Majid Majidi’s “Midday Meal” wins BIFF top prize and qualifies for Oscar consideration

'Midday Meal' director Majid Majidi dedicated the award to the people of Iran, while Taiwan’s Lee Yun Chan won best director and Zhou Xun and Kashun Himeno took acting honors at the festival’s closing ceremony.

Iranian director Majid Majidi's "Midday Meal" won the Best Film Award, a grand prize at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on Thursday, securing a direct entry for consideration at the upcoming Academy Awards. The top honor was announced during the closing ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center outdoor theater in Busan. Hosted solely by actor Yim Si-wan, the event wrapped up a 10-day festival run that began on Oct. 6. Jury President Zhang Yimou praised "Midday Meal" as the ideal film and noted that all seven jury members agreed unanimously on the selection. Starting this year, the grand prize winner under the Busan Award competition section automatically gains qualification to submit for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards. The Best Film Award also comes with a cash prize of 50 million won ($37,180). Receiving the award, Majidi expressed his gratitude to the festival. He said it was an honor to receive such a huge prize on his first visit to Busan, adding that the energy came from the love of his late mother. "This award means everything to my jo

Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi’s Midday Meal won the Best Film Award at the close of the Busan International Film Festival tonight. As a result of the win, the film automatically qualifies for submission to the Best International Feature category of the Oscars. Set in a parched badlands village, the film revolves around a school teacher, […]