Entertainment · October 15, 2026
Majid Majidi’s ‘Midday Meal’ Wins Busan Best Film Award; Qualifies For Oscars Consideration
Majid Majidi’s film 'Midday Meal' won the Best Film award at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). The victory grants the film an automatic path to Oscar consideration for Best International Feature, bypassing the need for a national selection committee's endorsement. The film centers on a teacher in rural Iran struggling to provide meals for his students following the death of a benefactor. During his acceptance speech, Majidi condemned the impact of war on Iran, specifically citing a U.S. military strike on a school in Minab that resulted in the deaths of 120 children.
Read the original coverage
- DeadlineTrade
Majid Majidi’s ‘Midday Meal’ Wins Busan Best Film Award
Read at Deadline ↗ Iranian Drama ‘Midday Meal’ Wins Busan Film Festival’s Top Prize, Qualifying for Oscar Consideration
Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗- VarietyTrade
Iranian Auteur Majid Majidi Wins Top Prize at Busan Film Festival With ‘Midday Meal’
Read at Variety ↗
Reported by multiple outlets
- Majid Majidi's 'Midday Meal' won the Best Film award at the Busan International Film Festival.
- The win qualifies the film for Oscar consideration in the Best International Feature category.
- The film follows a rural teacher struggling to keep his school open or feed students.
- Majidi gave an acceptance speech protesting the war in Iran.
- Zhang Yimou served as the jury president.
Reported by only some outlets
- Iran has already officially submitted 'Land of Angels' for the 99th Academy Awards.
- The Busan jury decision for Best Film was unanimous.
- The film features an entirely nonprofessional cast cast from the Martian Mountains region.
- Variety reported 156 total civilians were killed in the Minab school strike, while The Hollywood Reporter focused on the 120 students mentioned by Majidi.
- Busan total attendance exceeded 200,000 this year.
Confirmed
- Majid Majidi won Best Film at the 31st Busan International Film Festival for 'Midday Meal'.
- The win provides a route to the Oscars for Best International Feature.
- The film concerns a teacher in a parched village trying to feed or educate students.
- Majidi used his speech to condemn the U.S.-led war and a strike on a school in Minab.
Reported
- The jury decision for Best Film was unanimous. (The Hollywood Reporter)
- The total death toll of the Minab strike was 156 civilians. (Variety)
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