Busan International Film Festival
The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), formerly the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festival, held from 13 to 21 September 1996, was also the first international film festival in Korea.
The main focus of the BIFF is to introduce new films and first-time directors, especially those from Asian countries. Another notable feature is the appeal of the festival to young people, both in terms of the large youthful audience it attracts and through its efforts to develop and promote young talent.
In 1999, the Pusan Promotion Plan (renamed Asian Project Market in 2011) was established to connect new directors to funding sources. The 16th BIFF in 2011 saw the festival move to a new permanent home, the Busan Cinema Center in Centum City.
== History ==
=== 1990s ===
1st Busan International Film Festival, 13–21 September 1996
Films screened: 173 films from 31 countries
Opening Film: Secrets & Lies, Mike Leigh, UK/France
Closing Film: In Expectation, Ming Zhang, China
Participating guests: 224 guests from 27 countries
Total audience: 184,071
2nd Busan International Film Festival, 10–18 October 1997
Films screened: 163 films from 33 countries
Opening Film: Chinese Box, Wayne Wang, UK/France/USA/Japan
Closing Film: Eighteen Springs, Ann Hui, Hong Kong-China
Participating guests: 450 guests from 30 countries
Total audience: 170,206
3rd Busan International Film Festival, 24 September – 1 October 1998
Films screened: 211 films from 41 countries
Opening Film: The Silence, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Iran/France
Closing Film: Kanzo sensei, Shohei Imamura, Japan
Participating guests: 659 guests from 25 countries
Total audience: 192,547 (paid audiences: 174,870)
4th Busan International Film Festival, 14–23 October 1999
Films screened: 207 films from 53 countries
Opening Film: Peppermint Candy, Lee Chang-Dong, Korea
Closing Film: Not One Less, Zhang Yimou, China
Participating guests: 555 guests from 36 countries
Total audience: 180,914
=== 2000s ===
5th Busan International Film Festival, 6–14 October 2000
Films screened: 207 films from 55 countries
Opening Film: The Wrestlers, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, India
Closing Film: In the Mood for Love, Wong Kar-wai, Hong Kong-China
Participating guests: 3017 guests from 39 countries
Total audience: 181,708 people
6th Busan International Film Festival, 9–17 November 2001
Films screened: 201 films from 60 countries
Opening Film: The Last Witness, Bae Chang-ho, Korea
Closing Film: The Legend of Suriyothai, Chatrichalerm Yukol, Thailand
Participating guests: 3,761 guests from 30 countries
Total audience: 143,103 people
7th Busan International Film Festival, 14–23 November 2002
Films screened: 226 films from 57 countries
Opening Film: The Coast Guard, Kim Ki-duk, Korea
Closing Film: Dolls, Kitano Takeshi, Japan
Participating guests: 4,387 guests from 35 countries
Total audience: 167,349 people
8th Busan International Film Festival, 2–10 October 2003
Films screened: 243 works from 61 countries
Opening Film: Doppelganger, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Japan
Closing Film: Acacia, Park Ki-hyung, Korea
Participating guests: 2,523 people from 44 countries
Invited guests: 4,387 people from 50 countries (Inc. PPP& Press)
Total audience: 165,102(paid audiences: 145,041)
9th Busan International Film Festival, 7–15 October 2004
Films screened: Total 262 films from 63 countries
Opening Film: 2046, Wong Kar-wai, Hong Kong-China
Closing Film: The Scarlet Letter, Daniel H. Byun, Korea
Participating guests: Total 5,638 guests from 50 countries
Total audience: 166,164
10th Busan International Film Festival, 6–14 October 2005
Films screened: 307 films from 73 countries
Opening Film: Three Times, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Taiwan
Closing Film: Wedding Campaign, Hwang Byung-kook, Korea
Participating guests: 6,088 from 55 countries
Total audience: 192,970
11th Busan International Film Festival, 12–20 October 2006
Films screened: 245 films from 63 countries
Opening Film: Traces of Love, Kim Dae-seung, Korea
Closing Film: Crazy Stone, Ning Hao, China/Hong Kong-China
Participating guests: 8,321 from 51 countries (inc. ASIAN FILM MARKET & press)
Total audience: 162,835
12th Busan International Film Festival, 4–12 October 2007
Films Screened: 271 films from 64 countries in 770 screenings
Opening Film: Assembly, Feng Xiaogang, China
Closing Film: Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone, Kazuya Tsurumaki, Hideaki Anno, Masayuki, Japan
Participating guests: 7,361(exc. ASIAN FILM MARKET)
Total audience: 198,603
13th Busan International Film Festival, 2–10 October 2008
Films screened: 315 films from 60 countries. 827 screenings.
