BIFF has announced that it is the only Asian film festival recognised alongside Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Sundance and Toronto for Oscar eligibility, “solidifying its prestige following its recent inclusion on the FIAPF A-list”.
The winner of the Busan Award – Best Film Award, the top honour of the Busan International Film Festival’s Competition section, has been included in a new eligibility pathway for the Academy Award for International Feature Film.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced rule changes for the 99th Academy Awards, expanding the eligibility pathways for the International Feature Film category.
In addition to official submissions selected by Academy-approved country or regional selection committees — one film per country or region — films that win designated top awards at six international film festivals will now be granted a separate eligibility pathway.
The six qualifying festivals and awards are the Busan International Film Festival’s Busan Award – Best Film Award, the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or, the Berlin International Film Festival’s Golden Bear, the Venice International Film Festival’s Golden Lion, the Sundance Film Festival’s World Cinema Grand Jury Prize, and the Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform Award.
BIFF is the only Asian film festival included in this new pathway – meaning the winner of BIFF’s Competition Best Film Award may be submitted for consideration in the International Feature Film category, separate from the official country or regional submission process, provided that it meets the Academy’s applicable eligibility, theatrical release, and submission requirements.
The decision follows BIFF’s inclusion this March on the FIAPF A-list, granted by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations to 17 festivals worldwide.
Since launching its Competition section last year, BIFF has “continued to strengthen its role as a platform for introducing Asian cinema to the international stage”, organisers said.
The 31st Busan International Film Festival will take place for 10 days from 6 October to 15 October around the Busan Cinema Center.
Submissions for this year’s Official Selection will close on 2 June for short films and 8 July for feature films.
More information is available on the BIFF website.
