The Winner of Best Actress, Jung Aehwa of Gull, and the Winner of Best Actor, Kim Taehun of Good Person

Wild Flower Film Awards, the representative award ceremony of the Korean independent film industry, was held on May 27 (Fri) at Namsan Literature House in Seoul. Marking its 9th anniversary this year, Wild Flower Film Awards is designed to re-examine and promote low-budget independent films produced in Korea throughout the year. Prior to the award ceremony, Wild Flower Film Festival was held at the Chungmu Art Center in Seoul for a month in May to show around 20 award-winning films, and all of the films were screened for free to popularize independent films.

Many actors attended the red carpet event of the festival, including Jung Jinyoung, Kang Malgeum, and Kim Hojung, the winners of last year, and Lee Hyeyeong, the nominee of this year, as well as Gong Seungyeon, Jung Aehwa, and Jung Jaekwang, etc. Actor Kwon Haehyo attended on behalf of Director Hong Sangsoo, who was nominated for the Best Director award. Also, Actor Yoo Jitae, who claimed to be a major sponsor following last year, attended and delivered a congratulatory speech. 

The honor of the Grand Prize at the 9th Wild Flower Film Awards went to Sewing Sisters, a documentary film. Sewing Sisters is a human documentary that depicts the lives of the young girls sewing in Peace Market in the 1970s, who had to work at a sewing factory at a young age instead of studying at school because they were female or poor. The film also drew attention as Director Bong Joonho held a surprise stage greeting with a rave review of ‘the most beautiful documentary I've seen recently.’ Director Lee Ranhee of A Leave won the Best Feature Director, and Director Yi Seungjun of Shadow Flowers won the Best Documentary Director. 

In addition, Good Person, directed by Jung Wook, won the Best Screenplay and the Best Actor (Kim Taehun), and a new director Kim Mijo's Gull won the Best New Feature Director and the Best Actress (Jung Aehwa). Especially, Gull, which depicts a middle-aged woman experiencing sexual violence and confronting prejudice in the world, has also been well-received at leading international film festivals, winning the Grand Prize at the 21st Jeonju International Film Festival Korean Competition Award and the Special Mention at the 68th San Sebastian Film Festival.