Opening Film: The Gift to Stalin, Rustem Abdrashev, Russia/Kazakhstan/Israel/Poland
Closing Film: I Am Happy, Yoon Jong-chan, Korea
Participating guests: 11,110 in total (inc. ASIAN FILM MARKET)
Total audience: 198,818
14th Busan International Film Festival, 8–16 October 2009
Films Screened: 355 films from 70 countries. 803 screenings.
World Premiere: 98 Films (72 Feature Films, 26 Short Films)
International Premiere: 46 Films (41 Feature Films, 5 Short Films)
Opening Film: Good Morning President, Jang Jin, Korea
Closing Film: The Message, Gao Qunshu, Chen Kuo-fu, China
Invited Guests (exc. Asian Film Market): 8,602 in total (Guests: 6,400, Press: 2,202)
Total audience: 173,516
=== 2010s ===15th Busan International Film Festival, 7–15 October 2010
Films Screened: 306 films from 67 countries（101 World Premieres / 52 International Premieres）
Screening Venue: Total of 232,851 seats and 36 screens at 6 theaters
Opening Film: Under the Hawthorn Tree, Zhang Yimou, China
Closing Film: Camellia, Wisit Sasanatieng, Isao Yukisada, Jang Joon-hwan, Thailand/Japan/Korea
Participating guests: 9,367
3,784 from Korea
906 from out of Korea
1,651 Cinephiles
789 Market participants
2,237 Press Accreditations
Total audience: 182,046
16th Busan International Film Festival, 6–14 October 2011
Films Screened: 307 films from 70 countries（86 World Premieres / 45 International Premieres）
Screening Venue: Total of 235,907 seats and 36 screens at 5 theaters
Opening Film: Always, Song Il-gon, South Korea
Closing Film: Chronicle of My Mother, Masato Harada, Japan
Participating guests: 11,268
Domestic: 4,482
International: 765
Cinephile: 1,999
Market: 1,080
Busan Cinema Forum: 502
Accredited Press: 2,440
* Market and Forum participants include only the numbers accredited with the Badge
Total audience:  196,177
17th Busan International Film Festival, 4–13 October 2012
Films Screened: 304 films from 75 countries（96 World Premieres / 39 International Premieres）
Screening Venue: 37 screens at 7 theaters
Opening Film: Cold War, Longman Leung, Sunny Luk, Hong Kong
Closing Film: Television, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Bangladesh
Participating guests: 11,519
Domestic: 4,830
International: 806
Cinephile: 2,149
Market: 1,098
Busan Cinema Forum: 279
Accredited Press: 2,357
Total audience:  221,002
18th Busan International Film Festival, 3–12 October 2013
Films Screened: 299 films from 70 countries（94 World Premieres / 40 International Premieres）
Screening Venue: 35 screens at 7 theaters (Market and unofficial screenings excluded)
Opening Film: Vara: A Blessing, Khyentse Norbu, Bhutan
Closing Film: The Dinner, Kim Dong-hyun, Korea
Participating guests: 9,991
Domestic: 3,423
Foreign: 751
Cinephile: 1,667
Market: 1,272
BC&F: 616
Accredited Press: 2,262（Domestic: 1,963, Foreign:299）
Total audience: 217,865
19th Busan International Film Festival, 2–11 October 2014
Films Screened: 312 from 79 countries（96 World Premieres / 36 International Premieres）
Screening Venue: 33 screens at 7 theaters (Market and unofficial screenings excluded)
Opening Film: Paradise in Service, Doze Niu, Taiwan
Closing Film: Gangster Payday, Lee Po-cheung, Hong Kong
Participating guests: 10,173
Domestic: 3,362
Foreign: 775
Cinephile: 1,429
Market: 1,566
BC&F: 750
Accredited Press: 2,291
Total audience: 226,473
20th Busan International Film Festival, 1–10 October 2015
