Director Hong Sangsoo Wins Silver Bear Jury Grand Prix at Berlin Film Festival for 'A Novel Writer's Film'

Director Hong Sangsoo (left) and actress Kim Minhee are posing side by side at the red carpet event for the competition section film "The Novelist's Film" at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival held in Berlin, Germany, on the 16th (local time). Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] Director Hong Sangsoo won the honor of receiving an award at the Berlin International Film Festival for the third consecutive year.

On the 16th (local time), at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival awards ceremony, Director Hong received the Silver Bear Jury Grand Prix for his 27th feature film, The Novelist's Film. The Jury Grand Prix is the second highest award after the Golden Bear, which is the best film award.

This marks his third consecutive year of winning awards, following the Best Director award for The Woman Who Ran in 2020 and the Best Screenplay award for Introduction last year, and his fourth Silver Bear award overall.

The Novelist's Film tells the story of novelist Junhee, who travels a long way to the bookstore of a missing junior, takes solitary walks, and meets a film director couple and an actor. Junhee persuades actor Gilsu to make a film together.

Lee Hye-young, who first collaborated with Director Hong last year on the Cannes Film Festival invited film In Front of Your Face, played the novelist Junhee.

On stage, Director Hong said, "I really did not expect this. I am very surprised," and added, "I don't know what to say."

Kim Min-hee, who appeared as actor Gilsu in this film, said, "During today's screening, I felt that the audience truly loved the film, but I came down without being able to say thank you," adding, "It was moving and unforgettable. I am very grateful."

This is the sixth time Director Hong has been invited to the competition section of the Berlin Film Festival, following Night and Day (2008), Our Sunhi (2013), On the Beach at Night Alone (2017), The Woman Who Ran (2020), and Introduction (2021).

On the Beach at Night Alone earned actress Kim Min-hee the Silver Bear for Best Actress, and The Woman Who Ran received the Silver Bear for Best Director.

At the awards ceremony, the highest honor, the Golden Bear, was awarded to Spanish female director Carla Sim?n's Alcarras. The Best Director (Silver Bear) went to Claire Denis for Both Sides of the Blade, and the Best Leading Performance (Silver Bear), combining male and female actors, was awarded to Meltem Kaptan for Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush, directed by Andreas Dresen.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.