A Miracle for a Lifelong Last-Place Team… SBS’ ‘TRAI’ Wins Top Prize at the Houston Film Festival

SBS’ acclaimed sports drama 'TRAI' dominates North America with a miraculous comeback win

SBS’ well-made sports drama 'TRAI: Miracles Become Us' (hereafter 'TRAI') proved once again just how overwhelming K-content’s global influence is, by taking home the Grand Prize—the highest honor—at the 59th 'Houston International Film Festival'.

A Grand Prize Feat Among North America’s Top Three… The Power of Authenticity Brought by 'TRAI'

According to SBS’ official announcement on the 15th, 'TRAI' captured the Grand Prize in the 'Houston International Film Festival' this year, in the 'TV, Cable, and Web Content Production' category. The festival is widely regarded as a top-tier video arts event with the third-longest history in North America, alongside the San Francisco and New York film festivals.

After successfully concluding last August, 'TRAI' depicts, through dynamic and meticulous direction, the journey of the Hanyang High School rugby team—once stuck at the bottom for years—after meeting the eccentric coach Joo Garam ('Yoon Kye-sang') as they charge toward a miracle: winning the National Athletics and Championships. At the time of broadcast, it surpassed a peak viewership rating of 6.8% (Nielsen Korea, nationwide standard), and was hailed as a great work that secured both mass appeal and artistic merit.

'Jang Young-seok' Director: "We’ll share the glory with the staff who worked up a sweat on set"

Director 'Jang Young-seok', who held the helm of the project, said, "From the hot summer to the cold winter, I’ll share this heavy, hard-won honor with the actors and staff who worked together on location and suffered. The Grand Prize win firmly signals that 'TRAI'’s sports-drama signature—its grit and sincerity—fully resonated even on the world stage beyond Korea."