The 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), one of Asia’s leading film festivals, will raise its curtain in October. The festival, which was once considered a cultural desert in Busan, has transformed the city into a cultural hub. However, it faced challenges last year due to scandals and internal conflicts. Despite this, the 29th BIFF is undergoing a strong transformation.
The film ‘The Book of Fish’ marks the beginning of this change. Directed by Kim Kang-min, this historical drama in which Park Chan-wook participated in the production is set to be released on Netflix.
BIFF, which focuses on ‘popularity,’ will take place from October 2 to 11 at the Busan Cinema Center. A total of 224 films from 63 countries will be screened across 7 theaters and 28 screens. This year, the festival has expanded its lineup to 279 films, including the Community BIFF event.
The decision to choose an OTT film as the opening film is intriguing. While other major film festivals are increasing their focus on OTT content, selecting a non-theatrical film as the opening movie is unusual. BIFF explains this move as a way to emphasize its focus on attracting a wider audience.
The festival’s commitment to engaging the audience is evident in other invited films as well. For instance, BTS member RM’s documentary ‘RM: Light People, Long Places’ will be screened outdoors in the Open Cinema section.
BIFF has introduced a new ‘Documentary Audience Award,’ allowing the audience to vote for outstanding Asian documentary films. This move reflects the festival’s focus on audience participation and feedback.
The festival’s emphasis on popularity stems from its efforts to bridge the gap with the audience following last year’s controversies and budget cuts. By securing corporate sponsorships and donations, BIFF has managed to increase its invited films. Chairman Park Kwang-soo stated that the festival aims to regain what was lost during last year’s turmoil.
Renowned filmmakers will also have their latest works showcased at the festival. Award-winning director Gurosa and Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s ‘The Road of the Snake’ and ‘The Cloud’ will be screened. In addition, the festival will feature a special program showcasing eight feature films by Portuguese film master Miguel Gomes.
The closing film will be ‘A Journey of the Soul,’ directed by Eric Khoo and starring French actress Catherine Deneuve, who was the first Singaporean director to be invited to Cannes, Berlin, and Venice Film Festivals.
BIFF will also explore the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) in the film industry. Microsoft will set up a booth for visitors to experience an AI program for the first time at an Asian film festival. There will also be conferences discussing the integration of AI technology and filmmaking.
A special program honoring the late actor Lee Sun-kyun, who gained international acclaim, will also be part of the lineup. The program will screen six representative works, including ‘Paju’ (2009) and Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Parasite’ (2019), and host special talks.
For more detailed information on this year’s must-watch films in Busan and other BIFF highlights, check out the upcoming 5th issue (October issue) of the ‘Arte’ magazine, which will be released on the 30th.