Asia's Biggest Film Festival Opens in Busan with 316 Films and Global Cinema Legends

Summary The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), widely celebrated as Asia's premier cinematic gathering, officially kicked off its 31st edition on October 6 at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu. Opening with director Kim Jong-kwan's film 'Day and Night to Each Other' (낮과 밤은 서로에게), the ten-day festival runs through October 15, transforming South Korea's vibrant southeastern coastal metropolis into a global hub for cinephiles and industry insiders. Across eight theaters and 31 screens, BIFF will screen 316 films in total, including an official lineup of 247 films from 59 countries and a remarkable 93 world premieres. Now in its second year, BIFF's main competition section features 13 critically acclaimed works by prominent international and Korean filmmakers, including Korea's Lim Ha-yeon and Kim Jung-hoon, Iran's Majid Majidi, Japan's Nanako Hirose and Shuichi Okita, and Taiwan's Li Yun-chan. Renowned Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou heads the jury overseeing the prestigious 'Busan Awards' across five categories, with the top Grand Prize winner earning official eligibility for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Beyond competition, the festival's Icon section showcases 35 new masterpieces from global auteurs, including Palme d'Or winner Cristian Mungiu's latest feature 'Fjord', alongside a special retrospective dedicated to 13 cutting-edge Japanese animation works that highlights the medium's global resonance. The opening night was marked by deep emotional and celebratory moments honoring cinematic legends. Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh (양쯔충) was presented with the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award and is being celebrated through a dedicated retrospective titled 'Everything Everywhere Michelle Yeoh'. The festival also paid poignant tribute to the late, revered Korean acting icon Ahn Sung-ki, who passed away earlier this year, with a special memorial retrospective titled 'In Our Prime: Ahn Sung-ki' commemorating his monumental footprint on Korean cinema. Veteran festival figure Kim Dong-ho received the Korean Cinema Award, while acclaimed Hong Kong director Ann Hui received the Camellia Award in recognition of her contributions to elevating women's standing in film. The star-studded coastal gathering draws a dizzying roster of international and domestic talent, from visionary directors like Hirokazu Kore-eda, Rintaro, Lav Diaz, Tsai Ming-liang, and Alfonso Cuarón to beloved actors including Zhou Xun, Fan Bingbing, Masami Nagasawa, Ryusei Yokohama, Kento Yamazaki, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Isabelle Huppert, and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Beyond formal red carpets and screenings, BIFF deeply anchors itself in the community with interactive programs like 'Community BIFF' and 'Dongne-bangne BIFF', which bring cinema into local traditional markets, heritage locations, and scenic spots across the city. Meanwhile, the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) prepares to run from October 10 to 13 at BEXCO, reaffirming Busan's pivotal status as the epicentre of Asia's burgeoning creative and screen economy.