BIFF appoints new director, film market chief ahead of October event

Huh Moon-young, right, and Oh Seok-geun / Courtesy of BIFF Organizing Committee

By Kwak Yeon-soo

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has appointed film critic Huh Moon-young as its new director. He will replace former festival head Jay Jeon, who stepped down abruptly in January after serving in the role for three years.

Huh has served as head of Cinematheque Busan and program director of the Busan Cinema Center since 2005. He was the BIFF's Korean Cinema programmer for five years beginning 2002, following a journalistic career in local publications such as JoongAng Monthly and Cine21.

Oh Seok-geun, former Korean Film Council (KOFIC) chairperson, has been tapped as the new co-director of the Asian Contents & Film Market event, replacing Tcha Sung-jai who served in the post for two years.

A founding member of the BIFF, Oh is a renowned producer ("Camellia") and director ("The 101st Proposition," "Love Is a Crazy Thing"). He headed KOFIC from 2018 to January this year. Before then, he served as the director of the Busan Film Commission and the Asia Film Commissions Network.

"With many years of experience in the film industry, the newly appointed directors Huh and Oh will be at the forefront of successfully holding the festival and market and developing its visions for the future," the festival's organizing committee said in a statement.

The 26th edition of BIFF will take place in Busan from Oct. 6 to 15 while the Asian Contents & Film Market will be held from Oct. 11 to 14.

Site Map E-paper Subscribe Register LogIn
Site Map E-paper Subscribe Register LogIn