This year's BIFF aims to be more audience-friendly
Park Kwang-su, second from left, chair of the Busan International Film Festival, poses with members of its organizing committee during a press conference at the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry building in central Seoul, Tuesday. From left, excluding the chair, are Kim Young-deok, director of Asian Contents & Film Market, Park Do-sin, co-deputy director, and Nam Dong-chul, program director. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul
This year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), the largest film fest in Asia, is set to boost its appeal by showcasing a wider selection of popular films and incorporating cutting-edge technology, its organizers said.
“We suffered a major setback last year, but with the support from many who cherish the Busan Film Festival, especially actor Song Kang-ho and other filmmakers, we were able to conclude the festival successfully,” Park Kwang-su, chair of the BIFF, said during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday.
Last year, the BIFF was held in a state of emergency, with both the chairperson and director positions vacant due to internal issues of the organizing committee and an ex-director's alleged sexual scandal.
Park, who was appointed as the new chair in June, expressed his hope that this year’s event will restore the core values of the film festival that were lost and enhance public engagement. The festival, scheduled to take place from Oct. 2-11 in the southeastern port city, has officially invited 224 films from 63 countries, marking an 8 percent increase from the previous year.
"Despite a 50 percent cut in government subsidies from last year, we've managed to preserve the scale of Asia's top film festival through increased self-financing," Park said.
In its drive to engage a broader audience, the BIFF will screen films with wide appeal this year.
The upcoming Netflix film "Uprising" will open the 10 days of festivities. Set during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the film explores the story of two childhood friends — a master (Park Jeong-min) and his servant (Gang Dong-won) — who reunite after the war as adversaries.
This marks the first time an OTT platform film has been selected as the opening feature for the BIFF. This choice may symbolize the shifting landscape of the film industry, traditionally dominated by theatrical releases, and highlights the growing impact of streaming platforms. It reflects the increasingly blurred lines between the small screen and the big screen.
An outdoor screening of the documentary "RM: Right People, Wrong Place" further highlights BIFF's effort to captivate a diverse audience. This film explores BTS leader RM's journey in creating his first solo album and delves into his personal experiences during the eight months leading up to his military enlistment.
The BIFF also chose Singaporean director Eric Khoo's “Sprit World” as its closing film. Japanese director Kurosawa Kiyoshi will receive this year's Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award and late Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun will posthumously receive the Korean Cinema Award.
Kim Young-deok, director of the Asian Contents & Film Market, noted that U.S. tech giant Microsoft will participate in the festival to showcase its AI technologies, including Copilot. This participation underscores the festival’s integration of advanced technology.
“Microsoft made a big presence at this year's Cannes Film Festival with a slogan of 'AI is not creative. You are.' The company delivered a strong message that it is you who is creative. This year, for the first time in Asia, Microsoft will have a booth at the BIFF, inviting visitors to experience AI technology and showcasing the convergence of technology and art,” Kim said.
Additionally, to enhance the guest experience, the BIFF will provide shuttle bus services for convenient transportation and will reopen the guest lounge to foster communication among filmmakers.