Kerala story sparkles Busan Film Fest-bags Hylife Vision Award
Kerala story sparkles Busan Film Fest-bags Hylife Vision Award
Indian Filmmaker Sanju Surendran’s directorial on a “Winter’s Night”, was among the recipients of the Hylife Vision Award at the 2025 Busan International Film Festival.
The film, screened in the revamped Vision section of BIFF, shares the honour with Anshul Chauhan’s Tiger.
In its program listing, If on a Winter’s Night is described as telling a story of a Kerala couple navigating life in Delhi amid housing and financial challenges.
Sanju Surendran’s film also benefited from post-production funding from the Asian Cinema Fund (ACF), a component of BIFF’s support infrastructure for Asian filmmakers. Its world premiere took place at BIFF in 2025.
The Hylife Vision Award acknowledgeds standout films in the Vision section, spotlighting fresh voices and bold cinematic perspectives.
Earlier the film was selected for the Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) Post-Production Grant, which provided crucial support in completing the project. The ACF is one of BIFF’s flagship initiatives to nurture Asian independent cinema, offering funding for script development, post-production, and documentary support.
With this grant, If on a Winter’s Night joined a distinguished line-up of Asian films that have gained international visibility through Busan’s industry platforms.
Adding to this achievement, If on a Winter’s Night premiered in BIFF’s Vision section and went on to receive the Hylife Vision Award, a recognition given to bold and original cinematic voices. The award highlights the film’s resonance with audiences and its strong artistic merit.
The lead roles are played by Roshan Abdul Rahoof and Bhanu Priya. The film is produced by Dr. Surendran, with co-producers Pramod Sankar and Kiran Kesav, and executive producer Payal Kapadia.
According to Sanju, the same team is now developing their next project, Kothiyan – Fishers of Men, which won the Second Prize at the Goa Film Bazaar 2024 Co-Production Market. He noted that the project is currently in process and will advance to the second phase of the selection process for CineMart 2026 in Rotterdam, further strengthening their presence on the international stage.
News Edit KV Raman
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