[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] “Request Cinema: The Cinema You Request,” the flagship program of Community BIFF—a community initiative of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) where audiences directly curate the film screening lineup—has begun online voting to select its final lineup.

“Request Cinema” is Community BIFF’s flagship program, where audiences go beyond simply watching movies to directly propose and shape the films and programs themselves. Alongside film screenings, the festival has created a unique cinematic experience every year by incorporating various interactive programs—such as sing-alongs, live performances, dress code contests, and mission events—as well as discussions with experts from diverse fields, including neuroscientists, psychologists, popular YouTubers, radio DJs, and film distributors.
This year, the event has garnered the most enthusiasm ever. The call for submissions held last June set a new record with a total of 92 proposals featuring 209 program ideas. Following a preliminary screening, 42 proposals comprising 52 programs were shortlisted, and approximately 15 of these will be included in this year’s official Community BIFF lineup.
Audience choice plays the most significant role in the final selection. The results are determined by combining online voting (70%) and in-depth evaluations (30%), and this process is particularly meaningful as audience participation directly shapes the festival’s program lineup.
Voting will take place from July 24 to 31 on the online platform “Patti Town Hall.” Participants may select up to four programs per person; further details are available on the official Community BIFF website of the Busan International Film Festival.
Community BIFF will take place from October 8 to 11 in the Nampo-dong area of Jung-gu, Busan. The 31st Busan International Film Festival will be held from October 6 to 15 at the Busan Cinema Center and throughout Busan, and the “Neighborhood BIFF” program is also scheduled to run concurrently.