Bong Joon Ho will receive the 2020 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Outstanding Director of the Year Award.
“Director Bong and his film ‘Parasite’ transcend every category and genre. Funny, poignant, and thrilling, the film has been embraced around the world, and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival is ecstatic to continue to shine the light on one of the best filmmakers there is and his remarkable oeuvre,” said festival director Roger Durling.
Before the prize presentation is done at the festival, a tribute video embodying Bong’s career will be played alongside a moderated conversation at the Santa Barbara Arlington Theatre. Four of his directed films namely; ‘Memories of Murder’, ‘The Host’, ‘Mother’ and ‘Parasite’ will be screened during the day ahead of the night’s honor. The ceremony is slated to take place this Thursday, January 23.
Bong Joon Ho is a South Korean director and film producer who has received several nominations and wins within the period of this year’s award season with the dramedy film ‘Parasite’. The film is the first project from South Korea to receive multiple Academy Award nominations including best picture and best director for Bong. It also made history at last Sunday’s SAG Awards by becoming the first non-English film to win best ensemble. A Golden Globe award for best foreign language film 2020 and a Palm d’Or win at Cannes Film Festival last year are part of the film’s international recognition.
Bong is the fourth solo recipient of the Outstanding director award. He joins the likes of Greta Gerwig, Spike Lee, Jordan Peele, Alfonso Cuaron, Tom McCarthy, Alejandro G. Inarritu, Guillermo del Toro, Kathryn Bigelow, Damien Chazelle and others to receive such a title at the annual SBIFF.
