The 23rd Directors' Cut Awards Celebrates Korean Cinema
The 23rd Directors' Cut Awards took place on May 20 at 7 PM, hosted by directors Kim Cho-hee (김초희) and Bong Man-dae (봉만대) at the venue 'Idles.' This unique ceremony, where only Korean filmmakers vote for nominees and winners, maintained its tradition of a relaxed and joyful atmosphere, filled with laughter and celebration.
The event commenced with greetings from the executive committee chairs, directors Choi Dong-hoon (최동훈) and Lee Kyu-man (이규만), followed by the official opening remarks from the hosts. The first awards presented were for the Best New Actor and Actress in both series and film categories.
In the series category, the Best New Actor award went to Kim Yo-han (김요한) for his role as Nobin in 'Murderer’s Dilemma' (살인자ㅇ난감). Reflecting on his journey, Kim expressed gratitude to director Lee Chang-hee (이창희) and shared his aspiration to become a joyful actor. The fiercely contested Best New Actress award was won by Moon Geun-young (문근영) for her role as Teacher Oh Ji-won in 'Hellbound Season 2' (지옥 시즌2). Unable to attend, her acceptance speech was read by last year's winner, Lee Han-byul (이한별), where Moon credited director Yeon Sang-ho (연상호) for allowing her to fully express herself and vowed to continue delivering strong performances.
In the film category, the Best New Actor award was presented to Lee Do-hyun (이도현) for his portrayal of Yun Bong-gil in 'The Burial' (파묘). Last year's winner, Hong Sa-bin (홍사빈), who was on military leave, joined Lee on stage, creating a delightful moment. Lee promised to work hard to meet the expectations placed upon him.
The Best New Actress award was awarded to Kim Geum-soon (김금순) for her impactful role in 'Star of Ulsan' (울산의 별). She expressed her commitment to continue living passionately and sharing joy with director Jung Gi-hyuk (정기혁) and the staff, despite the cold weather.
Subsequent awards included Best Screenplay, Vision Award (Independent Film Award), and Best New Director. The Best Screenplay award went to director Jang Jae-hyun (장재현) for 'The Burial,' who shared that receiving this recognition during a challenging writing period was incredibly uplifting.
The Vision Award was given to director Oh Jung-min (오정민) for 'Jangson,' who expressed gratitude to the judges for the opportunity to grow through rejection and to the producers for their unwavering support. The Best New Director award was presented to Nam Dong-hyup (남동협) for 'Handsome Guys' (핸섬가이즈), who was pleasantly surprised to receive an award for a film he thought would not win any.
Following this, DGK representatives Min Kyu-dong (민규동) and Yoon Je-kyun (윤제균) expressed gratitude to sponsors including Kyobo Life and Plus M Entertainment for their support of the event.
The awards for Best Actor and Actress in both series and film categories followed. The Best Actor award in the series category was awarded to Lee Hee-joon (이희준) for his role as Songchon in 'Murderer’s Dilemma.' He thanked director Lee Chang-hee for trusting him with the elderly role. The Best Actress award went to Bae Doona (배두나) for her performance in 'Family Planning' (가족계획). Currently abroad, Bae shared her appreciation for the honor bestowed by her fellow filmmakers through a video message.
In the film category, the Best Actor award was again won by Lee Byung-hun (이병헌) for his role as Jo Hoon-hyun in 'The Match' (승부), marking his second consecutive win. Presenter Jo Woo-jin (조우진) praised Lee as one of the most charming and cinematic figures he knows. Lee expressed his happiness at connecting with audiences in theaters and credited the honor to the unique contributions of all the actors involved.
The Best Actress award was given to Kim Go-eun (김고은) for her role as Lee Hwa-rim in 'The Burial.' Unable to attend in person, she sent a video message expressing her gratitude for the nominations of both 'The Law of Love in Big Cities' (대도시의 사랑법) and 'The Burial,' and her joy at receiving such a significant award.
Finally, the awards for Best Director in both categories were announced. The Best Director award in the series category was awarded to Lee Chang-hee for 'Murderer’s Dilemma.' He expressed his disappointment at only being nominated in other film awards without winning and pledged to give his best in future projects. The Best Director award in the film category went to Jang Jae-hyun for 'The Burial,' who shared that the best part of being a filmmaker is creating something with colleagues, making this recognition even more precious.
The 23rd Directors' Cut Awards, a unique ceremony where Korean filmmakers vote for nominees and winners, concluded successfully with over 150 directors from DGK, including Min Kyu-dong, Yoon Je-kyun, and other notable figures like Park Chan-wook (박찬욱) and Jung Ji-woo (정주리), extending heartfelt congratulations to the winners.
