Oscars 2020: Bong Joon Ho praises translator Sharon Choi, who is also a director

Like much of the film world, the “Parasite� team was still reeling from its historic best picture win Sunday at the 92nd Academy Awards as they made their way backstage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, greeted by a standing ovation from journalists.

“When we have these amazing results, it still feels very surreal,� said director Bong Joon Ho. “I feel like something will hit me, and I will wake up from this dream. It’s literally … crazy.�

Though the filmmaker has received critical acclaim for past projects like “Okja,� the overwhelming success and global popularity of “Parasite� — a 100% Korean-language project — has inspired Bong to look to his roots.

“That’s what made me think that, perhaps, the deeper I delve into things that are around me, the broader the story can become and the more appeal it can have to an international audience,� he said.

The director winner also gave a shout-out to fellow nominee Martin Scorsese, to whom he delivered a touching tribute during an emotional acceptance speech earlier Sunday night.

“I’ve seen Scorsese lose this award multiple times, and he didn’t know me back then, but I was so frustrated,� Bong said. “To be nominated with him has been a huge honor. It’s hard to believe.�

And, of course, the team addressed the major strides “Parasite� has made for South Korean cinema — which hadn’t been recognized by the motion picture academy until Sunday night — as well as the boundaries it has broken for all international titles.

“During the Golden Globes, I mentioned the one-inch barrier subtitles, but I feel like that was already a little late,� Bong said. “I think we’re all connected, so I think naturally, we will come to a day when, foreign-language film or not, it doesn’t really matter. A foreign-language film winning [best picture], won’t be much of an issue later on, hopefully.�

“It’s the first time a Korean film has been nominated for the Oscars, so to just win one award would have been a huge celebration,� added producer Kwak Sin Ae. “But to win four categories ... I can’t even imagine the atmosphere in Korea right now and what will happen when we get back.�

Bong Joon Ho, winner of the award for international film for “Parasite,� and interpreter Sharon Choi at the 35th Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday in Santa Monica, Calif.

(Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

After celebrating fellow trailblazing Asian filmmaker Lulu Wang for her recent Indie Spirit Award win for “The Farewell,� Bong then turned the spotlight on another female Asian director — his translator, Sharon Choi — who blushed and cowered behind her hands as he promoted her work.

“She’s a filmmaker, and she studied film at university,� Bong said, beaming at Choi, who has been by his side for “Parasite’s� entire awards-season run. “I’m so curious about her script. She’s writing a feature-length script. I’m so curious about it.