Chapter 24: Vision Awards (2)
Kwon Taeoh couldn't take his eyes off the trophy on Dogyeom's lap.
Seo Jiwan had received the Vision Actor Award.
Low Ceiling had also been the first film announced among the final Audience Award candidates.
It had felt possible that they might leave with a second trophy.
But the audience had chosen Before the Light Reaches.
Seo Jiwan glanced at Taeoh.
"Disappointed?"
Taeoh kept looking ahead.
"Of course."
He had no intention of pretending otherwise.
Seo Jiwan rested an arm on the armrest.
"Your face is too stiff."
Taeoh chuckled.
The ceremony wasn't over simply because he had missed one prize.
He remembered what Moon Taeseok had said before it began.
Did you prepare an acceptance speech?
And then:
It would be a good idea.
Moon Taeseok wasn't someone who said things without reason.
Taeoh leaned back and looked toward the stage.
"It's disappointing, but I'm fine. There are still awards left."
More awards continued.
Geonwoo occasionally glanced toward the Audience Award trophy in Dogyeom's lap while applauding the winners.
Dogyeom supported it underneath with one hand while wrapping his other arm around it.
Hyunsoo laughed.
"Dogyeom, aren't you holding it too tightly?"
"I can't drop it."
"No one's going to steal it."
"Still."
Dogyeom hugged it even tighter.
Geonwoo smiled.
"Take good care of our award."
"Yes! I'll protect it."
After a special prize for a Busan-based film was presented, Han Eunchae continued.
"Next is the Korean Film Directors Guild Plus M Award."
Movement spread through the audience as people sat straighter.
Eunchae explained.
"Among Korean films invited to the Vision section, the judges selected a work that demonstrated outstanding directorial achievement and overall completion."
The large screen changed.
Every Korean film in the Vision section was eligible.
The final candidates selected after discussion among judges were introduced one by one.
First was Last Day of Business.
An old bathhouse chimney filled the screen.
Second came The Tide.
Three sisters walked side by side across tidal flats exposed after the sea receded.
Third was Across the Bus Stop.
Two actors looked at each other from opposite sides of a bus stop on a rainy night.
Then the fourth title was called.
"Before the Light Reaches, Director Baek Geonwoo."
Dogyeom immediately looked at Geonwoo.
"Director, we're nominated again."
Geonwoo smiled and nodded.
"Looks like it."
"I hope we win this one too."
"Me too."
The screen showed Seoyoon filming Seorin with his camcorder.
After one more nominee, the final movie appeared.
"Low Ceiling, Director Kwon Taeoh."
A faint smile spread across Taeoh's face.
Could this be it...?
The lead judge walked onto the stage.
He was a middle-aged director seated beside Moon Taeseok on the judging panel.
Before opening the envelope, he unfolded the prepared judges' comments.
"The winning film connects a restricted physical space closely to the psychological state of its characters, while boldly stripping away the familiar image of an established actor."
Seo Jiwan slowly turned toward Taeoh.
Taeoh was still staring at the stage.
"Through stable composition and restrained directing, the film maintains the characters' anxiety until the very end."
Taeoh's hand stopped on the armrest.
The comments obviously described one film.
Seo Jiwan smiled.
"That's ours."
"Sounds like it."
A smile spread across Taeoh's face.
The title still had not officially been announced.
Even so, his heartbeat quickened.
The judge opened the envelope.
"The winner of the Korean Film Directors Guild Plus M Award is..."
He removed the card.
"Low Ceiling, Director Kwon Taeoh."
The Low Ceiling team erupted in cheers.
Seo Jiwan immediately stood and slapped Taeoh hard on the back.
"Congratulations."
"Thanks."
Taeoh stood with a smile and stepped into the aisle.
Geonwoo was applauding from his seat.
Before walking to the stage, Taeoh looked toward him.
Their eyes met.
Geonwoo bowed his head slightly first.
"Congratulations."
The distance was too great for the voice to reach, but Taeoh could read his lips.
Taeoh bowed in return, then continued toward the stage.
The lead judge personally handed him the trophy.
"Congratulations, Director Kwon."
"Thank you."
Taeoh accepted with both hands and stepped to the microphone.
Applause grew louder when he bowed.
"Thank you."
He slowly looked over the audience.
"I'm aware that I started in a better environment than most of the other new directors here."
The venue became quiet.
Taeoh spoke confidently.
"Finding financing, finding locations, and putting a script in front of actors were all easier for me than for many others."
"But that also meant I had nowhere to hide if the result was bad."
Seo Jiwan watched with his arms folded.
"A good environment doesn't direct a movie for you."
"I still had to decide what to ask the actors to let go of, where to put the camera, and which scenes to keep."
Taeoh tightened his grip on the trophy.
"I'll accept this award as recognition of those choices."
Applause followed.
"I want to thank the actors and staff who trusted me until the end."
The camera showed the Low Ceiling team.
"And especially Actor Seo Jiwan, who accepted every demand from a rookie director."
Seo Jiwan smiled and bowed his head.
The people around him patted his shoulder.
Taeoh never looked at the judges' seats.
"With my next film, I'll prove this award wasn't an accident. Thank you."
Taeoh bowed.
Moon Taeseok smiled and applauded with the other judges.
He didn't mention my name even once.
His pride had been wounded.
Without him, could Taeoh really have made his first movie this quickly?
Moon Taeseok had introduced producers.
He had reviewed the screenplay.
He had opened paths that allowed the film to reach the festival.
