Bucheon Fantastic Film Festival leaps into AI-driven era for 30th anniv.

Chang Mi-hee, chairperson of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), speaks during a press conference at the Seoul Garden Hotel, Tuesday. Yonhap

The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) is ready to lead changes in the movie industry this year, its 30th anniversary, by actively embracing AI and new media while staying true to its identity as a home for genre cinema.

As it celebrates 30 years of showcasing unique and imaginative movies, Asia's top genre film festival aims to create a new trend where advanced technology and human creativity come together.

This year’s BIFAN, running from July 2 to 12 in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, will feature an all-time high of 321 films from 50 countries.

Reflecting the festival's tech-forward vision, the lineup includes 38 AI-generated films and 28 extended reality (XR) projects, alongside 170 feature films and 85 shorts. Director Yuen Woo-ping’s "The Blades of the Guardians" will open the festival.

The organizers emphasized that the anniversary is not just a celebration of longevity, but a new beginning for the future of moviemaking.

"This is not merely a story of the trajectory of time that has passed, but a moment to reflect on the journey of the past 30 years and to leap toward the future of cinema that has not yet arrived," Chang Mi-hee, actor and festival chair, said during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday.

Chang added that BIFAN has created its own unique space by bringing strange and creative ideas into the movie world.

"This year, we will demonstrate in a fascinating way how AI and high technology can fuse with cinematic imagination to glimpse into the inherent power of cinema and the human soul," she said.

Song Seung-whan, right, the chief director of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival's (BIFAN), speaks during a press conference at the Seoul Garden Hotel, Tuesday. Yonhap

The festival's move comes at a difficult time for the global movie industry, which is facing challenges from streaming services and generative AI. However, BIFAN organizers see these as a great opportunity for a new generation of filmmakers.

"BIFAN is striving to transform its appearance in line with the coming era," Shin Chul, the festival's executive director, said. "We want to lead the way in bringing streaming and theaters together, while also finding and connecting AI technology with creators."

To further bridge the gap between technology and traditional performance, the opening ceremony will feature a sophisticated collaborative performance exploring the relationship between humanoid robots and humans, according to Song Seung-whan, the festival's opening ceremony chief director.

"We want this opening ceremony to visually symbolize BIFAN's new era," Song said. "By bringing humanoid robots onto the stage alongside human performers, we will present a harmonious spectacle that embodies how art and advanced technology can coexist and inspire one another."

To celebrate international cultural ties, BIFAN will also feature a special French science fiction retrospective in commemoration of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France.

Additionally, spotlight programs will focus on master filmmakers and actors from fast-growing East Asian markets, such as Hong Kong and Indonesia.