59th Grand Bell Awards
The 59th Grand Bell Awards, also known as Daejong International Film Awards, is determined and presented annually by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea for excellence in film in South Korea. The Grand Bell Awards were first presented in 1962 and have gained prestige as the Korean equivalent of the American Academy Awards. The 59th edition of the award ceremony was co-hosted with the Gyeonggi Arts Center for the first time at the Gyeonggi Arts Center Grand Theater and Convention Hall on November 15, 2023. Cha In-pyo and Jang Do-yeon were master of ceremonies for the award night.
Concrete Utopia won six awards including three popular awards viz.: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and three technical awards viz.: Visual Effects, Sound Effects, and Art Awards.
Judging panel
The judging panel consisted of 9 members:- Jeong Sung-il, film critic
- Kim Hong-shin, novelist
- Won Dong-yeon, film producer
- Jo Hye-jeong, Chung-Ang University professor
- Kim Do-young, film director
- Park Jong-won, Korea National University of Arts professor
- Kim Sun-a, head of the Women's Filmmakers' Association
- Kang Kyung-ho, Kyonggi University professor
- Sung Joon-hyun, Theater Directors Association
Nominations and winners
The Grand Bell Awards Committee selected the nominees for all domestic releases from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. The nominations for best film were announced on October 20, and for the rest of categories on 24th.Films with multiple nominations
The following films received multiple nominations:| Nominations | Films |
| 14 | Cobweb |
| 11 | Smugglers |
| 11 | Concrete Utopia |
| 10 | The Night Owl |
| 6 | Sleep |
| 5 | Hero |
| 5 | Next Sohee |
| 5 | The Moon |
| 4 | Phantom |
| 3 | Road to Boston |
| 3 | Ransomed |
| 3 | The Apartment with Two Women |
| 2 | The Point Men |
| 2 | Green House |
| 2 | Dream Palace |
| 2 | The Hill of Secrets |
| 2 | Killing Romance |
| 2 | Hail to Hell |