Busan: This year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will open next month with 246 selected works from 59 countries, marking its biggest lineup since 2019, organizers announced Tuesday. The 31st edition of BIFF is set to commence on October 6 in the southeastern city of Busan, running for ten days, with 95 films scheduled for world premieres.
According to Yonhap News Agency, for the second consecutive year, BIFF will feature a Competition section with 14 films from countries such as South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. This category is dedicated to Asian cinema, and the organizing committee noted a significant increase in the range and quality of submissions compared to the first year.
A record 36 films will be showcased in the Icons section, highlighting the latest works by iconic filmmakers globally, including Cannes-winning films like Cristian Mungiu's "Fjord" and Ryusuke Hamaguchi's "All of a Sudden." The festival will also spotlight Japanese animations in a special exhibition, tapping into the rising popularity of the genre, as evidenced by the success of "KPop Demon Hunters."
Korean film enthusiasts can look forward to director Kim Jong-kwan's "The Table: Day and Night," which will open the festival. Other notable films include July Chung's coming-of-age story "Dora" and "Still Shining," marking veteran actor Kim Hye-ja's return to the big screen after nine years.
The event will be graced by stars such as Maggie Gyllenhaal, Isabelle Huppert, Zhou Xun, and Fan Bingbing. Additionally, Michelle Yeoh, the first Asian to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, will be honored as BIFF's "Asian Filmmaker of the Year." Hong Kong director Ann Hui will receive the Camellia Award for her contributions to empowering women in the film industry.
Renowned directors, including Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, and Taiwan-based Tsai Ming-liang, are also expected to attend BIFF. To accommodate more viewers, the festival will open on a Tuesday this year instead of the usual Wednesday, and organizers plan to increase the number of screenings from Thursday to Sunday.