Filmmaker Hong Sang-soo won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival for his 27th feature film “The Novelist’s Film” on Wednesday.

"I really didn't expect this big prize. I'm very surprised. Thank you all the jury members for your appreciation," Hong said in an acceptance speech. "I feel like I should say something more but I don't know what to say. I will just keep on doing what I've been doing."

The award marks Hong’s third consecutive win at the festival since he received a Silver Bear for Best Director in 2020 for his film “The Woman who Ran” and received a Silver Bear for Best Screenplay for his 2021 film “Introduction.” It’s also the sixth time that the filmmaker has been invited to the festival after “Night and Day” (2008), “Nobody’s Daughter Haewon” (2013), “On the Beach at Night Alone” (2017), “The Woman Who Ran” and “Introduction.”

“The Novelist’s Film” centers around a novelist named Jun-hee who travels to visit a bookstore run by a younger colleague who she fell out of touch with. During the process Joon-hee meets a filmmaker and an actor. Jun-hee tries to persuade the actor named Gil-soo to make a film with her.

Hong wrote the screenplay, directed, filmed and edited the movie.

Actor Lee Hye-young, who took on the lead role in Hong’s “In Front of Your Face” (2021) portrayed Jun-hee. His muse Kim Min-hee portrays Gil-soo. “In Front of Your Face” was invited to compete in the July 2021 edition of the Cannes Film Festival but did not win any prizes.

The Golden Bear for Best Film went to "Alcarras" by Carla Simon, while "Robe of Gems" by Natalia Lopez Gallardo won the Silver Bear Jury Prize.

German writer Laila Stieler won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay for "Rabiye Kurnaz vs George W. Bush" and French filmmaker Claire Denis of "Fire" was awarded best director.



BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]