The 30th edition of the Busan International Film Festival came to a close Friday at the Busan Cinema Center, concluding its 10-day run with a landmark year that introduced the inaugural Busan Award competition alongside its traditional accolades.

Zhang Lu’s ‘Gloaming in Luomu’ captured the first-ever Best Film prize in the new Busan Award category, while Shu Qi was named Best Director for her directorial debut ‘Girl.’ Han Chang-lok’s ‘Funky Freaky Freaks’ received the Special Jury Award.

Acting honors were shared this year: Lee Jiwon earned Best Actor for ‘En Route To,’ while Kitamura Takumi, Ayano Go, and Hayashi Yuta jointly received the same award for their performances in ‘Baka’s Identity.’ The Artistic Contribution Award went to ‘Resurrection’ for production design by Liu Qiang and Tu Nan.

‘En Route To’ proved to be one of the festival’s biggest winners, as director Yoo Jaein also secured the New Currents Award, one of BIFF’s most coveted recognitions for up-and-coming filmmakers.

In the BIFF Mecenat Awards, honors were divided by region: the Korean prize went to ‘Raining Dust’ by Ju Romi and Kim Taeil, while Hemen Khaledi’s ‘Singing Wings’ won for Asia. Ko Hyoju’s ‘Relay Race’ earned a Special Mention.

The Sonje Awards also split along regional lines, with Kim Sang-yun’s ‘It Sounds Louder on Rainy Days’ winning the Korea award and Wang Han-xuan’s Delay receiving the Asia prize.

The festival’s inaugural competition was judged by a seven-member jury led by Na Hong-jin, joined by Tony Leung Ka-fai, Nandita Das, Marziyeh Meshkini, Kogonada, Yulia Evina Bhara, and Han Hyo-joo.

Full List of Winners

Busan Award

Best Film: Gloaming in Luomu (Dir. Zhang Lu)
Best Director: Girl (Dir. Shu Qi)
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)