[Busan=Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] “Yang Jia-jing, Isabelle Huppert, and Alfonso Cuarón are in Busan… It feels like I’m attending an international film festival right here in Busan.”
The words of Busan resident Park Eun-jeong, whom we met on the 7th at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, were brimming with anticipation for the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). On the 6th, when the opening ceremony took place, cheers erupted at the arrival of world-renowned actors and directors, and audiences lined up early in the morning to purchase official merchandise. The tension that had lingered in the Busan area due to the controversy surrounding the film *The Assassin(s)* ahead of the event seemed to have eased considerably amid the audience’s cheers.
◇Busan: A Gathering of Global Stars
Currently staying in Busan are world-renowned film figures such as actors Yang Zi-jing, Isabelle Huppert, and Fan Bingbing, as well as directors Hirokazu Kore-eda, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Alfonso Cuarón. They are joined by top-tier Korean actors and directors such as Lee Chang-dong, Na Hong-jin, and Kim Ji-woon, as well as Kim Hye-ja, Jeon Do-yeon, Seol Kyung-gu, Hwang Jung-min, Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung, and Jo In-sung. Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, also attended the opening ceremony.
Actress Kim Min-ha, who served as the sole host of the opening ceremony, said, “Last year, Busan celebrated its 30th anniversary and finally stood on solid ground; this year, we are not content to remain where we are but are taking a step forward toward the world.” At the opening ceremony, Yang Zi-jing received the “Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award,” Director Heo An-hwa received the “Camellia Award,” and Kim Dong-ho, former chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, received the “Lifetime Achievement Award in Korean Cinema.”
The controversy over historical distortion in *The Assassin(s)*, which had spread to political circles, continued at the Busan International Film Festival. The attendance of Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Min-ho at the opening ceremony was canceled, and Director Hur Jin-ho’s outdoor stage greeting with the lead actors, as well as Lee Min-ho’s “Actors’ House” event, were also called off. Filmmakers expressed deep concern over this situation.
Director Zhang Yimou, who served as the head of the competition jury, addressed the controversy surrounding *The Assassin(s)* at a press conference that day, stating, “I believe creativity is creativity,” and added, “The very fact that audiences have diverse interpretations is part of the film’s appeal.” Director Jeong Ju-ri, a member of the jury, also confided, “As a filmmaker, I feel very discouraged,” adding, “I make films expecting to meet audiences, hear criticism, and encounter diverse opinions. I hope I can continue that work.”
◇ A Path to Global Expansion Broadened by ‘A-List’ Status
This year, the Busan International Film Festival was selected as an “A-list” film festival by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). This recognition acknowledges its international influence not merely as a film festival, but as a platform for discovering talent and fostering industry exchange. The “A-list” certification recognizes film festivals with significant international influence by evaluating their performance over the past two years across four categories: film selection, industry networking, media and publicity, and screenings and audience engagement. It includes 17 film festivals worldwide, such as Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.
This recognition also holds special significance in that it enhances the festival’s reputation among international filmmakers as a trusted platform for showcasing new works and fostering collaboration. Starting this year, the winner of the “Busan Award Grand Prize”—the top prize in the competition section—will also be eligible for submission to the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film category. This broadens the pathway for films discovered in Busan to reach the global stage.
The number of official selections has increased from 241 last year to 246 this year, marking the highest total since 2019. In particular, the number of daily screenings has been expanded to five from Thursday through Sunday, when attendance is highest. In the competition section, 13 films are vying for the top prize, including: △ “Tae-ju of That Day” by Director Im Ha-yeon; △ “The Long, Long Night” by Director Yeom Gyu-bok; △ “Shaving” by Director Kim Jeong-hoon (all from South Korea); △ “Bread and Books” by Director Majid Majidi; △ “Satoko Is Always There” by Director Shuichi Okita; and △ “The Loneliness of First Encounters” by Director Gu Yu.
The Icon Section, which showcases the latest works by world-renowned masters, will present 35 films, including Director Christian Mungiu’s “Fior,” winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as △Director Lee Chang-dong’s “Possible Love,” △Director Hong Sang-soo’s “Nowhere to Look,” △ “Dust” by Director Tsai Ming-liang, and △ “Maki Kiran Pho” by Director Lav Diaz, among 35 other films. This marks the largest selection in the festival’s history. Director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Look Back” and “Tomorrow Has a Name,” starring Isabelle Huppert, will be screened for audiences as part of the outdoor screening program “Open Cinema.”
In addition, a special retrospective titled “Beautiful Days: Ahn Sung-ki,” looking back on the legacy left by the late Ahn Sung-ki—who passed away earlier this year—in Korean film history, and “Yang Ziqing: Every Time, Every Place,” which highlights the cinematic world of Yang Ziqing, have also been organized. The Busan International Film Festival runs through the 15th at venues across Busan, including the Busan Cinema Center, CGV Centum City, and Lotte Cinema Centum City.
