Iranian director Jafar Panahi has been awarded the Asian Film Award of the Year.
The opening ceremony of the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) was held on the afternoon of the 17th at the Busan Haeundae Cinema Center, hosted by actor Lee Byung-hun.
The 'Asian Film Award of the Year' is presented annually to the most outstanding individual or organization in the Asian film industry and cultural development.
Director Jafar Panahi stated, "I am grateful to the Busan Film Festival for this award. It is meaningful and an honor to be part of the first festival and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Busan Film Festival."
He continued, "When I came to Busan with my first film, I vowed to return home and create the best film festival in Asia. However, I have been imprisoned for 17 years since then and could not return. At that time, I could not leave my country."
Director Jafar Panahi added, "For the past 30 years, Korea has tirelessly worked and fought for freedom, for the freedom of film. This is not the end. We must challenge and continue to strive for the freedom of expression in filmmaking. This award is dedicated to all independent films on the front lines of that struggle."
Iranian master Jafar Panahi has illuminated the freedom and existence of individuals living under censorship and oppression. He has sharply captured the political and social contradictions of Iranian society, and despite facing repeated arrests, detentions, house arrests, bans on filmmaking, and travel restrictions, he has secretly produced films and submitted them to international film festivals, never letting go of his creative spirit.
After winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for "The Circle" (2002) and the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for "Taxi" (2015), he won the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival for "It Was Just an Accident," thus conquering all three major film festivals in the world.
This year's Busan Film Festival, celebrating its 30th anniversary, will meet audiences with a total of 328 films from 64 countries, including 87 films in the Community BIFF section and 32 films in the Neighborhood BIFF section.
The opening film is "Nothing Can Be Done" directed by Park Chan-wook. "Nothing Can Be Done" tells the story of a company employee, Munsu, who feels satisfied with life to the point of feeling that he has achieved everything, but suddenly gets fired. To protect his wife and two children and to keep the house he worked hard to acquire, he prepares for his own war towards re-employment. The film stars actors Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Park Hee-soon.
The 30th Busan International Film Festival will be held until the 26th at the Busan Cinema Center.
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
