Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
BIFF opens public voting for 30th anniversary screenings
A poster for the Busan International Film Festival's (BIFF) Request Cinema program invites the public to vote for their preferred screenings. Courtesy of BIFF
By Baek Byung-yeul
The 30th annual Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is opening up voting for its popular Request Cinema program, a unique event that lets the public curate their own film screenings and related events.
For one week starting Wednesday, the public can vote for the programs they want to see, making the festival a collaborative celebration of cinema. The program is a highlight of Community BIFF, the festival's special section that aims to bring audiences and filmmakers closer together.
This year's edition of Request Cinema received a record number of applications. A total of 87 proposals were submitted by movie fans eager to plan a film program from selection to event planning, the organizing committee said.
After a screening process, 46 programs advanced to the final round and 15 programs will be chosen through a combination of online votes and internal evaluation.
In celebration of the festival's 30th anniversary, this year's programs are centered on beloved films from the festival's past.
Popular traditional themes such as “Masters,” “Fandom,” “Youth” and “Actors” have once again drawn interest. Additionally, proposals on timely topics like climate change, disaster, queer cinema and Asian films have also been widely submitted.
The applications highlight the creative and diverse engagement of the audience programmers. Programs include not only film screenings but also various activities such as guest visits, performances and merchandise.
The committee said there has been a high demand for online meetings with international directors and actors. Plans are underway for sessions with Korean film industry figures, including art director Ryu Seong-hie, known for participating in movies like “The Handmaiden” (2016), and music director Jung Jae-il, known for composing scores for “Parasite” (2019) and the hit Netflix series “Squid Game.”
The 30th BIFF will be held for 10 days from Sept. 17 to 26, primarily at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae District along with other venues throughout the southeastern port city.