Films Screened: 302 from 75 countries（94 World Premieres / 31 International Premieres）
Screening Venue: 35 screens at 6 theaters (Market and unofficial screenings excluded)
Opening Film: Zubaan, Mozez Singh, India
Closing Film: Mountain Cry, Larry Yang, China/United States
Participating guests: 9,685
Domestic: 3,226
Foreign: 775
Cinephile: 1,405
Market: 1,571
BC&F: 403
Accredited Press: 2,325
Total audience: 227,377
21st Busan International Film Festival, 6–15 October 2016
Films Screened: 299 from 69 countries
Opening Film: A Quiet Dream – Zhang Lu, Korea
Closing Film: The Dark Wind, Hussein Hassan, Iraq/Germany/Qatar
Participating guests: 5,759, excluding the press
Total audience: 165,149
22nd Busan International Film Festival, 12–21 October 2017
Films Screened: 300 from 76 countries
Opening Film: Glass Garden – Shin Su-won, South Korea
Closing Film: Love Education, Sylvia Chang, China/Taiwan
Total audience: 192,991
23rd Busan International Film Festival, 4–13 October 2018
Films Screened: 324 from 79 countries
Opening Film: Beautiful Days - 	Jéro Yun, South Korea
Closing Film: Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy, Yuen Woo-ping, Hong Kong/China
Total audience: 191,000
24th Busan International Film Festival, 3–12 October 2019
Films Screened: 299 from 85 countries
Opening Film: The Horse Thieves. Roads of Time - Yerlan Nurmukhambetov, Lisa Takeba, Kazakhstan/Japan
Closing Film: Moonlit Winter - Lim Dae-hyung, South Korea
Total audience: 189,116
=== 2020s ===25th Busan International Film Festival, 21–30 October 2020
Films Screened: 192 films from 68 countries
Opening Film: Septet: The Story of Hong Kong - Johnnie To, Ringo Lam, Hark Tsui, Sammo Hung, Ann Hui, Patrick Tam Yuen, Wo Ping, Hong Kong, China/China
Closing Film: Josee, the Tiger and the Fish - Tamura Kotaro, Japan
Total audience: 20,135
26th Busan International Film Festival, 6 to 15 October 2021
Films Screened: 223 films from 70 countries
Opening Film: Heaven: To the Land of Happiness by Im Sang-soo
Closing Film: Anita by	Longman Leung
Total audience:76,072
27th Busan International Film Festival, 5 to 14 October 2022.
Films Screened: 242 films from 71 countries
Opening Film: Scent of Wind - Hadi Mohaghegh, Iran
Closing Film: A Man - Ishikawa Kei, Japan
28th Busan International Film Festival, 4 to 13 October 2023.
Films Screened: 269 films from 69 countries
Opening Film: Because I Hate Korea - Jang Kun-jae, South Korea
Closing Film: The Movie Emperor - Ning Hao, China
29th Busan International Film Festival, 2 to 11 October 2024.
Films Screened: 279 films from 63 countries
Opening Film: Uprising – Kim Sang-man, South Korea
Closing Film: Spirit World – Eric Khoo, France, Singapore, Japan
== Official program sections ==The Busan International Film Festival is organised in various sectionsGala Presentation: Gala Presentation screens new master cineastes, films, and premieres.
Icons: A showcase of the latest films of contemporary iconic filmmakers from around the world.
Jiseok: A competition section for established Asian filmmakers with three or more feature films. The two best films are presented with the Kim Jiseok Award. The award was created in commemoration of the late Kim Jiseok, program director who devoted his life to nurture and support Asian cinema.
A Window on Asian Cinema: A showcase of new and/or representative films by Asian filmmakers.
