[31st BIFF] Majid Majidi's 'Bread and Salt' Wins Grand Prize at Busan Award

Closing ceremony held on the 15th, concluding a ten-day journeyAlso qualified for submission to the Academy Award for Best International Feature FilmIranian director Majid Majidi won the Grand Prize at the 'Busan Award' of the 31st Busan International Film Festival. The photo shows the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of October 6, ahead of the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). / Reporter Park Heon-woo[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] Iranian director Majid Majidi became the recipient of the Grand Prize at the 'Busan Award' of the 31st Busan International Film Festival.The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) held its closing ceremony at the Loop Theater of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the afternoon of the 15th, successfully concluding its ten-day journey. The Grand Prize at the 'Busan Award,' presented on this day, went to Majid Majidi's 'Sun Children.'Born in Tehran, Iran, in 1959, Majid Majidi debuted with the feature film 'Baduk' (1992), which was invited to the Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival. He has continued his career and, with 'Sun Children,' has won the 'Busan Award' Grand Prize, earning eligibility for submission to the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.This marks Majid Majidi's qualification for submission to the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Upon accepting the award, he said, "I dedicate this honor to the people of Iran. I hope for a world without war," adding, "They are still resisting oppression. I lost my mother a few months before filming this movie. My mother is the protagonist of my film," delivering a touching acceptance speech.Director Eddie Cahyono of 'My Mother' received the Special Jury Award at the Busan Award, director Li Wenchao of 'To Be Ordinary' received the Busan Award for Best Director, Zhou Xun of 'All About My Mother' and Himeno Kashun of 'Satoko is Always' received the Busan Award for Best Actor, Li Danfeng, the sound director of 'All About My Mother,' received the Busan Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement, and director Shashank Walia of 'Birds in the Darkness' and director Lim Hayeon of 'The Day of the Taeju' received the New Currents Award.The 31st Busan International Film Festival recorded a total of 277,027 attendees, achieving a milestone of surpassing 200,000 visitors for the first time in 10 years since 2015. The photo shows the area around the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, bustling with visitors on the afternoon of October 6. / Reporter Park Heon-wooThis year's Busan International Film Festival, which opened on the 6th, has become a major global film festival, standing alongside Cannes, Berlin, and Venice, by being selected as an 'A-list film festival' by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF).With its international standing further elevated, the Busan International Film Festival, considering the concentration of audience visits and screenings in the opening week, moved the opening day forward by one day from the usual Wednesday, marking the first-ever Tuesday opening.Furthermore, the competition section of the Busan International Film Festival, in its second year, built upon the achievements of its inaugural year to present an even more densely packed lineup, garnering significant attention.The 31st Busan International Film Festival showcased 315 films across 31 screens in 8 theaters, with a total of 304 GV (Guest Visit) sessions and 72 diverse events held throughout the festival, boasting an expanded scale compared to the previous year.As a result, it recorded a total attendance of 277,027, an increase of 40,000 from last year. This marks the first time in 10 years since 2015 that the festival surpassed 200,000 attendees, proving its progress since its 30th edition.This year, Yang Ja-kyung, recipient of the Asian Filmmaker Award, director Ann Hui, recipient of the Camellia Award, and former BIFF Chairman Kim Dong-ho, who received the Korean Cinema Award, along with a large number of directors and actors representing the global film industry, visited Busan.Director Alfonso Cuarón, making his first official visit to Korea, along with Maggie Gyllenhaal and Charlotte Gainsbourg, as well as international filmmakers such as Isabelle Huppert, Zhou Xun, Fan Bingbing, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Majid Majidi, Lav Diaz, and Rintaro, and Korean filmmakers including Lee Chang-dong, Na Hong-jin, Kim Jee-woon, Im Kwon-taek, Chung Ji-young, Bae Chang-ho, Lee Myung-se, Sol Kyung-gu, Jeon Do-yeon, Jo Yeo-jeong, and Jo In-sung, graced the festival, presenting unforgettable moments to the audience.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]