Busan:The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is concluding after a successful 10-day run, having attracted over 200,000 admissions. This marks the first time since 2015 that the festival has surpassed this milestone, according to the event's organizers.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the 31st edition of BIFF also saw nearly 77,000 participants engaging in various cinema programs and events. This year's festival featured 315 films, including 246 official invitations, making it the most extensive lineup since 2019. Notably, 94 films premiered globally at BIFF.
This edition was the first to receive an A-list accreditation from the International Federation of Film Producers Associations, placing it alongside prestigious festivals like Cannes, Berlin, and Venice. The festival hosted prominent filmmakers, actors, and industry officials from South Korea and abroad. Notable attendees included Malaysian actor Michelle Yeoh, who received the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award, and Hong Kong director Ann Hui, honored with the Camellia Award.
This year's festival also welcomed Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron and American actor Maggie Gyllenhaal for their first official visit to South Korea. Renowned directors Hirokazu Kore-eda and Lav Diaz, along with actors Charlotte Gainsbourg and Fan Bingbing, were present in Busan. From Korea, Lee Chang-dong, director of the Venice-winning "Possible Love," attended with cast members Jeon Do-yeon and Sul Kyung-gu, as well as directors Na Hong-jin and Kim Jee-woon.
The closing ceremony, hosted by Korean actor Yim Si-wan, is scheduled for 7 p.m. The winners of the Busan Awards in the main Competition section, judged by a seven-member jury led by Chinese auteur Zhang Yimou, will be announced during the event. For the first time, the top winner of the Busan Award will be eligible for submission to the Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category.
The Asian Contents and Film Market, part of the festival, attracted over 30,000 visitors, with 339 companies from 32 countries participating in exhibitions.