Busan Int'l Film Festival kicks off star-studded 10-day run
People queue to purchase goods at Busan Cinema Center in Busan, Tuesday, the opening day of the 31st Busan International Film Festival. Yonhap
BUSAN — The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opened Tuesday for a 10-day run, bringing 316 films from 59 countries to Korea’s southeastern port city and ushering in an expanded edition with international prestige.
The opening ceremony, hosted by actress Kim Min-ha, was set to take place at the Busan Cinema Center, officially kicking off Asia’s largest film festival.
Following the opening ceremony, director Kim Jong-kwan’s "The Table: Day and Night" will have its world premiere as the opening film. The movie explores the intersecting lives of four couples visiting a cafe during the transition from summer to autumn.
Launched in 1996 as the country’s first international film festival, BIFF has grown into Asia's premier film event, serving as a platform for discovering new Asian directors and films.
Marking its largest scale since 2019, this year’s festival runs through through Oct. 15, presenting a diverse lineup across 31 screens in eight theaters in Busan, with 93 films making their world premieres.
This year, the festival has formal recognition as an A-list festival by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), placing it alongside major global cinema events such as Cannes, Berlin and Venice.
A visitor takes a photo at Busan Cinema Center in Busan, Tuesday, the opening day of the 31st Busan International Film Festival. Yonhap
To offer expanded opportunities for movie fans, BIFF moved its opening day from Wednesday to Tuesday. Since audience visits are concentrated in the first week, organizers increased the daily screening sessions from four to five from Thursday through Sunday.
This year's edition marks its second year of official competition, featuring 13 Asian films vying across five categories for the Busan Awards. Jury head Zhang Yimou leads a seven-member jury to select the winners. The winner of the top prize is eligible to be submitted for the Best International Feature Film category at the U.S. Academy Awards.
Renowned international film figures are scheduled to attend this year's edition. Michelle Yeoh will receive the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award, with a special program in focus presenting three movies personally handpicked by her, alongside her latest feature "It's My Time," to spotlight her unique cinematic universe. Kim Dong-ho, former BIFF executive committee chairman, will receive the Korean Cinema Award, while Hong Kong filmmaker Ann Hui will receive the Camellia Award.
Director Alfonso Cuaron, actor and director Maggie Gyllenhaal, actors Isabelle Huppert and Charlotte Gainsbourg and directors Majid Majidi, Lav Diaz and Rintaro will also attend the festival.
People walk past Busan Cinema Center in Busan, Tuesday, the opening day of the 31st Busan International Film Festival. Yonhap
Asian stars such as Shu Qi, Zhou Xun, Fan Bingbing and Masami Nagasawa will gather in Busan to meet cinema fans. Korean filmmakers and actors, including directors Lee Chang-dong, Na Hong-jin and Kim Ji-woon, as well as actors Jeon Do-yeon and Hyun Bin will participate in various festival programs.
Special programs highlight various cinema aspects. "Those Beautiful Years, Ahn Sung-ki” honors the late actor’s legacy, while "Japanese Animation Special: Masterpieces of Madness, Exhilarating Prospects 12+1” explores the past and present of Japanese animation, screening classics including "The White Snake Enchantress" and "Metropolis."
In addition to film screenings, the festival will host major industry platforms to discuss the future of cinema and facilitate global film and content trades.
Forum BIFF takes place from Thursday to Sunday to address changing industry, technology and policy environments while exploring future possibilities of contemporary cinema. The Asian Contents and Film Market takes place from Saturday through Tuesday to serve as a business platform for buying, selling and funding Asian film and content, featuring 64 programs across seven categories with Thailand as the country of honor.
Community BIFF and BIFF Everywhere are engaging movie fans by expanding audience participation beyond traditional theaters to various locations across Busan, including Nampo-dong, as well as nearby Yangsan.