Filmmaker Han Chang-lok Wins the Busan Award at the 30^th BIFF

Graduation films from the School of Film, TV & Multimedia received the Busan Award – Special Jury Award at the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).

Funky Freaky Freaks (2025), directed by Han Chang-lok, received the Special Jury Award in the newly introduced Busan Award section. The film depicts society through the lens of contemporary teenagers, offering a cool yet vivid look into their reality and raising thought-provoking social questions. Previously, Han directed the short film “Peeper” (2024), which was invited to several international film festivals, including the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the New York Asian Film Festival, and the Jeonju International Film Festival.

Additionally, Journey There (2025), written by Lee Gahong (Lee Kyeongmin), an M.A. student in Screenwriting, received the Directors Guild of Korea Award and the KBS Independent Film Award. Furthermore, The Observer’s Journal (2025), directed by Lim Junghwan, an alumnus of the Department of Filmmaking, won the Critic b Award. Shot across Seoul, Daejeon, Serbia, and Thailand, Lim’s film explores the landscapes of life through characters living in different times.

Upon receiving the award, director Han Chang-lok said, “It feels like a dream to meet my audience in Busan and receive this award. I’m deeply grateful to my wonderful cast and crew. I take this honor as encouragement to grow as a filmmaker and will continue striving to improve.”

Funky Freaky Freaks (2025) was funded through the School of Film, TV & Multimedia’s feature film production program, established in 2013 to nurture emerging directors and diversify Korean cinema. The program has significantly contributed to fostering new talent for the K-content industry, supporting films such as Namkoong Sun’s Ten Month (2021), Cho Kyoung-ho’s Good Deal (2022), Park Kang’s Seire (2022), and Bang Miri’s Save (2025).