Mongolian‑German ‘Zogsool’ Sweeps Busan Vision Awards, Leaving ‘Full Moon’ in the Shade

Mongolian‑German feature Zogsool captured four Vision Awards at the Busan International Film Festival, including the Vision of Jiseok, the NETPAC Award, the FIPRESCI Award, and a shared Hylife Vision award with Full Moon, which secured three awards.

Some observers quipped that a stray yak seemed to nudge the Vision of Jiseok trophy toward the podium, but the real star was director Sakhya Byamba, a former cinematographer turned filmmaker.

The Busan Vision Awards, usually a low‑key affair for cinephiles, turned lively as Zogsool marched off with the most prizes, leaving runner‑up Full Moon to count its three consolation medals.

Critics described Zogsool as "a snow‑drift of visual poetry with a dash of schnitzel sentiment," a description that helped it charm the NETPAC jury, the FIPRESCI critics, and the Vision of Jiseok panel in one night.

The Hylife Vision award was shared between Zogsool and Full Moon, prompting the ceremony’s MC to jokingly suggest a tie‑breaker involving a karaoke duel.

Full Moon, despite its lunar metaphor, settled for three awards – a result a marketing spokesperson humorously called "comfortably dim."

Byamba, who once spent his evenings lighting up sets as a gaffer, now basks in the reflected glow of four shiny statues, teasing that his next project might involve "more yak, less drama."

The ceremony concluded with a ceremonial bow to the city’s famous beaches, where the trophies were displayed against the backdrop of Busan’s shoreline.