Breathless by Yang Ik-June wins at BAFF

The BAFF 2009 International Jury made up of Wong Tuck Cheong, board member of NETPAC; Naoko Ugigami, filmmaker; Adrià Monés, Teuve acquisitions manager and Philipp Engel, journalist and film critic, has decided to grant the BAFF 2009 Golden Durian Award, a 6,000 € prize courtesy of Casa Asia, to the South Korean feature film BREATHLESS, by Yang Ik-June.

By this decision, the Jury wishes to reward this impressive and very physical study of domestic violence in the South Korean underworld, which shows Yang Ik June´s brilliant debut. A versatile filmmaker, (director, main actor, script writer and producer) who has directed a first film that captivates the audience with its overwhelming energy and total honesty.

The Jury also gives two special mentions, one to the delightful Malaysian film SELL OUT, by Yeo Joon Han, (Malaysia, 2008), that made us burst out laughing. And to AGRARIAN UTOPIA, by the Thai Uruphong Raksasad (Thailand, 2008), for its unusual approach and his masterly direction.