What is the opening film of the 31st Busan International Film Festival?

The opening film is The Table: Day and Night, a Korean film directed by Kim Jong-kwan. BIFF said the film centers on four couples and their lively yet tender conversations at a single cafe.

Who directed The Table: Day and Night and what is his film background?

Kim Jong-kwan directed the film. BIFF noted that he debuted with the short How to Operate a Polaroid Camera in 2004 and later made Come, Closer, The Table and Shades of the Heart.

When and where will the 31st Busan International Film Festival take place?

The 31st BIFF is scheduled to run from Oct. 6 to 15 in Busan. The article identifies Busan as the southeastern port city where the festival will be held.

BIFF taps 'The Table: Day and Night' as opening film

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Summary

The Korean film The Table: Day and Night will open this year’s Busan International Film Festival, organizers said Wednesday. Directed by Kim Jong-kwan, it follows four couples talking at a single cafe. The ensemble cast includes Kim Min-ha, Han Sun-hwa, Lee Hee-jun, Shim Eun-kyung and Kim Dong-hwi. The 31st BIFF is scheduled for Oct. 6-15 in Busan.

Key Facts

The film is directed by Kim Jong-kwan, whose earlier works include How to Operate a Polaroid Camera, Come, Closer, The Table and Shades of the Heart.
BIFF described the film as an elegant and assured work that reflects the director’s long-running cinematic interests, style, perspective and world.
Kim Jong-kwan also produced the segment Walking at Night for the Netflix original series Persona in 2019.
The 31st Busan International Film Festival is scheduled to run from Oct. 6 to 15 in the southeastern port city of Busan.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 19, 2026 2:12 pm KST

The opening film of this year's Busan International Film Festival 'The Table: Day and Night,' directed by Kim Jong-kwan / Courtesy of K-Movie Entertainment — The opening film of this year's Busan International Film Festival "The Table: Day and Night," directed by Kim Jong-kwan / Courtesy of K-Movie Entertainment

The Korean film "The Table: Day and Night" will open this year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), organizers said Wednesday.

Directed by Kim Jong-kwan, the film follows four couples and their lively yet tender conversations that take place at a single cafe, according to BIFF.

Its ensemble cast includes Kim Min-ha, Han Sun-hwa, Lee Hee-jun, Shim Eun-kyung and Kim Dong-hwi.

"'The Table: Day and Night' is an elegant and assured film in which the cinematic interests, style, perspective, and world that Kim Jong-kwan has persistently explored as a filmmaker reach a provisional culmination," BIFF said in a release.

Kim, who made his directorial debut with the acclaimed short film "How to Operate a Polaroid Camera" (2004), has also helmed "Come, Closer" (2010), "The Table" (2017) and "Shades of the Heart" (2021).

He also took part in the Netflix original series "Persona" (2019) by producing one of its segments "Walking at Night."

The 31st edition of BIFF is scheduled to run from Oct. 6-15 in the southeastern port city of Busan.

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