Busan, South Korea – Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi won top prize at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) for his film “Midday Meal,” concerning a village teacher going to extreme lengths to keep his school from being closed by the authorities. BIFF, which took place Oct. 6 to 15, had been accorded “A-list” film festival status by the International Federation of Film Producers Association in March this year. Only 16 other festivals have this designation, including those in Cannes, Venice and Tokyo.
Such a distinction is significant. BIFF’s newfound status has been recognized by the Academy Awards, a distinction shared with festivals in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance and Toronto, which means that “Midday Meal” automatically qualifies for a chance to be nominated for a best international feature Oscar.
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