A Wave of Cinema Reaches Busan

247 Official Selections from 59 Countries
Academy Award Eligibility for the Grand Prize Winner

The wave of cinema reached Busan on October 6. The 31st Busan International Film Festival opened at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu and will run for ten days through October 15.

On the afternoon of the 6th, the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is taking place at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan. Photo by Yonhap News

This year's festival starts from a different position. It has been included in the 'A-list' category by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), alongside the Toronto International Film Festival. It now stands in the same league as Cannes, Berlin, and Venice. The winner of the top prize in the competition section, the 'Busan Award,' qualifies to submit for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

The upgraded status is evident in the competition lineup. Thirteen outstanding films are contending for five awards: the Grand Prize, Best Director, Jury Special Award, Best Actor, and Excellence in Artistic Contribution. The lineup includes Majid Majidi's "Bread and Book" (Iran), Hirose Nanako's "Between Two Lovers" (Japan), Okita Shuichi's "Satoko Always" (Japan), and Li Yun-chan's "To Be Ordinary" (Taiwan). Representing Korea are Im Hayoun's "Taeju of That Day," Yeom Kyubok's "The Long Night," and Kim Junghoon's "Shaving."

The head of the jury is Zhang Yimou (China). Alongside him are director Bi Gan (China), actors Samal Yeslyamova (Kazakhstan) and Choi Heeseo, director Ishikawa Kei (Japan), director Jung Ju-ri, and producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc (Vietnam), who will together assess the entries. Zhang Yimou remarked, "Asian films should not remain confined to Asia."

Actor Yangzijiang is posing at the red carpet event of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opening ceremony held on the afternoon of the 6th at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan. Photo by Yonhap News

Three individuals received honors at the opening ceremony. The Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award went to Michelle Yeoh (Yang Zichong, Malaysia), who graced the Busan red carpet for the first time in 15 years. The Korean Cinema Award was presented to former Busan International Film Festival chairman Kim Dong-ho, while the newly established Camellia Award was given to director Ann Hui (Xu Anhua, Hong Kong).

The opening film was "Day and Night Are for Each Other," directed by Kim Jongkwan. The story follows four couples who meet and part ways at a café as the seasons change from summer to autumn. The cast includes Kim Minha, Ju Jonghyuk, Han Sunhwa, Zhang Lü, Shim Eunkyung, Lee Heejun, Jeon Soyoung, and Kim Donghwi. Among them, Kim Minha served as MC for the opening ceremony. Director Kim expressed at the press conference, "I am delighted to present the film in such an honorable setting."

A total of 247 films from 59 countries have been officially invited. An impressive 93 are world premieres. In all, 316 films will be screened across 31 screens throughout Busan. The Icons section, which features the latest works from acclaimed masters, presents 35 films. "The Peor," directed by Cristian Mungiu and winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes, will also be shown.

On the 6th, a press conference for the opening film of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, "Day and Night Are for Each Other," was held at the Busan Cinema Center auditorium in Haeundae-gu, Busan. Photo by Yonhap News.

The special programs also deserve attention. There is "Beautiful Days: Ahn Sung-ki," commemorating the late actor who passed away earlier this year; "Everything Everywhere Michelle Yeoh," which spotlights Michelle Yeoh's career; and "Japanese Animation Special Showcase: 12+1 Masterpieces of Madness and Anticipation," presenting thirteen Japanese animated films, including shorts.

Beyond the screen, international filmmakers are filling Busan. Notables including Alfonso Cuarón (Mexico), Hirokazu Kore-eda (Japan), Majid Majidi, and Tsai Ming-liang (Taiwan) are set to engage with movie fans. Among actors, Zhou Xun and Fan Bingbing from China are visiting. Japanese attendees include Masami Nagasawa, Tasuku Emoto, Haru Kuroki, Ryusei Yokohama, Kento Yamazaki, Kohei Matsushita, Erika Sawajiri, Ryuhei Maruyama, and Eita Nagayama. Hollywood's Maggie Gyllenhaal (USA), and French actors Isabelle Huppert and Charlotte Gainsbourg, are also in attendance.

On the 6th, the outdoor theater at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, where the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival was held, was filled with audiences watching the opening ceremony. Photo by Yonhap News

There will also be direct engagements with audiences. "Carte Blanche" features director Kim Jee-woon, Fan Bingbing, and cinematographer Hong Kyeongpyo in conversations about films that have shaped their lives. "Actors' House" brings together Kim Goeun, Kim Minha, Ryu Seungryong, Shin Min-ah, and Ju Jihoon. Audience-participation programs include "Community BIFF," "Neighborhood BIFF" for exploring local markets, heritage sites, and tourist attractions, and "Forum BIFF," which examines the current state of the film industry. The Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), a business platform for the Asian film and content industry, will take place at BEXCO Exhibition Center 2 from October 10 to 13.

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