New Currents: The only international competition section featuring the first or the second feature films by future directors of Asian cinema.
Korean Cinema Today: Selected Korean feature films are shown in three sub-sections, Special Premiere, Panorama and Vision. These three sub-sections recognise the current production trend of Korean cinema and anticipate its future.
Korean Cinema Retrospective: Revisiting the history of Korean cinema by spotlighting films of a certain notable director or films with a significant theme.
World Cinema: Presentation of new works by filmmakers along with films that help understanding the recent trends in world cinema.
Flash Forward: This section is a collection of first or second films of up-and-coming filmmakers from non-Asian countries.
Wide Angle: A section showing short films, animation, documentaries, and experimental films.
Open Cinema: outdoor screening venue where a collection of new films, combining both art and mass popularity, are shown.
Midnight Passion: A collection of horror, SF, and thriller films that are certain to keep diehard film fans awake throughout the night.
On Screen: Presentation of highly anticipated or most talked about drama series of the year.
Special Programs in Focus: A retrospective and special showcase of films of a certain notable director or genre.
== Official divisions ==Asian Film Market: Launched in 2006 as a marketplace for the industry events at the Busan International Film Festival.
Asian Project Market (former PPP: Pusan Promotion Plan) is a pre-market.
Asian Cinema Fund: The Asian Cinema Fund is a funding program to help activate more independent film productions and to set up a stable production environment. It supports projects in various stages and categories. The 900 million won (approximately US$900,000) Asian Cinema Fund will be used to provide support to seven projects in script development, five post-productions, and thirteen documentary films.
The Script Development Fund is aimed at helping screenwriters complete their scripts.
The Post-Production Fund is made possible through the support of Korean post-production companies and the Korean Film Council. With this fund, the director is invited to Korea to work on sound and DI with Korean post-production houses. It will help the director complete his or her film in 35mm.
The Asian Network of Documentary Fund was initiated in 2002 and sponsored by six universities and corporations in the Busan region. As a part of the Busan International Film Festival, and holds master classes and clinics to stabilise the environment for documentary productions.
Asian Film Academy (AFA) is an educational program where prospective filmmakers and established directors from Asia gather to deliberate and prepare for the future of Asian cinema.Busan Cinema Forum (BCF) is an academic event for filmmakers and scholars, launched on 10 October 2011. It aims to enhance the knowledge and support of the film industry and film aesthetics.
== Direction and management ==
Chairpersons:1996-1998: Moon Jung-soo
1998-2004: Ahn Sang-yeong
2004-2014: Hur Nam-sik
2014-2016: Suh Byung-soo
2016-2017: Kim Dong-ho
2018-2023: Lee Yong-gwan
2024-: Park Kwang-su
Festival Directors:1996-2010: Kim Dong-ho
2007-2016: Lee Yong-gwan
2015-2017: Kang Soo-yeon
2018-2020: Jeon Yang-jun
2021-2023: Huh Moon-yung
Managing Directors:2023: Cho Jong-kook
== Awards ==
A number of awards are handed out each year, including:
=== The Asian Filmmaker of the Year ===The Asian Filmmaker of the Year(올해의 아시아영화인상) is granted to the Asian filmmaker who has made the most significant contribution to the advancement of Asian film industry and culture throughout the year.
=== Korean Cinema Award ===
The Korean Cinema Award (한국영화공로상) is presented to cineastes that have made a notable contribution in the globalization of Korean cinema.
=== The Choon-yun Award ===
The Choon-yun Award(이춘연 영화인상) was established in honor of the late Chairman of the Korean Association of Film Art & Industry, Lee Choon-yun. This award is given to one newly emerging producer with a cash prize of KRW 10,000,000, sponsored by IOK Company.
=== New Currents Award ===The New Currents Award(뉴 커런츠상) is given to the two best feature films selected from the first or second feature of new Asian directors introduced in the New Currents section. A grand prize of USD 30,000 is awarded to each film. The jury consists of world-renowned film experts who will choose winners to discover and encourage the hidden jewels of Asian cinema.
