“Poet on a Business Trip” by Chinese director Ju Anqi won the grand prize in the International Competition of the 16th Jeonju International Film Festival, while the top honor in the Korean competition section went to “Alice in Earnestland” from Ahn Gooc-jin, it was announced Wednesday.

“Blossom” by Han In-mi took the trophy in Korean Competition for Shorts category.

“Poet on a Business Trip,” which made its Asian premiere in Jeonju, follows a poet named Xiou as he travels through the mountains, forests, lakes, and deserts of western China to write a series of 16 poems. International Competition jury member Vangelis Mourkis described the film as “simple, curious, artful and ultimately very moving.”

In the International Competition section, “Navajazo” from Mexican director Ricardo Silva took home the Best Picture Prize (Woosuk Award) while “Parabellum” by Argentinian director Lukas Valenta Rinner was awarded the Special Jury Prize.

The Korean Grand Prize winner “Alice in Earnestland” was noted by the jury for its experimental boldness. Described as having “rare and weird characters, wild angles, and aggressive editing, different genres (that are) confusing (and) mixed up and extraordinary visuals” by JIFF programmer Jang Byung-won, the movie is set to open in local theaters in the latter half of the year.

“Blossom” from director Han In-mi won top honors in the short film competition with a unanimous vote from the jury. The half-hour film tells the story of two 12-year-old girls who take on part-time jobs. According to JIFF, the jury commented on the film saying “it captures a breakdown moment of childhood innocence, throwing bold questions about the violent side of capitalism.”

Among other films honored at the ceremony were “Under the Sun” from Ahn Seul-ki, which won the NETPAC Prize and the Distribution Support Award at the “Rising Cinema Showcase” of the Jeonju Project Market, “With or Without You” by Park Hyuk-jee which won the Distribution Support Prize from CGV Arthouse and “To be Sixteen” by Kim Hyeon-seung, which received the Upcoming Project Prize from CGV Arthouse.

By Won Ho-jung  (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)