Taeoh knew all of that.
Yet he spoke as though he had won through his own strength alone.
So now being called my student bothers you?
Moon Taeseok deepened his smile.
He didn't stop applauding.
The cameras were watching.
And regardless, his student had won.
But each clap carried a little more force.
Back in his seat, Kwon Taeoh looked at the engraving on the trophy.
Korean Film Directors Guild Plus M Award.
Low Ceiling.
Director Kwon Taeoh.
Neither Taesung Group nor "Moon Taeseok's student" was written there.
Taeoh slowly rubbed his own name with his thumb.
Before coming to the festival, Taesung Group's secretary's office had contacted him.
They asked whether he wanted any message passed to TGV.
"No."
Taeoh had answered without hesitation.
"Do not contact anyone about my film. Don't look up the results early either."
The Plus M Award meant other directors had recognized Low Ceiling's quality.
Now he also needed the TGV Award.
TGV, the multiplex chain belonging to Taesung Group itself, needed to select Low Ceiling based on the movie alone, not his background.
Only then could nobody call his debut feature "the movie Taesung Group made for him."
Taeoh took his hand away from the trophy.
Now I only need the TGV Award.
Several more awards followed.
Then the stage was reset.
Three red letters appeared on the large screen.
TGV.
The multiplex subsidiary of Taesung Group.
Han Eunchae continued, and the noise in the hall faded.
"Next is the TGV Award."
Hyunsoo leaned toward Geonwoo.
"Hyung. Finally."
"Yeah."
Geonwoo sat straighter.
The TGV Award was different from awards judged only on artistic quality.
TGV directly selected a film that showed potential to meet a wider theatrical audience beyond the limited festival environment.
Winning meant Korea's largest multiplex chain recognized the movie's commercial and theatrical potential.
For a film without a confirmed distributor or release schedule, the award could completely change negotiations.
That was why it was one of the prizes rookie directors wanted most.
Critic Cha Myunghoon smiled with interest.
This year it feels like either Low Ceiling or Before the Light Reaches. Which one will TGV choose?
At the far end, Bridge Pictures' Yoon Jihye swallowed nervously.
If Before the Light Reaches wins this, distribution gets much easier.
Onstage, Han Eunchae introduced the finalists.
Every Korean film invited to the Vision section had been eligible.
TGV had considered artistic quality and theatrical potential before selecting the finalists.
First came The Tide.
A film strongly supported by critics from early in the festival.
Second was The Time We Slept.
It had gained attention for its unusual form and word of mouth following late-night screenings.
Third came Last Day of Business, winner of the New Wave Award.
Then Across the Bus Stop filled the screen.
The fifth title was called.
"Low Ceiling, Director Kwon Taeoh."
Taeoh fixed his eyes on the screen.
The final nominee was announced.
"Before the Light Reaches, Director Baek Geonwoo."
The large screen showed Seoyoon standing at the end of an alley with his camcorder.
Dogyeom hugged the Audience Award trophy more tightly.
"Director, we're nominated again."
"Looks like it."
Geonwoo stared at the screen.
Six posters appeared together.
Before the Light Reaches and Low Ceiling stood side by side.
Winning the Audience Award didn't mean his film would receive this award too.
All the nominees had received strong reviews.
More than anything, Geonwoo remembered who had won this prize in his previous life.
In my previous life, Director Kwon Taeoh received the TGV Award.
Back then, Geonwoo had already abandoned his dream of directing.
Hyunsoo whispered,
"Hyung, you look nervous. Are you?"
"Yeah. Very."
Geonwoo answered honestly.
Hyunsoo didn't laugh.
He simply patted Geonwoo's shoulder once.
Dogyeom hugged the trophy and stared at the stage.
Yura and Taejun also watched silently.
A TGV executive walked onto the stage carrying an envelope.
The hall quieted.
She opened it and pulled out the card.
"This year's TGV Award goes to..."
Geonwoo stopped breathing for an instant.
"Before the Light Reaches, Director Baek Geonwoo."
Hyunsoo turned immediately.
"Hyung!"
Yura and Taejun stood at the same time.
Dogyeom opened his mouth while hugging the Audience Award trophy.
"It's our movie again!"
Geonwoo couldn't stand immediately.
The candidate posters disappeared.
Before the Light Reaches appeared in their place.
The TGV logo sat above the poster.
Below it was the name Baek Geonwoo.
Hyunsoo grabbed Geonwoo's shoulder.
"Hyung! Wake up and get onstage!"
Geonwoo stood.
The TGV Award.
The award he had desperately wanted in his previous life.
He had never imagined he would actually receive it.
Yura grabbed his arm to congratulate him.
Taejun slapped his back.
Geonwoo stepped into the aisle and walked toward the stage.
The TGV executive handed him the trophy.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Geonwoo accepted his second trophy and stood at the microphone.
"I never expected to win two awards."
Laughter came from the audience.
"I already said everything I prepared earlier, so I don't have another speech."
More laughter.
"But if I'm being completely honest..."
He looked at the trophy.
"When I submitted Before the Light Reaches to the Busan International Film Festival's Vision section, this was the award I most wanted to receive."
The hall quieted.
"Because receiving this award means my film might not end inside the festival. It means there is a chance for it to meet many more people in actual theaters."
Yoon Jihye watched him from the audience.
"I won't let Before the Light Reaches disappear after playing in only a few small theaters."
"I'll keep running until even one more person gets a chance to watch it. Thank you."
