BIFF reveals 2024 recipient of the Choon-yun award

The Choon-yun Award, now in its third year, is established to encourage producers who have contributed to excellent Korean film production.

Following two years of sponsorship by IOK COMPANY, NEXTWORLD Co., Ltd. sponsored the prize money and the expenses for the Choon-yun Award ceremony this year. The candidates were selected through recommendations from the Korean Independent Film Association, the Korean Film Producers Association, the Producers Guild of Korea, and Women In Film Korea, with the final nomination conducted by a panel of five judges.

The members of jury consists of Kang Je-kyu, the representative director of Korean cinema who directed Shiri (1999), Taegukgi (2004), Road to Boston (2023); Shim Jaemyung, the CEO of MYUNG FILMS which produced The Contact (1997), Joint Security Area (2000), Forever the Moment (2007), Architecture 101 (2012), Chun Tae-il (2021) and more; actor Yoo Ji-tae, actively performing in various genres including films One Fine Spring Day (2001), Old Boy (2003), Midnight F.M. (2001), Svaha: The Sixth Finger (2018), and the drama Vigilante (2023); Kwon Youngrak, the Lee Choon-yun Memorial Project Committee member who produced Two Cops (1993), The Young Man (1994), and Marrying the Mafia (2002) and served as the vice chairperson of organizing committee at Bucheon International Fantastic Festival and the advisory committee member of Busan International Film Festival; Programmer Jung Hanseok of Busan International Film Festival, who plays a crucial role in discovering emerging directors in Korean independent cinema. 

This year’s award winner, Park Kwansu, has built his career as a producer with many films and series, including Wonderland (2024), Ms. Apocalypse (2024), An Old Lady (2020), Kokdu: A Story of Guardian Angels (2019), Persona (2019), Marianne and Margaret (2017), Sa-kwa (2008) and more.

Director Kang Je-kyu commented, “I highly appreciate his various attempts and challenges.” CEO Shim Jaemyung praised Park as “a figure who has played a meaningful role in production based on his extensive career.” Actor Yoo Ji-tae pointed out that Park is “a producer with excellent talent, capable of handling commercial films, independent films and even short films.” CEO Kwon Youngrak congratulated Park, calling him “a filmmaker dedicated to his role as a producer.” Programmer Jung Hanseok added, “he has consistently produced outstanding works.”

Choon-yun Award ceremony will take place on Oct 3 (Thurs), 20:00 KST, at Paradise Hotel Busan. The 29th Busan International Film Festival will be held over ten days from Oct 2 (Wed) to Oct 11 (Fri) at Busan Cinema Center.