[Busan = E-Daily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] World-renowned director Zhang Yimou praised the Busan International Film Festival as Asia’s premier film festival, stating, “The international standing of Asian cinema has risen, and the world is taking notice.”

At a press conference for the competition jury of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) held on the 7th at BIFF Hill in the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, Director Zhang Yimou said, “I am delighted to be back at the Busan International Film Festival,” adding, “I hope Asian cinema and film festivals will continue to gain even more attention worldwide.”

Director Zhang Yimou serves as the head of the jury for the competition section at this year’s Busan International Film Festival. Having won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival, and the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, he is a master filmmaker who has swept the major awards at the world’s three major film festivals.

“I recall visiting the Busan International Film Festival over a decade ago, and I consider it an important film festival,” he said, adding, “I am delighted to be here once again.”

He continued, “While Cannes, Venice, and Berlin are often referred to as the ‘Big Three’ film festivals, the Busan International Film Festival in Asia is already a major festival and is becoming increasingly important.”

He also highlighted the growth of Asian cinema, including Korean films. Director Zhang Yimou remarked, “The international influence of Korean cinema is growing, and films from various Asian countries are making great strides,” adding, “The international standing of Asian cinema has risen, and the world is taking notice.”

He further emphasized, “I hope that Asian film festivals will continue to develop and thrive so that the world can recognize the excellence of our films.”

This year’s Competition Section jury consists of seven members: Director Zhang Yimou; South Korean Director Jeong Ju-ri and actress Choi Hee-seo; Chinese Director Bi Gan; Kazakhstani actress Samal Yeslamova; Japanese Director Kei Ishikawa; and Vietnamese producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc. They will evaluate the 13 films selected for the Competition Section.

Director Bi Gan, who submitted a film to the competition section last year, returned to Busan this year as a jury member. “Last year, I participated in the competition section as a filmmaker, but this year I’m here as a jury member, so I feel at ease,” Bi Gan said.

Director Vigan also shared his criteria for what makes a good film. “You can intuitively sense when a film is bad,” he said. “On the other hand, with a good film, it’s hard to explain in a single sentence why it’s good.”

He continued, “During the judging process, I plan to focus on films that transcend my own experience and have the potential to become classics,” adding, “I believe a good film is one that is bold, breaks through barriers, expresses itself without reservation, and connects with the audience’s emotions.”

The competition section will present awards in five categories: the Busan Award Grand Prize, Best Director, Special Jury Prize, Best Actor, and Artistic Contribution Award. The total prize money amounts to 110 million won.

Notably, starting this year, the winner of the “Busan Award Grand Prize”—the top prize in the competition section—will be eligible for submission to the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film category. This change follows the revision of the rules for the 99th Academy Awards by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) last May.

Among Asian film festivals, the Busan International Film Festival is the only one that can grant the winning film in its competition section eligibility for submission to the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film category. Globally, there are six film festivals that grant this eligibility: the Busan International Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, the Venice International Film Festival, the Sundance Film Festival, and the Toronto International Film Festival.

The 31st Busan International Film Festival will be held throughout Busan until the 15th at venues including the Busan Cinema Center, CGV Centum City, Lotte Cinema Centum City, the Korean Film Council’s Standard Screening Room, the Sohyang Theater Woori Bank Hall, and the Busan Viewers’ Media Center Public Hall.