Acclaimed director Na Hong-jin, known for his critically praised films "The Chaser" and "The Wailing," expressed the immense pressure and responsibility he feels serving as jury chairman for the Busan International Film Festival's inaugural competition section. Speaking candidly at a press conference held at the Busan Cinema Center on Thursday, the renowned filmmaker admitted his initial reluctance to take on the prestigious role.

"I was so burdened that I really didn't want to do it," Na confessed to the assembled media, drawing laughter from attendees when he revealed that even appearing on stage at the previous night's opening ceremony "made me panic." His honest admission highlighted the weight of responsibility that comes with leading the judging panel for this historic milestone in the festival's 30-year journey.

The Busan International Film Festival has introduced the Busan Awards as part of its landmark 30th anniversary celebration, reinforcing its longstanding commitment to discovering and promoting exceptional Asian cinema. The new competition will present awards across five distinct categories: Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor/Actress, the Special Jury Award, and the Artistic Contribution Award. In a special honor befitting the festival's milestone year, the winner of the Best Film award will have the privilege of closing the 30th edition of BIFF.

Na leads an internationally diverse and distinguished seven-member jury that brings together acclaimed talent from across the film industry. The panel includes celebrated Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka-fai, Indian director and actor Nandita Das, Iranian director Marziyeh Meshkiny, American director Kogonada, Indonesian producer Yulia Evina Bhara, and South Korean actress Han Hyo-joo. This multicultural assembly of industry professionals will evaluate and select winners from a carefully curated selection of 14 Asian films.

The competition features an impressive array of works from emerging and established filmmakers across Asia. The 14 selected films include Isabelle Kalandar's "Another Birth," Koto Nagata's "BAKA's Identity," Lee Jea-han's "By Another Name," Yoo Jae-in's "En Route To," Han Chang-rok's "Funky Freaky Freaks," Shu Qi's "Girl," Zhang Lu's "Gloaming in Luomu," Daisuke Shigaya's "Leave the Cat Alone," Shih-Ching Tsou's "Left-handed Girl," Gan Bi's "Resurrection," Lim Sun-ae's "Seven O'Clock Breakfast Club for the Brokenhearted," Vimukthi Jayasundara's "Spying Stars," Sho Miyake's "Two Seasons, Two Strangers," and Hassan Nazer's "Without Permission."

Reflecting on the selection process and the festival's mission, Na emphasized the importance of supporting emerging artistic talent. "While I didn't participate in the process of selecting films for the competition section, I could indirectly sense a clear direction," he explained. "I felt we need to create opportunities that serve as a foundation and stepping stone for artists." The director pledged his commitment to upholding the festival's prestigious reputation, stating, "I will do my best to produce results that match the festival's reputation. There are so many diverse elements that make up a single work, so I will thoroughly examine each film."

The jury members emphasized their collaborative approach to the judging process, with all panelists committed to reaching unanimous decisions through extensive deliberation. Kogonada, who serves as one of the directors of the Apple TV series "Pachinko," highlighted the enriching nature of the collaborative evaluation process. "For some people, film is all about the acting, for others it's about the design, and for others, it's about the emotion," he observed. "So that is the wonderful thing about being on a jury; you enter that conversation, and hopefully you find a balance to see the film that, as a group, you truly value." This approach ensures that the awards will reflect a comprehensive and thoughtful assessment of each film's artistic merits across multiple dimensions of cinematic excellence.