Majid Majidi's 'Midday Meal' wins top prize at Busan film festival
"Midday Meal," a film by Iran's Majid Majidi, won the top prize at the Busan film festival in South Korea on Thursday, the Korea Herald, the Korea Times and Screen Daily reported. The win means the film can now be put up for an Oscar. The festival also drew its biggest crowds since 2015.
Iranian director Majid Majidi's "Midday Meal" won the Busan Award for best film at the 31st Busan International Film Festival on Thursday, the Korea Herald, the Korea Times and Screen Daily reported. The award was announced at the closing ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center in South Korea, the Korea Herald and the Korea Times reported.
The film is about a teacher who becomes an oil smuggler to save his village school, Screen Daily reported. A seven-member jury led by Chinese director Zhang Yimou picked it from 13 films in competition, the Korea Herald and the Korea Times reported, and the jury's choice was unanimous, the Korea Times reported. The prize comes with 50 million won, about $37,000, the Korea Times and Screen Daily reported.
Starting this year, the winner of the festival's top prize can be submitted for the Academy Award for best international feature film, the Korea Herald and the Korea Times reported. Busan is the only festival based in Asia to offer that, Screen Daily reported. Majidi earned an Oscar nomination for "Children of Heaven," Screen Daily reported.
This was Majidi's first visit to South Korea, the Korea Herald and Screen Daily reported. He paid tribute to his late mother, the Korea Herald and the Korea Times reported. "The hero of my film is my mother, and mothers are the heroes in all our lives," he said, according to the Korea Herald. He also dedicated the award to the people of Iran, the Korea Herald and Screen Daily reported.
Taiwanese director Lee Yun Chan won best director for "To Be Ordinary," and the best actor award was shared by Zhou Xun and Kashun Himeno, the Korea Herald and Screen Daily reported.
The festival recorded 200,043 admissions over its 10 days, the Korea Times and Screen Daily reported, which Screen Daily said was its biggest audience since 2015. Organizers credited an earlier opening day and more daily screenings, the Korea Times reported.
What we know: "Midday Meal" won Busan's top prize and is now eligible to be entered for the Oscars.
What we don't: Whether the film will go on to earn an Oscar nomination.
Where outlets agree The Korea Herald, the Korea Times and Screen Daily all report that Majid Majidi's "Midday Meal" won the Busan Award for best film at the 31st Busan International Film Festival.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.