Busan International Film Festival Draws More Than 200,000 for First Time in 11 Years

Impact of moving opening day earlier and expanding screenings
Total attendance: 277,027
"The Assassins" controversy also disrupted the schedule

The 31st Busan International Film Festival, which wrapped up on October 15, drew more than 200,000 moviegoers for the first time in 11 years. Total attendance, including program events and other activities, reached around 277,000, up about 40,000 from last year. The organizers said efforts such as moving the opening day forward from Wednesday to Tuesday had paid off.

Volunteer representatives walk the red carpet to attend the closing ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, on the 15th. Yonhap News.

At a wrap-up press conference held at the Busan Cinema Center on October 15, the organizing committee said, "Attendance at this year's festival surpassed 200,000," adding that it was "the first time since 2015." The figure includes screenings of officially invited films, Community BIFF and Neighborhood BIFF. Total attendance, including audiences at program events and other activities, was 277,027.

The change to the opening day led to an expansion of the screening schedule. The number of screenings per day from Thursday to Sunday also rose from four to five. "Audience response was so strong that most screenings sold out," said Jeong Hanseok, executive director of the Busan International Film Festival.

This was the first year the Busan International Film Festival was included on the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) A-list. The winner of the festival's top competitive award, the Busan Award, will be eligible for submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. "The person responsible for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film visited the festival this year and held discussions with the festival leadership," Jeong said. "We agreed to work out the details going forward."

A total of 315 films were screened at theaters across Busan, including 94 world premieres. The Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), the film industry's marketplace, drew 30,484 visitors.

Jeong Hanseok, executive director of the Busan International Film Festival, speaks at a press conference reviewing the festival on the 15th, the closing day of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan. Yonhap News Agency

Actress Michelle Yeoh received the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award, while director Ann Hui received the Camellia Award for her contributions to elevating the status of women in the film industry. Kim Dong-ho, former chair of the Busan International Film Festival, received the Korean Cinema Award. Director Alfonso Cuarón made his first official visit to South Korea. Other visitors to Busan included actors Maggie Gyllenhaal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Isabelle Huppert, Zhou Xun and Fan Bingbing, as well as directors Hirokazu Kore-eda, Majid Majidi, Lav Diaz, Rintaro and Tsai Ming-liang. South Korean attendees included directors Lee Chang-dong, Na Hong-jin, Kim Jee-woon, Im Kwon-taek, Chung Ji-young, Bae Chang-ho and Lee Myung-se, and actors Sol Kyung-gu, Jeon Do-yeon, Jo Yeo-jeong and Jo In-sung.

However, controversy surrounding the film "The Assassins" disrupted the festival schedule. The lead actor's attendance and stage greeting were canceled, and no adequate answers were given to related questions at a press conference. The organizers were consequently criticized for their inadequate response. "The actor was at a time when their safety was under threat. We acted cautiously to prevent an announcement that had not been discussed in an official setting from escalating into a threat to the actor's safety or being used as a tool in political disputes," Jeong explained.

The festival will conclude its 10-day run with a closing ceremony at 6 p.m. on October 15 at the Busan Cinema Center's Roof Theater. Actor Im Si-wan will host the ceremony. A total of 13 Asian films were invited to the competitive section, held for the second time this year. Chinese director Zhang Yimou is chair of the jury. The winners of the Busan Awards for Best Film, Best Director, Special Jury Prize, Best Actor and Best Artistic Contribution will be announced at the closing ceremony, and the Best Film winner will be screened as the closing film.

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