Busan:The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) begins a 10-day event, aiming to enhance its global footprint with the first-ever "A-list" accreditation by a leading global filmmakers' organization.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this year's festival, running until October 15 in Busan, South Korea, features 247 official selections from 59 countries, the largest lineup since 2019. Among these, 95 films are set to premiere globally at BIFF.

This edition marks BIFF's inclusion among 17 "A-list" festivals, as recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations, placing it alongside illustrious events like Cannes, Berlin, and Venice. Additionally, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has acknowledged BIFF, allowing the Busan Award's top winner to be eligible for the Oscars' Best International Feature Film category.

A jury led by Chinese director Zhang Yimou will select winners from 14 films in the Competition section, introduced last year. Entries include films from South Korea, Japan, China, Indonesia, Iran, Taiwan, and Uzbekistan.

The festival opens with Kim Jong-kwan's "The Table: Day and Night," while other notable films include July Chung's "Dora" and "Still Shining," featuring Kim Hye-ja's return to cinema. Korean filmmakers and actors, including Lee Chang-dong and the cast of "Possible Love," will participate in various events.

International guests at the festival include Maggie Gyllenhaal, Isabelle Huppert, Zhou Xun, and Fan Bingbing, alongside filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron, making his inaugural trip to South Korea.

BIFF will honor Michelle Yeoh as Asian Filmmaker of the Year and Hong Kong director Ann Hui with the Camellia Award for her contributions to women's empowerment in film. Both Yeoh and Hui will attend the festival.

In conjunction with the screenings, the Asian Contents and Film Market for investors and distributors will be held from Saturday to Tuesday next week, as per the organizers.