2021 Rising Star Award: Bang Min-a

Three high school best friends afflicted by adolescent anomie run away together in search of an answer to all their troubles. Spoiler alert: they don't find one! After tasting the hard reality of living on their own, just scraping by, they come to a tenuous crossroads that could lead to dire consequences. Lee Woo-jung’s powerful debut rings frighteningly true in its take on teen angst and alienation. All the tenderness, vulnerability and cruelty of youth drive the universe of the film, as the girls endure excruciating growing pains. Lee’s incredible eye for the minute nuances of teenage behavior is impressively bolstered by the poignant, unsettling performances of her young cast, which features Bang Min-a from K-Pop stars Girl’s Day, belying her heretofore glamorous image.