The 31st Busan International Film Festival has completed its jury selection for four distinct award categories, each recognizing achievement in different film classifications and regions.
The BIFF Mecenat Award, which honors outstanding Korean or Asian documentaries in the Wide Angle Competition section and provides a prize of KRW10 million, will be evaluated by filmmaker Rintu Thomas, director Kim Taeil, and documentarian Zhou Hao. Thomas gained recognition for co-directing a work that received major international accolades. Kim has developed an extended project documenting human experiences across multiple decades, having previously received honors including the award he will now judge. Zhou, with a background in journalism, has created observational documentaries examining everyday experiences and urban development across Asia.
The Sonje Award recognizes outstanding Korean or Asian short films in the Wide Angle Competition and carries the same KRW10 million prize. Its jury comprises Anuparna Roy, Abinash Bikram Shah, and Lee Ranhee. Roy’s recent shorts premiered at major international festivals and earned recognition. Shah, a graduate of a prominent film academy fellowship, achieved recognition at a major European film festival. Lee transitioned from theater work into directing feature films addressing themes related to migration, employment, and early career experiences.
The Netpac Award, presented by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema for films in the Vision section, will be judged by Nina Kochelyaeva, Matthew Poon, and Lee Dongha. Kochelyaeva holds an academic position in film education and participates in international festival programming. Poon works in festival industry management and serves as a juror and speaker internationally. Lee holds executive positions in the Korean film production sector and has worked on numerous productions selected for major international festivals.
The Fipresci Award, given by the International Federation of Film Critics for artistic achievement in Vision section films, will be determined by Ma Xingxu, Teresa Vena, and Roh Chul-hwan. Ma works as a film critic and editor covering contemporary cinema. Vena operates as a writer and curator across art and film in European contexts. Roh teaches film and theater studies at a Korean university with research focused on industry policy and visual storytelling. The festival will take place Oct. 6-15, with the Asian Contents & Film Market running Oct. 10-13.
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