"Sea Colored by Film" - 30th Busan International Film Festival Opens Today

New Competition Section & Expanded Special Programs... Film Masters in Attendance

Busan International Film Festival Two Days Before Opening (Busan=Yonhap News) Reporter Kang Seon-bae = Citizens walk past a poster installed in front of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, two days before the opening of the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on the 15th. 2025.9.15 sbkang@yna.co.kr

The 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will begin its ten-day schedule on the 17th with its opening ceremony.

The festival will kick off at 7 PM at the Outdoor Theater of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae, with actor Lee Byung-hun serving as the sole host.

The opening film is director Park Chan-wook's 'It Cannot Be Helped,' marking its first screening in Asia following its presentations at the Venice International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival.

A total of 241 films will be officially screened, an increase of 17 films compared to last year. Including films shown in associated programs, a total of 328 films will be screened.

The festival has expanded its scope by introducing a new competition section this year.

Fourteen major Asian films have been invited to compete for the 'Busan Award' in five categories: Best Film, Best Director, Special Jury Award, Best Actor/Actress, and Artistic Contribution Award.

Invited films include the Japanese film 'Travel and Days' starring Shim Eun-kyung, director Lim Seon-ae's 'Seven O'Clock Morning Meeting for the Broken-hearted' featuring Suzie, Lee Jin-wook, and Yoo Ji-tae, and director Jang Lu's new film 'The Twilight of Luomu.'

Taiwanese actress Shu Qi's directorial debut 'The Girl' and Sri Lankan director Vimukthi Jayasundara's 'The Other Half' will also compete.

Busan International Film Festival Two Days Away (Busan=Yonhap News) Reporter Kang Seon-bae = Citizens walk past a poster installed in front of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan, two days before the opening of the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on the 15th. 2025.9.15 sbkang@yna.co.kr

To commemorate its 30th anniversary, the number of special curated programs has also significantly increased.

The festival will spotlight the works of Italian master Marco Bellocchio, making his first appearance at an Asian film festival, and the celebrated actress Juliette Binoche.

The number of films in the Icons section, which showcases the latest works of master filmmakers, has doubled from 17 last year to 33 this year, marking the largest selection in the festival's history.

The Vision section, established to discover emerging Asian filmmakers and nurture independent cinema, has expanded its reach across Asia. This year, 12 Korean films and 11 Asian films have been selected.

A sing-along screening of 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' the most-watched Netflix film and series to date, will be held for the first time in Korea at the Shinhan Card Hall of the Dongseo University Sohyang Theater.

Preparations for the 30th Busan International Film Festival Opening (Busan=Yonhap News) Reporter Kang Seon-bae = Installation of various facilities is in full swing around the outdoor theater of the Busan Cinema Center two days before the opening of the 30th Busan International Film Festival on the 15th. 2025.9.15 sbkang@yna.co.kr

Film masters are expected to grace the event with their presence this year.

Among the attending directors are Jia Zhangke, Johnnie To, Tsai Ming-liang, Marziyeh Meshkini, Lee Chang-dong, Park Chan-wook, Sean Baker, Michael Mann, and Guillermo del Toro.

Japanese actors Ken Watanabe, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Junichi Okada, and Shun Oguri, along with Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka-fai, and Taiwanese actors Lee Kang-sheng, Shu Qi, Gwei Lun-mei, and Greg Hsu, will also be present.

In addition, the festival will expand its programs, including master classes where directors and actors share their creative experiences with audiences, Community BIFF, and Neighborhood BIFF.

The Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), held during the film festival, will take place at BEXCO in Busan.

The film festival will conclude its ten-day run on the evening of the 26th at the Busan Cinema Center's Outdoor Theater.

Unlike previous years, the closing ceremony will feature prominent filmmakers as presenters, and the award winners will be announced on-site. Yonhap News