Busan: Renowned Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou has been appointed as the jury president for the main Competition section of the upcoming Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), the festival organizers announced on Thursday. Zhang will lead a diverse seven-member jury tasked with selecting the winners of the Busan Award among 13 films shortlisted for the Competition section, which was first introduced last year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the jury includes notable figures from the global film industry such as Chinese filmmaker Bi Gan, Japanese director Kei Ishikawa, Vietnamese producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, and South Korean director July Jung. Additionally, South Korean actor Choi Hee-seo and Kazakhstani actor Samal Yeslyamova will also serve on the jury.
Zhang Yimou is celebrated for his contributions to cinema, having won top honors at prestigious international film festivals. His accolades include the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for "Red Sorghum" (1987), and the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival for "The Story of Qiu Ju" (1992) and "Not One Less" (1999). Zhang also received the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for "To Live" (1994).
The 31st edition of BIFF, recognized as Asia's largest film festival, is set to take place in the southeastern port city of Busan from October 6 to 15.