39th Busan International Short Film Festival – Awards 2022

By Asian Film Festival on May 3, 2022 • ( Leave a comment )

These are the winners of the Busan International Short Film Festival which took place from April 27 – May 2, 2022 in Busan, South Korea.

International Competition

Grand Prix

**Adjustment** by Mehrdad Hassani – Iran | 2022 – 17 minutes

A 9-year-old effeminate boy, Shahrokh, humiliated and pushed away by his family and friends makes up his mind to assume a new identity and comes out to the people of his village. Having been through a series of ordeals, Shahrokh, dressed in girl’s clothes, shows up at school and confronts his classmates. (BISFF 2022)

Excellence Award

**Titan** by Valéry Carnoy – Belgium, France| 2021 – 19 minutes

Nathan is a stubborn 13-year-old boy. Driven by his new friend Malik, he prepares himself for a strange ritual to become a member of a teenage gang. In order to look strong to the other kids, Nathan scarifies a cross on his chest, hoping it will prove his willpower. (BISFF 2022)

Jury Award

**I Am Trying to Remember** by Pegah Ahangarani – Czech Republic, Iran | 2021 – 16 minutes

asked: “Why have they erased you?” He said: “Maybe they are scared.” I said: “Whoever is scared, should erase themselves.” He said: “In that case, the faces of the living would all be gone and only the dead would remain.” (BISFF 2022)

Audience Award

**At the Feet of My Mother** by Vincent Sparreboom – Netherlands | 2021 – 28 minutes

Growing up as a parent to your parents, leaves deep marks on the soul. During one “family constellation therapy session,” Lucien is finally coming to terms with his unsafe childhood. Looking at the intricate expressions on his face, we are taken on an emotional journey as Lucien moves through long-suppressed anger, fear and sorrow – finally showing himself to the world. (BISFF 2022)

Korean Competition

Grand Prix

**Nowhere Else** by Lee Kyeongwon – South Korea | 2021 – 28 minutes

A woman, disappeared 6-year ago, reappears in Okcheon with a new husband. Losing her memories, she encounters her ex-husband. (BISFF 2022)

Excellence Award

**An Excessive Day** by Zhao Danyang – South Korea | 2021 – 26 minutes

Seowoo goes back to a convenience store where she’s been working part-time to claim her unpaid salary. When she arrives, she meets a new part-timer who seems somewhat clumsy. (BISFF 2022)

Jury Award

**Cicada** by Yoon Daewoen – South Korea | 2021 – 17 minutes

Changhyeon, a transgender prostitute, encounters a customer who seems both familiar and yet unfamiliar. (BISFF 2022)

Best Acting Award

Uhm Junki for **Honor Guard** (dir. Lee Sangmin) – South Korea | 2021 – 28 minutes

Hyeongyu, who was injured and knocked into an administrative soldier while learning the motion of the spinning-gun at the honor guard, wants to become a member of the honor guard again and run the event. (BISFF 2022)

Special Mention of the Jury

**Trace of Time** by Iwa – South Korea | 2021 – 19 minutes

For man, everything is constructed and everything is natural. – Maurice Merleau Ponty
How do we connect ourselves with nature, when nature appears in front of our eyes? Nature and the senses of the body facing it, senses and landscapes leave traces as much as an accumulation of experience over time. The scattered times do not disappear, but become traces of the body and space, expanding infinitely. (BISFF 2022)

Audience Award

**Mast** by Lee Juseung – South Korea | 2021 – 24 minutes

After repeated failures to become a popular actor, Eungu decides to go to the sea. He wants to commit suicide in the dramatic way he’s always fantasized about. However, when he runs into an old friend’s wayward sister, his plan begins to fall apart. (BISFF 2022)

NETPAC Award

**The Boys Club** by Chen Yihwen – Malaysia | 2021 – 22 minutes

A Malaysian female filmmaker dreamt of making the first feature documentary for theatrical release in her country. After 4 years of struggles, her film premiered with glowing reviews. But soon after, she lost her job. This documentary reveals her deeply personal and harrowing filmmaking journey of enduring sexual harassment, bullying and misogyny. (BISFF 2022)

Operation Kino

Grand Prix

**Seungwoo** by Lee Haesol – South Korea | 2022 – 16 minutes

A 14-year-old boy who survived governmental violence is now a 54-year old middle-aged man. He tries to live a normal life while trying to forget about his past. (BISFF 2022)

Excellence Award