Projects byKorean-American director Grace Lee and Taiwanese actor/director Lee Kang-shengwill share the top award bestowed by the 7th Pusan Promotion Plan(PPP).

Held inconcert with the Pusan International Film Festival, Asia's biggestproject market showcased 23 films this year from directors throughoutAsia.

Other filmsto receive awards include Korean film Thou Shall Cut Off A Grapevine,Chinese-Korean co-production Grain In Ear, as well asthe big-budget Thai and Korean films The Queens Of Pattaniand The Host (see full list, below).

About 1000participants from 30 countries took part in the three-day event, with over 550official meetings set up by PPP organizers. More important than the awards, the PPP also offered achance for the selected filmmakers to meet with prospective financiers andbuyers from throughout the world to discuss co-operation.

The PPP alsoorganized a parallel Industry Center for Asian sales companies, which sawseveral deals concluded, including the sale of melodrama A Moment ToRemember to Japan's Gaga for a record minimumguarantee. Sales agent CatherinePark of CJ Entertainment noted that the film, which was sold on the basis of a23-minute highlight reel, is based on a Japanese TV drama.

CelestialPictures and Mei Ah Entertainment of Hong Kong also reported deals ofunspecified titles, including a 30-title package deal to Korea by Mei Ah.

The PPP'sfirst market screenings, limited to digital projections, also drew considerableinterest, leading the event to consider modifications or expansions for nextyear.

Japanesebuyers in particular were out in strong numbers. "It's been hard finding time to meet everyone injust three days," noted Korea Pictures' EJ Cho.

2004 PPPProject Awards
Busan Award ($20,000) (tie):
Smells Like Butter (Korea-US), dir Grace Lee
/ Help Me (Taiwan), dir. Lee Kang-sheng
Kodak Award ($18,000 of negative film): Thou Shall Cut Off A Grapevine(Korea), dir. Min Boung-hun
MBC Movies Award ($9,000): The Host (Korea),dir. Bong Joon-ho
Cineclick Asia Award ($10,000): The Queens Of Pattani(Thailand), dir. Nonzee Nimibutr
BFC Award ($10,000): Grain In Ear(China-Korea), dir. Zhang Lu
NDIF i Pictures Project Award: National Exercise (Korea),dir. Lee Wonsuk