Zhang Lu’s ‘Gloaming In Luomu’ Wins Busan Best Film; Shu Qi’s ‘Girl’ Takes Best Director

Korean-Chinese director Zhang Lu’s Gloaming In Luomu was presented with the Busan Award for Best Film in the revamped competition section of Busan International Film Festival on Friday night (September 26).

Taiwanese actress and filmmaker Shu Qi was awarded Best Director for her directorial debut Girl, which premiered at this year’s Venice film festival. BIFF’s Special Jury Award went to Funky Freaky Freaks, directed by Korea’s Han Chang-lok.

Best Actor was awarded to Korean actress Lee Jiwon for En Route To, while a separate Best Actor award went to the male ensemble cast of Japanese feature Baka’s Identity – Takumi Kitamura, Go Ayano and Yuta Hayashi. En Route To also won the New Currents Award, which was presented to the film’s director Yoo Jaein.

The Busan Award for Artistic Contribution went to Liu Qiang and Tu Nan, the production designers of Chinese director Bi Gan’s visually groundbreaking Resurrection.

Busan’s competition jury was headed by Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin (The Wailing) and also included Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka-fai, Indian actor and filmmaker Nandita Das, Iranian New Wave director Marziyeh Meshkiny, US-based filmmaker Kogonada, Indonesian producer Yulia Evina Bhara and Korean actress Han Hyo-joo.

The New Currents jury comprised film critic Jessica Kiang, Georgian filmmaker Alexandre Koberidze and South Korean director Oh Seung Uk.

Among awards presented by other juries, the BIFF Mecenat Award (Korea) went to Raining Dust, directed by Ju Romi and Kim Taeil, while Hemen Khaledi’s Singing Wings took the BIFF Mecenat Award (Asia) and Ko Hyoju’s Relay Race received a BIFF Mecenat Award Special Mention.

Sonje Awards went to Kim Sang-Yun’s It Sounds Louder On Rainy Days (Korea), Wang Han-Xuan’s Delay (Asia) and Aya Kawazoe’s Interface (Special Mention).

On September 25, BIFF also announced the winners of the Busan Vision Awards, including four prizes for On Your Lap, the directorial debut of Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian.

BUSAN AWARDS 2025: 

Best Film: Gloaming In Luomu, dir: Zhang Lu

Best Director: Shu Qi, Girl

Special Jury Award: Funky Freaky Freaks, dir: Han Chang-lok

Best Actor: Lee Jiwon, En Route To

Best Actor: Kitamura Takumi, Ayano Go, Hayashi Yuta, Baka’s Identity

Artistic Contribution Award: Resurrection, Liu Qiang, Tu Nan (Production Design)

OTHER JURIES:

New Currents Award: En Route To, dir: Yoo Jaein

BIFF Mecenat Award (Korea): Raining Dust, dir: Ju Romi, Kim Taeil

BIFF Mecenat Award (Asia): Singing Wings, dir: Hemen Khaledi

BIFF Mecenat Award (Special Mention): Relay Race, dir: Ko Hyoju

Sonje Award (Korea): It Sounds Louder On Rainy Days, dir: Kim Sang-yun

Sonje Award (Asia): Delay, dir: Wang Han-xuan

Sonje Award (Special Mention): Interface, dir: Kawazoe Aya