[Culture Interview] Shin Cheol: "Now, the Only Difference Between Students and James Cameron Is Imagination"

Why BIFAN, in Its 30th Year, Is Turning to AI

"The Traditional Theater Release Model Is No Longer Viable... Change Is Essential"

"1997 Was About Ending Censorship, Now AI Is the Solution"

With just over a month left before the opening of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), Executive Director Shin Cheol was exhausted. He had just returned from France, where he participated as an Asian representative panelist at Cannes Next, presenting his vision for the future of artificial intelligence (AI) films. However, when the topic of AI came up, his eyes lit up, and he immediately took a journey back to 1997. It was a story spanning the three decades that followed the Korean War.

Shin Cheol, Executive Director of Bucheon Fantastic International Film Festival, is posing. Photo by Dongju Yoon

1997: A Major Turning Point

The year 1997 is remembered for the IMF financial crisis and the inauguration of the Kim Dae-jung administration. The film industry also underwent significant changes. It was the first year following the Constitutional Court’s ruling that prior censorship was unconstitutional. The emergence of video cameras as new equipment ushered in a wave of young talent.

"Because of the censorship process starting from the scenario stage, talented young people didn’t enter Chungmuro. It was only after that barrier fell that a major shift occurred. Conventional scenes, like a man and woman taking shelter in a cave from the rain or falling on the beach while running, started to disappear from the screen."

Shin had long been a producer at the forefront of change. With "Marriage Story" (1992), he attracted major corporate capital to Chungmuro. With "The Fox with Nine Tails" (1994), he introduced computer graphics to Korean cinema for the first time. With "My Sassy Girl" (2001), he also established the tradition of Friday film releases. He firmly believed that the possibilities of film evolved with each shift in era and technology.

"The Kim Dae-jung administration’s principle of 'support but do not interfere' also had a significant impact. It provided a foundation for constant pursuit of change. BIFAN was born from this very trend. It quickly cemented its identity as a genre film festival."

This year marks the 30th anniversary of BIFAN, but its standing has become uncertain. Both the number of theatergoers and the number of films produced have dropped sharply. The main stage for genre films has also shifted to online video services (OTT).

"With streaming services, people can now watch content anytime, anywhere, and theaters have become an inconvenient choice. The old system, where you had to spend a fortune to secure screens during peak season, is being shaken to its core. The boundaries of BIFAN are also becoming increasingly blurred. All the 'fantastic films' are now on Netflix. I think it's time for a new beginning."

Chul Shin, Executive Director of Bucheon Fantastic International Film Festival, is giving an interview with The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Dongjoo Yoon

AI: The Only Path

The model of a major distributor preparing films for over three years and recouping investment through theaters has become virtually impossible. Shin has been grappling with this issue since his days as a producer. Competing with Hollywood on limited capital required a new breakthrough. He found the answer in AI. To students at the AI Video Education Center Bucheon, operated by BIFAN, he says:

"Just a few years ago, there was a 200 million dollar gap between you and director James Cameron. Now, the only difference is in imagination. Both capital and even physical barriers have fallen. Friends with disabilities who have difficulty getting to a set can now easily make films."

BIFAN is the first film festival in the world to introduce an AI competition section. Despite skepticism from the industry, Shin pushed for change. "When digital films first appeared, many filmmakers scoffed. Even creators themselves tried to package digital work to look like film. Now, almost every filmmaker shoots digitally, and film has been pushed aside. The transition is now moving to AI."

Last year, the AI Video Education Center Bucheon produced 2,901 graduates, who created 485 short films. High-quality AI film talent provides a new foundation for competitiveness and can further accelerate the transition to a data-driven civilization. "A singularity, where technology surpasses human intelligence, is happening. I believe AI is the only path forward. There is no other choice."

There still are not many people who actively seek out AI-generated videos. Still, this does not mean they are moving away from video content. In fact, exposure has increased through YouTube, social networking services, and OTT platforms. The problem is the lack of a value chain that connects AI video to profit. Shin believes that film should become that missing link, opening a new path for revenue generation.

Chul Shin, Executive Committee Chair of the Bucheon Fantastic International Film Festival, is posing. Photo by Dongju Yoon

"When CD sales collapsed in the early 2000s, K-pop was thrown into crisis. The situation was reversed thanks to analog—concerts and so on became the main source of profit. What about films? While AI is not yet closely connected, a certain structure is already forming. I want to develop BIFAN as the bridgehead for this."

Film festivals must also adapt to the tide of change. The theater-centered model can no longer embrace the creation and consumption patterns of the new generation. This shift is already visible. A representative example is the Tribeca Film Festival, founded by actor Robert De Niro and producer Jane Rosenthal in 2002. In 2021, it dropped 'film' from its name and transformed into an event encompassing TV, games, podcasts, and immersive experiences, covering all forms of storytelling content.

Shin's vision for BIFAN is no different. "The direction is set—to encompass both analog and cutting-edge technology. Recently, online AI film festivals have been springing up. BIFAN needs to find a path that bridges traditional film festivals and these new formats. There are mountains of challenges, but we need to tackle them one by one."

BIFAN will be held throughout Bucheon from July 2 to July 12.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.