Local hit Arahan proved to be the big winner at SouthKorea's Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan), taking home theBest of Puchon grand prize as well as the Audience Award.

The festival jury,led by U.S. director Stuart Gordon, also presented a Jury Award to Japanesedrama The Taste Of Teaand a Best Director Award to Argentinian director Leonardo Di Cesare for GoodLife Delivery.

Korea's secondlargest festival, which has seen its international profile rise considerably inthe past couple years, drew upwards of 60,000 viewers in its 8th edition.

The generalfeeling among international guests was that this year's event offered less inthe way of discoveries compared to a standout 2003 edition. Particular scorn was heaped on localhorrormeister Ahn Byung-ki's closing film Bunshinsaba, referred to by several guests as"the worst movie in the festival."

Perhaps thehighest profile screening at PiFan was a surprise presentation of Old Boy director Park Chan-wook's contribution toomnibus horror film Three... Extremes. Thejust-completed 40-minute film, titled Cut, was screened without subtitles on July 24, the lastday of the festival.

Three...Extremes also containssegments by Hong Kong director Fruit Chan and Japanese filmmaker Miike Takashi,and is rumoured to be slotted for a Midnight Screening at Venice.

As Asia's largestfantastic film festival, PiFan also introduced the inaugural EFFFF Asian Award,judged by members of the European Fantastic Film Festival Federation (of whichPiFan is a supporting member).This year's prize was presented to Indian feature Virumaandi by Kamal Haasan.

8th PuchonInternational Film Festival, Awards

Best of Puchon:
Arahan (S Korea), dir.Ryoo Seung-wan

Jury Award:
The Taste Of Tea(Japan), dir. Katsuhito Ishii

Best Director:
Leonardo Di Cesare, Good Life Delivery (Argentina)

Best Actor:
Benoit Delepine & Gustave Kervern, Aaltra (Belgium/France)

Best Actress:
Nat Wattanapat, My Suicide(Thailand)

Citizen's Choice:
Arahan (S Korea), dir. Ryoo Seung-wan

EFFFF Asian Award:
Virumaandi (India),dir. Kamal Haasan

EFFFF Asian Award, Special Mention:
Innocence (Japan), dir.Mamoru Oshii

Grand Prize, Short Films:
Goodbye, Cruel World(UK), dir Vito Rocco