[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) came to a successful close, drawing a total audience of approximately 277,000. This marks the first time in 10 years—since 2015—that the number of movie theater attendees alone has exceeded 200,000.

According to the 31st Busan International Film Festival on the 15th, a total of 277,027 people attended this year’s festival, which ran for ten days from the 6th to the 15th. Of these, 200,043 were movie attendees. This figure includes 185,239 attendees at festival screenings, 5,186 at Community BIFF, and 9,618 at Neighborhood BIFF. An additional 76,984 people attended program events and side events.

This year’s festival took place across 8 theaters and 31 screens. The official selection comprised 246 films from 59 countries, with 104 world premieres—including 94 world premieres and 10 international premieres—screened for audiences. Adding the 69 films screened as part of Community BIFF, the total number of screenings reached 315.

◇Movie Audience Exceeds 200,000 for the First Time in 10 Years
The increase in attendance this year is attributed to the expansion of screenings and the strengthening of audience participation programs. The Busan International Film Festival adjusted its operational methods—including changing the opening date—and increased the number of events where filmmakers and audiences could interact. Festival organizers assessed that total attendance rose by approximately 40,000 compared to last year’s 30th edition, achieving results that surpassed the boost from the 30th-anniversary celebrations.

Events where attendees discussed films off-screen were also expanded. During the festival, 304 post-screening Q&A sessions (GVs) and 72 various events were held. Domestic and international filmmakers, including director Alfonso Cuarón, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and director Na Hong-jin, participated in master classes, cine classes, and special talks. The “Actors’ House” featuring Kim Go-eun, Kim Min-ha, Ryu Seung-ryong, Shin Min-a, and Ju Ji-hoon, along with open talks and outdoor stage greetings, also drew significant audience interest.

Community BIFF, an audience-participation program, marked its 9th year this year and filled the Nampo-dong area in Busan’s historic downtown. Events such as “Request Cinema,” where audiences directly select films to be screened, and opportunities to interact closely with filmmakers took place. Neighborhood BIFF expanded to a record 18 locations, connecting with citizens throughout Busan—including markets, temples, university districts, and multi-cultural spaces.

◇From Yang Jae-kyung to Cuarón… Global Filmmakers Gather in Busan
This year’s festival saw a large turnout of world-renowned masters and actors. Yang Zi-jing, recipient of this year’s Asian Filmmaker Award, along with Director He An-hua and former Busan International Film Festival Chairman Kim Dong-ho, graced the event. Alfonso Cuarón and Jonas Cuarón—making their first official visit to Korea—as well as Maggie Gyllenhaal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Isabelle Huppert, Zhou Xun, Fan Bingbing, and Hirokazu Kore-eda also visited Busan.

From the Korean film industry, directors Lee Chang-dong, Na Hong-jin, and Kim Ji-woon, as well as directors Im Kwon-taek, Jung Ji-young, Bae Chang-ho, and Lee Myung-se, and actors Seol Kyung-gu, Jeon Do-yeon, Jo Yeo-jeong, and Jo In-sung met with the audience. With the participation of film professionals spanning multiple generations—including Yang Ziqing, who returned to Busan for the first time in 15 years—the festival showcased its status as an international film festival.

This year’s Busan International Film Festival was the first to be held since it was designated an “A-List Festival” by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). Thirteen films from various Asian countries were selected for the competition section. The results of the Busan Awards, judged by a seven-member competition jury—led by Jury President Zhang Yimou and including Bigan, Samal Yeslamova, Kei Ishikawa, Jung Ju-ri, Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, and Choi Hee-seo—are scheduled to be announced during the closing ceremony on October 15 at 7:00 p.m.

◇From Forum BIFF to the Content Market… Expanding Industry Collaboration
Forum BIFF, which discusses current issues in the film industry, organized eight sessions under the theme “Exploring the Possibilities of Contemporary Cinema.” Centered on four pillars—industry, artificial intelligence (AI) and creativity, systems and policy, and region and environment—the forum discussed creative conditions in the AI era, opportunities for mid-budget films, international co-productions, creators’ rights, and the sustainability of Busan as a film city.

The 21st Asia Content & Film Market (ACFM) attracted a total of 30,484 visitors over four days, with 1,266 companies from 58 countries participating. The Investor Summit, newly established this year, served as a platform to connect international investment firms and investment-distribution companies in search of investment opportunities and partnerships. Thailand participated as the first Guest of Honor, and the scope of discussions was expanded beyond film to include IP, series, documentaries, technology, and branded content.

The market also served as a catalyst for concrete industry cooperation. On the 12th, South Korea’s Solare Partners and Japan’s Questree signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Korea-Japan joint content fund totaling 100 billion won.

The Asian Producers Alliance (APA) was also formed, led by the Korean Film Producers Association and the Indonesian Producers Association, with the participation of producer organizations from the Philippines, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. This initiative held particular significance as it laid the groundwork for co-productions and policy coordination within the Asian content industry through collaboration among nations, companies, and organizations.