cinema Today_Vision section. The winner is awarded KRW 10,000,000(approx. USD 8,500) for supporting the director’s next production.
Busan Cinephile Award
This award is given to the best Korean and Asian documentary film presented in the Wide Angle documentary showcase. The winner is awarded KRW5,000,000 (approx. USD4,300). The jury consists of college students, including numerous students from the cinema-related departments of six universities in Busan region, select the winner. This cash prize is sponsored by YouTube.
Rules
1、The Festival accepts features, short films, documentaries and animation. The film must have been completed no earlier than October 2024 and should be completed no later than August 2025. Short Films：Less than 60 minutes, Only less than 30 min in the short film competition. Feature Films：60 minutes or more. Non-Asian short films are not open to submission.
2、The Festival accepts features, short films, documentaries and animation. The film must not be broadcasted on TV or available on the Internet prior to the Festival. Due to the coronavirus(COVID-19) outbreak, the Festival has officially loosened the following rule for 2020 submission. - The film must not be broadcasted on TV or available on the Internet prior to the Festival. : The film must not be broadcasted on TV. However, if the film will be available on the internet exclusively in ‘certain territory’, the film still is eligible for submission. * In this case, ‘certain territory' will be a factor to consider the premiere status of the submitted film. Non-Asian short films are not open to submission. Production Date Films previously submitted to the Festival but not selected will not be reconsidered.
3、If you provide false or misleading information, the film selection may be subject to cancellation at any time.
4、Films in any language other than Korean or English must be provided with English subtitles. The DVD screeners will not be returned, and will be professionally destroyed after the conclusion of each edition of the Festival.
5、DCP is the most preferred, and the rest of the available formats may be restricted to certain screening venues and time-slots due to different facilities in venues.
6、The Festival program gives priority to World or International premieres. World premieres are films screened for the first time to any audience, including country of origin. International premieres are films screened for the first time to an audience outside country of origin.
7、The Festival reserves the right to decide the section in which the selected film will participate. The Festival does not provide individual explanation on the non-selection of a film.
| Jury Name | Judge photos | Jury Profile |
|---|
Authorization type
Duration (several sessions)
Film Festival Features
Dates & Deadlines
2025-03-14
Submission start time
2025-06-02
Deadline
2025-06-30
Deadline
2025-06-30
Submission end time
2025-08-29
Finalist notification start time
2025-08-31
Finalist notification end time
2025-09-17
Award ceremony start time
2025-09-26
Award ceremony end time
Categories and fees
2025/06/02
Deadline
Standard: 0 Dollar
2025/06/02
Deadline
Standard: 0 Dollar
2025/06/30
Deadline
Standard: 0 Dollar
Related film festivalMore
Follow us
Follow the following platforms
Facebook
Twitter
WeChat
Official Weibo
Beijing Public Network Security No. 11011202000526
