The 28th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced the recipient of the Choon-yun Award, an award established in honor of the late chairman of the Korean Association of Film Art & Industry, Lee Choon-yun.

- Selected by 4 Top Korean Film Professionals Producer KIM Ji-yeon of Next Sohee (2022) and Punch-Drunk Love (2022)!

Marking its second year, the Choon-yun Award was newly established to commemorate the late chairman of the Korean Association of Film Art & Industry, Lee Choon-yun, who made monumental contributions to the development of Korean cinema. While most awards tend to place directors and actors at center stage, the Choon-yun Award is distinguished as an opportunity to discover and highlight the exceptional works of Korean film producers.

The Choon-yun Award nominees are Korean film producers who released their films between July of 2022 and June of this year, and were also selected through the recommendation of 3 organizations – the Association of Korean Independent Film & Video, Korean Film Producers Association, and Producers Guild of Korea. A jury composed of Korea’s 4 top film experts reached their final decision after much deliberation to announce the awardee of this year.

Members of the jury included director Kang Je-kyu, who directed unforgettable masterpieces like Shiri (1999) and Tae Guk Gi: Brotherhood of War (2004), and Shim Jaemyung, CEO of Myung Films, who produced various films that contributed to the development of Korean cinema such as Joint Security Area (2000), Architecture 101 (2012), I Can Speak (2017), along with actor Yoo Ji-tae, who earned the title of one of Korea’s all-time favorite actors by showing an extensive acting range through performances in films like One Fine Spring Day (2001), Old Boy (2003), and drama series Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area (2022), Vigilante (2023), and lastly programmer Jung Hanseok of the Busan International Film Festival, who has a keen eye for recognizing the potential and value of Korean independent films and emerging filmmakers.

This year’s winner of the Choon-yun Award is Kim Ji-yeon, the producer of Next Sohee (2022), which was selected as the closing film at the 75th Cannes Film Festival Critics' Week. Producer Kim Ji-yeon has participated in the production of National Security (2012), A Girl at My Door (2014), and Punch-Drunk Love (2022). Through such works, she established a distinct creative style as a producer.

Director Kang Je-kyu praised Kim as “a producer who has a voice of conviction that speaks through her work as seen in her impressive filmography over the years.”

CEO Shim Jaemyung added, “She is a filmmaker who has contributed to the production of Korean films by taking experimental and venturous endeavors, which makes us anticipate her next feat.” Actor Yoo Ji-tae extended his congratulations as he commented, “Producer Kim Ji-yeon is the most suitable candidate for the Choon-yun Award, as she is someone who always produces films that feel true to her beliefs.” Finally, programmer Jung Hanseok further applauded, “Kim Ji-yeon is an influential figure in film, as proven by years of experience followed by the exceptional films she’s produced.” The Choon-yun Award Ceremony will take place on Oct 5 (Thurs) at 20:00 in the Sicily Room on the 1st floor of the Paradise Hotel Busan.

The Choon-yun Award, which was established and sponsored by IOK Company, is an award for producers of outstanding Korean films, and presents a cash prize of 10,000,000 KRW to the recipient. Last year, producer Baek Jaeho of the film Snowball (2021) was named as the first recipient of the Choon-yun Award.

The 28th Busan International Film Festival, which is garnering attention by selecting this year's best producer, will run for 10 days in the vicinity of the Busan Cinema Center from Oct 4 (Wed) to Oct 13 (Fri).

■ The 28th Busan International Film Festival : Oct 4 (Wed) – Oct 13 (Fri)
■ The 18th Asian Contents & Film Market : Oct 7 (Sat) – Oct 10 (Tues)

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