Busan film fest director Jung Hanseok eyes greater global reach
BIFF expands its Competition section and 95 films will have world premieres as the festival gains A-list recognition and Oscar eligibility.
- The 31st Busan International Film Festival begins its 10-day run today, Tuesday, October 6, 2026, in Busan, South Korea, celebrating its newly minted status as an "A-list festival" accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations.
- Expanding its global profile, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences designated the Busan Award for Best Film as a qualifying award for Oscar consideration, placing BIFF alongside Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance, and Toronto.
- Showcasing 247 official selections from 59 nations, the festival presents its largest slate since 2019, including 14 films in the Competition section judged by a seven-member jury led by Chinese auteur Zhang Yimou.
- Festival director Jung Han-seok addressed the industry's "partner in tension" relationship with streaming platforms, as the Asian Contents & Film Market runs from Saturday, October 10, through Tuesday, October 13.
- Amid a domestic box-office rebound, renowned guests including Asian Filmmaker of the Year Michelle Yeoh will attend, though Jung noted the industry still faces ongoing production challenges for small- and mid-scale films.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Fan Bingbing, Michelle Yeoh, Charlotte Gainsbourg Dazzle as Busan Turns 31 in Style
The Busan International Film Festival marked its 31st edition Tuesday with one of its most star-laden opening ceremonies in recent memory, drawing Fan Bingbing, Michelle Yeoh, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alfonso Cuarón, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Lee Chang-dong, Na Hong-jin, and a roll call of Asian cinema’s finest to the port city for a night that mixed Hollywood glamour with homegrown pride. Busan Mayor Park Chun Jae-soo declared the festival open, deliver…
The 31st Busan International Film Festival, which went one step further after the 30th edition, opened on the 6th on the outdoor stage of the Busan Haeundae-gu Film Center. The Busan International Film Festival was selected as an 'A-list' in the international film festival certification system reorganized by the International Film Producers Association in March. Those granted only to 17 international film festivals around the world
Busan Film Festival Director Jung Hanseok Talks Oscars Pathway, New Competition Section & Korean Cinema Recovery
It’s been an encouraging year for South Korea’s Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), which has received recognition from the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) and also been designated a pathway to an Oscars’ nomination. FIAPF announced in March that BIFF has been added to its list of “A-list festivals” joining the ranks of […]
[Sports Chosun Reporter Ahn So-yoon] The 31st Busan International Film Festival, Asia's largest film festival, meets audiences with a richer and more spectacular lineup than ever before. The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will be held for ten days from the 6th to the 15th in the area surrounding the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan. A total of 247 films have been officially selected. This is an increase of 6 films compare…
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