Kim Bo-sung’s “The Square” Wins Best Animated Feature at Asia Pacific Film Awards

At the recent 18th Asia Pacific Film Awards ceremony, Korean director Kim Bo-sung’s highly anticipated new work, The Square, was honored with the Best Animated Feature award. The film had its global premiere earlier this year at the Tribeca Film Festival and has been hailed by international media as “a love poem imbued with classical tragic undertones.”

Set against the backdrop of North Korea, the film tells the forbidden yet poignant love story between a Swedish diplomat stationed in Pyongyang and a local female traffic officer. Amidst strict surveillance and diplomatic restrictions, their emotions quietly blossom. When the diplomat resolves to take her to Stockholm for a new life, the woman suddenly disappears. As the protagonist sinks into confusion, he gradually grows suspicious of everyone around him… The film delicately portrays the emotional struggles and human dilemmas of individuals in a unique political environment.

Directed and written by Kim Bo-sung, the film was produced by the Korean Academy of Film Arts, with M-Line Distribution handling international sales. The competition for the Best Animated Feature award was particularly intense this year, with other nominated works including Lee Moon-woo’s The Story of Fire, Takahiro Aoki’s Chao, and Tommy Ng Kai Chung’s Another World. Additionally, the Best Feature Film award was won by Jafar Panahi’s It’s Just an Accident.

Asia Pacific Film Awards Chairperson Tracey Vieira remarked during the ceremony, “This year’s winning films reflect the extraordinary diversity of perspectives and creative vitality in the Asia-Pacific region.” Motion Picture Association Chairman and Asia Pacific Managing Director Ulrika Venugopal further noted, “The Asia Pacific Film Awards bring together cinematic cultures from over seventy countries and regions, showcasing a rich tapestry of narrative traditions and artistic expressions. Today, filmmakers from the Asia-Pacific region are telling stories that transcend borders and resonate emotionally with audiences worldwide.”

As one of the most influential film awards in the Asia-Pacific region, this year’s event received submissions from over 70 countries and regions. The final nominees spanned multiple categories, including animation, documentary, feature films, and short films, fully demonstrating the vibrant ecosystem and cultural diversity of filmmaking in the Asia-Pacific region.