[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] Actress Fan Bingbing, Director Kim Ji-woon, and Director of Photography Hong Kyung-pyo will meet audiences at the Busan International Film Festival’s “Carte Blanche” section

The 31st Busan International Film Festival announced the lineup and selected films for this year’s “Carte Blanche” special feature on the 28th.
“Carte Blanche,” a French term meaning “complete freedom of choice,” is a program in which prominent figures in the cultural world personally select works that have deeply influenced their cinematic worlds to watch and discuss with the audience. This year, under the concept of a “filmmaker special,” Director Kim Jee-woon, actress Fan Bingbing, and cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo—who represent the Korean and global film industries—will participate as hosts.
The three—who have each built their own unique cinematic worlds in the distinct fields of directing, cinematography, and acting—will temporarily step down from their roles as creators and return as cinephiles for this edition of “Carte Blanche.”
They will select films that have influenced their cinematic sensibilities and worldviews, and through post-screening Q&A sessions held during the festival, they will share why they came to love those films and discuss key moments in cinema from a creator’s perspective. It promises to be an especially memorable experience, as audiences will gain insight into the tastes and sources of inspiration that lie behind the creative worlds of these three filmmakers.
Director Kim Ji-woon selected *Mad Max*, the mythical starting point of director George Miller’s career. Set against a wasteland backdrop, *Mad Max* laid the foundation for the modern post-apocalyptic genre with its intense visuals and original action direction, making it a legendary work that has had a massive impact on popular culture as a whole.
Director Kim Ji-woon explained his selection, stating, “It is the beginning of that great legend and the most stimulating, raw, and instinctive film in the series.” He added, “The shock and fear I felt from its overwhelming energy when I first saw this movie are still vivid. It is a film that proves what true ‘cinematic cinema’ really is.”
Director Kim Jee-woon made his debut with the film *A Quiet Family* (1998) and has since showcased his stylish direction while crossing genre boundaries in works such as *The Red Shoes* (2003), *A Bittersweet Life* (2005), and *The Age of Shadows* (2016). He made his Hollywood debut with *The Last Stand* (2013) and solidified his global standing by being invited to the Cannes Film Festival for *Spider’s Web* (2023).
Actress Fan Bingbing, who has served on the juries of various international film festivals, selected Director Park Chan-wook’s *The Handmaiden*. Through meticulous suspense and overwhelming mise-en-scène, the film captivates viewers with its portrayal of desire and redemption blossoming despite the oppression of class and gender.
Fan Bingbing shared her thoughts on the selection, stating, “With an exquisitely beautiful aesthetic, the film entwines desire, deception, and power, as two women in distress confront one another, ultimately saving themselves and together breaking free from the shackles of fate.” She added, “The women captured by Director Park Chan-wook’s camera are both dangerous and free. Their clarity, boldness, and vitality drew me deeply into the film.”
Cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo, who has captured the messages of films such as *Snowpiercer* (2013), *The Wailing* (2016), and *Parasite* (2019) through his lens, recommends *Three Colors: Blue*. The first film in the “Three Colors” trilogy, this masterpiece by director Krzysztof Kieślowski explores the value of “freedom” from the French Revolution through the senses of light, color, and music within a narrative of loss.
“Every time I watch it, the sense of loss and loneliness embedded in the blue hues strikes me anew, and it makes me realize once again just how deeply images can convey emotion,” he said, revealing his deep affection for the visual aura created by images and light.
The 31st Busan International Film Festival will be held from October 6 to October 15 at the Busan Cinema Center and throughout Busan. Actress Kim Min-ha will serve as the host of the opening ceremony.