The words of Busan resident Park Eun-jeong, whom we met on the 7th at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, were brimming with anticipation for the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). On the 6th, when the opening ceremony took place, cheers erupted at the arrival of world-renowned actors and directors, and audiences lined up early in the morning to purchase official merchandise. The tension that had lingered in the Busan area due to the controversy surrounding the film *The Assassin(s)* ahead of the event seemed to have eased considerably amid the audience’s cheers.
◇Busan: A Gathering of Global Stars
Currently staying in Busan are world-renowned film figures such as actors Yang Zi-jing, Isabelle Huppert, and Fan Bingbing, as well as directors Hirokazu Kore-eda, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Alfonso Cuarón. They are joined by top-tier Korean actors and directors such as Lee Chang-dong, Na Hong-jin, and Kim Ji-woon, as well as Kim Hye-ja, Jeon Do-yeon, Seol Kyung-gu, Hwang Jung-min, Hyun Bin, Jung Woo-sung, and Jo In-sung. Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, also attended the opening ceremony.
Actress Kim Min-ha, who served as the sole host of the opening ceremony, said, “Last year, Busan celebrated its 30th anniversary and finally stood on solid ground; this year, we are not content to remain where we are but are taking a step forward toward the world.” At the opening ceremony, Yang Zi-jing received the “Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award,” Director Heo An-hwa received the “Camellia Award,” and Kim Dong-ho, former chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, received the “Lifetime Achievement Award in Korean Cinema.”
The controversy over historical distortion in *The Assassin(s)*, which had spread to political circles, continued at the Busan International Film Festival. The attendance of Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Min-ho at the opening ceremony was canceled, and Director Hur Jin-ho’s outdoor stage greeting with the lead actors, as well as Lee Min-ho’s “Actors’ House” event, were also called off. Filmmakers expressed deep concern over this situation.
Director Zhang Yimou, who served as the head of the competition jury, addressed the controversy surrounding *The Assassin(s)* at a press conference that day, stating, “I believe creativity is creativity,” and added, “The very fact that audiences have diverse interpretations is part of the film’s appeal.” Director Jeong Ju-ri, a member of the jury, also confided, “As a filmmaker, I feel very discouraged,” adding, “I make films expecting to meet audiences, hear criticism, and encounter diverse opinions. I hope I can continue that work.”
◇ A Path to Global Expansion Broadened by ‘A-List’ Status
This year, the Busan International Film Festival was selected as an “A-list” film festival by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). This recognition acknowledges its international influence not merely as a film festival, but as a platform for discovering talent and fostering industry exchange. The “A-list” certification recognizes film festivals with significant international influence by evaluating their performance over the past two years across four categories: film selection, industry networking, media and publicity, and screenings and audience engagement. It includes 17 film festivals worldwide, such as Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.
This recognition also holds special significance in that it enhances the festival’s reputation among international filmmakers as a trusted platform for showcasing new works and fostering collaboration. Starting this year, the winner of the “Busan Award Grand Prize”—the top prize in the competition section—will also be eligible for submission to the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film category. This broadens the pathway for films discovered in Busan to reach the global stage.
The number of official selections has increased from 241 last year to 246 this year, marking the highest total since 2019. In particular, the number of daily screenings has been expanded to five from Thursday through Sunday, when attendance is highest. In the competition section, 13 films are vying for the top prize, including: △ “Tae-ju of That Day” by Director Im Ha-yeon; △ “The Long, Long Night” by Director Yeom Gyu-bok; △ “Shaving” by Director Kim Jeong-hoon (all from South Korea); △ “Bread and Books” by Director Majid Majidi; △ “Satoko Is Always There” by Director Shuichi Okita; and △ “The Loneliness of First Encounters” by Director Gu Yu.
The Icon Section, which showcases the latest works by world-renowned masters, will present 35 films, including Director Christian Mungiu’s “Fior,” winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as △Director Lee Chang-dong’s “Possible Love,” △Director Hong Sang-soo’s “Nowhere to Look,” △ “Dust” by Director Tsai Ming-liang, and △ “Maki Kiran Pho” by Director Lav Diaz, among 35 other films. This marks the largest selection in the festival’s history. Director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Look Back” and “Tomorrow Has a Name,” starring Isabelle Huppert, will be screened for audiences as part of the outdoor screening program “Open Cinema.”
In addition, a special retrospective titled “Beautiful Days: Ahn Sung-ki,” looking back on the legacy left by the late Ahn Sung-ki—who passed away earlier this year—in Korean film history, and “Yang Ziqing: Every Time, Every Place,” which highlights the cinematic world of Yang Ziqing, have also been organized. The Busan International Film Festival runs through the 15th at venues across Busan, including the Busan Cinema Center, CGV Centum City, and Lotte Cinema Centum City.
