The Busan International Film Festival opened with "No Other Choice" and, with Tony Leung's visit to Korea, now has a second week remaining.
The 30th Busan International Film Festival raised the curtain on a landmark edition on the 17th with director Park Chan-wook's opening film "No Other Choice." Since then, the festival has sailed smoothly into its midsection.
The opening ceremony, hosted solely by actor Lee Byung-hun and directed by Min Kyu-dong, was attended by about 5,000 audience members along with Michael Mann, Guillermo del Toro, Sylvia Chang, Jung Ji-young, Park Chan-wook, Ha Jung-woo, Jung Woo, director Maggie Q, Ken Watanabe, Milla Jovovich, Zhang Zhen, Gai Lunmei, Nishijima Hidetoshi, Yamada Takayuki, Sakaguchi Kentaro, Yoo Ji-tae, Son Ye-jin, Lee Jin-wook, Shim Eun-kyung, Kim Yoo-jung, Yoo Tae-oh, Lee Soo-hyuk, Han So-hee, Jeon Jong-seo, Rowoon and Hong Kyung, and actress Shin Ye Eun, and as a surprise guest, BLACKPINK's Lisa also attended in large numbers. Also attending were Na Hong-jin, Yang Ga-hwi, Nandita Das, Marzieh Meshkini, director Kogonada and producer Yulia Evina Bhara as the first jury members of the newly established competition section, and actress Han Hyo-joo; Choe Hwi-young, Minister of culture, sports and tourism, and Busan Mayor Park Hyeong-joon also graced the event.
According to the executive committee, as of the 22nd, sold seats and sold-out screenings have increased sharply compared with the same period last year. Through yesterday (22nd), the festival held 445 official screenings, 255 GVs (audience talks), 11 open talks and 19 outdoor stage greetings, and an expanded slate compared with last year of master classes, special talks, cine classes, Community BIFF, Dongne Bangne BIFF and other diverse events turned the Busan Cinema Center and the rest of Busan into a festival ground.
At Actors House, actors Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Kim Yoo-jung and Kazunari Ninomiya participated; master classes featured directors Marco Bellocchio, Michael Mann, Jafar Panahi and Sergei Loznitsa; new program Carte Blanche included journalist Sohn Seok-hee, writer Eun Hee-kyung, and actor Gang Dong-won; Sylvia Chang, winner of the Camellia Prize, held a special talk; and Justin H. Min participated in "Aju Damdam," with richer events and guests meeting audiences than ever before.
In particular, Guillermo del Toro created a big buzz by signing for all 300 audience members after the domestic first sing-along screening of "K-pop Demon Hunters" and the screening of "Frankenstein." On the festival's fourth day, the 20th, President Lee Jae-myung watched "Times of the Theater" and then participated in a GV, promising government-level support for the Korean film industry.
Of the 14 Asian films selected for this year's newly created competition section, 12 finished their premieres at the Sky Theater to enthusiastic audience cheers following competition photocalls, which are audience events held before screenings. After the remaining two films complete their screenings, a careful review by the seven competition jurors will determine the Busan Award winners, who will be announced at the closing ceremony on Sept. 26. Attention is focused on which film chosen from an Asian perspective will be named this year's best Asian film.
Industry events for film and video content and audience-friendly programs were further expanded. ACFM, the Asia Contents & Film Market, which began on the 20th at BEXCO Exhibition Hall 2 and enters its final four days, got off to a successful start with new programs such as The A, InnoAsia and DocSquare and about 2,700 industry delegates from 52 countries. All venues and exhibition halls, including ACFM conferences, pitch & match and showcases, totaling 87 industry events of unprecedented scale, were packed with attendees.
Reinstated this year, Forum BIFF held serious discussions across nine sessions diagnosing the current state of Korean and Asian cinema and exploring their future. Meanwhile, audience-led participatory festivals Community BIFF and Dongne Bangne BIFF screened 13 films selected through Request Cinema, which invited submissions of past Busan International Film Festival screenings audiences want to see again and drew 5,268 voters; they also offered online GVs with foreign directors, live drawing, film concerts, poetry readings and other film-like moments throughout the four days.
From the 23rd, starting the second week, world-class guests and events continue. Highlights include actor Tony Leung's GV for "Silent Friend," who decided to visit Busan for the first time in three years; an open talk with director Ildikó Enyedi on the 24th; Juliette Binoche's master class; a special talk with directors Lee Chang-dong and Doo-Ki Bong; an open talk for "The Left-Handed Girl" featuring director Sean Baker; and "Aju Damdam," featuring Korea's representative scene stealers Kim Jae-hwa, Baek Joo-hee, Yoon Kyung-ho, Lee Sang-hee, Lee Joon-hyuk and Hyeon Bong-sik, offering unmissable events until the end.
Dongne Bangne BIFF is scheduled to screen in Jeonpodong, Gijang County, Yangsan City, the Busan Bank headquarters, the Naval Operations Command and the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Seoul. Community BIFF will conclude its four-day festival with Nampo Finale and continue outdoor events at the Busan Cinema Center's outdoor square where attendees can enjoy specialty coffee city Busan, the Korea National University of Arts film "Project 30" commemorating its 30th anniversary, a film quiz golden bell, and an auction of film people's treasured items.
Still full of things to see and enjoy, the 30th Busan International Film Festival will meet audiences across Busan, including the Busan Cinema Center, through Friday the 26th with cool autumn breezes.
[Photo] Provided by the Busan International Film Festival executive committee.
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