[Busan=Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] Actress Choi Hee-seo cited “films that pose questions rather than provide answers” as her criterion for a good movie.

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, Choi Hee-seo stated regarding this year’s competition judging criteria, “Personally, I believe a good film is not one that provides answers, but one that poses questions.”

She cited her recent experience watching Director Lee Chang-dong’s *Possible Love* as an example. Choi Hee-seo said, “After watching *Possible Love*, I realized that a good film is one that prompts me to reflect on myself when it ultimately poses a question through the medium of cinema.”

He continued, “After watching the film, I had a conversation with my father that lasted about five minutes—it was my first time having such an experience, and it was incredibly precious.” He added, “During those five minutes, I got to know my father and myself better, and it made me think about what love really is.”

Choi Hee-seo emphasized the power of film to bring about change in viewers’ lives, beyond its aesthetic and technical excellence. She said, “There are many films that are excellent aesthetically and technically, but I believe a good film is one that helps me understand myself and inspires a desire to become a better person.”

Regarding her appointment as a juror in the competition section of this year’s Busan International Film Festival, she expressed a sense of responsibility. Choi Hee-seo said, “It’s such a weighty and precious opportunity that I even wondered if I was up to the task,” adding, “I plan to learn as much as I can from the other jurors serving alongside me.”

She added, “I will approach this with a sense of responsibility and actively engage in in-depth discussions to ensure we conduct a thorough and fair evaluation.”

Director Jeong Ju-ri also shared her thoughts on visiting Busan as a member of the competition jury. “Around this time last year, I was in the midst of filming a movie, but even while shooting, I was hoping I might be able to be in Busan next year,” she said. “It’s such an honor to be serving on the jury this time.”

Regarding the status of the Busan International Film Festival, she remarked, “I believe the Busan International Film Festival has already become a world-class film festival.”

Director Jeong remarked, “Whenever I travel abroad and speak at other film festivals, Busan is the first thing I mention,” adding, “I believe it is a unique film festival when it comes to introducing Asian cinema to the world and discovering new talent.”

He added, “It’s already incredibly global, but I’m curious to see how it will continue to develop and move forward from here.”

Meanwhile, Director Zhang Yimou served as the jury president for the competition section at this year’s Busan International Film Festival. The jury included Director Zhang Yimou—who has 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—as well as Director Jeong Ju-ri, Choi Hee-seo, Chinese director Bi Gan, Kazakhstani actress Samal Yeslamova, Japanese director Kei Ishikawa, and Vietnamese producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc—a total of seven members—will judge the 13 films in competition.

In the competition section, a total of five awards will be presented, including the “Busan Award” Grand Prize, Best Director, Special Jury Prize, Best Actor, and Artistic Contribution Award, with a total prize fund of 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.

The Busan International Film Festival is the only film festival in Asia that grants the winner of its competition section eligibility to be submitted for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. 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, Sohyang Theater Woori Bank Hall, and the Busan Viewers’ Media Center Public Hall.