Asia's largest film festival, the 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), will run from October 2 to 11, bringing together filmmakers and audiences from around the world for 10 days of cinematic celebration. The opening ceremony will be held at the outdoor theater of the Busan Cinema Center on October 2 at 6 p.m.
This year’s BIFF will feature 224 officially invited films from 63 countries, with an additional 54 films shown as part of the Community BIFF program and 15 as part of the Neighborhood BIFF screenings. The festival will take place across multiple venues throughout Busan, including Busan Cinema Center, Centum City, and Nampo-dong, offering diverse programming for both local and international audiences.
The opening film is Jeon, Ran, directed by Kim Sang-man and produced and written by celebrated filmmaker Park Chan-wook. The closing film will be The Breaking Ice, directed by Singaporean filmmaker Eric Khoo, the first Singaporean to receive cultural honors at Cannes, Berlin, and Venice film festivals.
This year’s BIFF has increased its official selections by 15 films compared to last year, with 86 world premieres, showcasing a wide variety of films from prominent directors across Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world. The lineup includes films that have garnered international acclaim at Cannes and Berlin, as well as major global releases, original series, and mainstream Korean commercial films.
For the first time, BIFF will introduce the "Documentary Audience Award," a new initiative aimed at expanding the popularity of documentary films. Ten Korean and Asian documentary films from the Wide Angle section will compete for this award, which will be determined by audience votes.
Alongside film screenings, BIFF will host discussions and panels with prominent industry leaders and experts. The 19th Asian Contents & Film Market will take place from October 5 to 8, featuring sessions on intellectual property (IP) trade, including film, video content, and storytelling. Key events will include the "Producers Hub," which facilitates international co-productions, and an "AI Conference" exploring the intersection of technology and cinema.
BIFF will also enhance its connection with the local community by participating in the "Festival Siwol," a new convergence exhibition and convention in Busan, and by hosting "Neighborhood BIFF" events at Domoheon, a cultural space that was once the official residence of the Mayor of Busan.
Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon expressed his enthusiasm for the festival, stating, "The Busan International Film Festival, as Asia’s largest film festival and a valuable cultural asset of Busan, will be held with even more exciting programming this year. We will continue to support the festival so that film can grow as a diverse medium of art, communication, and industry on the world stage."
Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com