=== Kim Jiseok Award ===The KIM Jiseok Award(지석상), Established in 2017, is to remember and honor the late Kim Jiseok who devoted his whole life to discovering and supporting the growth of Asian cinema. The award is given to the films in the competition category for the Korean and Asian directors who have directed more than 3 feature films, and two best films are selected and awarded a cash prize of USD 10,000 each sponsored by BIFF Supporters Association.
=== BIFF Mecenat Award ===
BIFF Mecenat Award(비프메세나상) is granted to the best documentary from Korea and Asia in Wide Angle competitive section. The winner will be granted KRW 10,000,000 with the purpose of assisting their next production.
=== Sonje Award ===
Sonje Award(선재상) is given to the best Korean and Asian short films in the Wide Angle section, to assist them in producing next project by providing KRW 10,000,000 to each director.
=== Actor & Actress of the Year ===
The Actor of the Year(올해의 배우상) is the award to focus on the newcomer in the independent Korean films among the New Currents and Korean Cinema Today – Vision section. The renowned Korean actor and actress select one actor and one actress with outstanding performance. The winners will be awarded at the closing ceremony with a cash prize of KRW 5,000,000 each.
=== KB New Currents Audience Award ===
KB New Currents Audience Award(KB 뉴 커런츠 관객상; formerly KNN Award) is given to the film that is most highly rated by festival audiences from the New Currents section. Sponsored by KB Kookmin Bank, KRW 20,000,000 is awarded to the director.
=== Flash Forward Audience Award ===
Flash Forward Audience Award(플래시 포워드 관객상) is given to the film that is most highly rated by festival audiences from the Flash Forward section. Sponsored by BIFF Supporters Association, KRW 10,000,000 is awarded to the director.
=== FIPRESCI Award ===
FIPRESCI(International Federation of Film Critics) Award(국제영화비평가연맹상) is given to well-made works that reflect its experimental and progressive spirit, among those presented in the New Currents section.
=== NETPAC Award ===
The NETPAC Award(아시아영화진흥기구상) is given to the best film selected by the NETPAC(The Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) jury among the films screened in the New Currents section.
=== LG OLED New Currents Award ===
The LG OLED New Currents Award(LG 올레드 뉴 커런츠상) is established in 2023, is given to an Asian feature film in the New Currents section, that demonstrates an innovation in visual aesthetics. The award recipient will be chosen by the New Currents jurors, and will be granted prizes sponsored by LG OLED including ₩30,000,000 cash award.
=== LG OLED Vision Award ===
The LG OLED Vision Award(LG 올레드 비전상; formerly Daemyung Culture Wave Award, KTH Award, Watcha Award) is given to one Korean film in the Korean Cinema Today - Vision and New Currents section, that demonstrates an innovation in visual aesthetics. The award recipient will be granted prizes sponsored by LG OLED including ₩30,000,000 cash award.
=== DGK PLUS M Award ===
The DGK PLUS M Award(한국영화감독조합 플러스엠상; formerly DGK Award) goes to two Korean films from the Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. Each winner will be granted KRW 5,000,000. This cash prize is sponsored by Directors Guild of Korea and PLUS M.
=== CGV Award ===
CGV Award(CGV상) was newly created in 2011 in collaboration with CJ CGV to shed new light on the Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. The winner will receive a cash prize of KRW 10,000,000 sponsored by CJ CGV.
=== KBS Independent Film Award ===
The KBS Independent Film Award(KBS독립영화상) is given to support Korean independent films. One Korean film will be selected among Korean Cinema Today - Vision and New Currents section to receive KRW 10,000,000. This cash prize is sponsored by Korean Broadcasting System.
=== CGK Award ===
The CGK Award(CGK촬영상), sponsored by Cinematographers Guild of Korea, is given to one Korean film from either New Currents or Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. The winner’s cinematographer will be granted KRW 5,000,000.
=== Critic b Award ===
Critic b Award(크리틱b상) is given to one film chosen by Busan Film Critics Association among the selections in the New Currents and the Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. The winner will receive KRW 10,000,000.
=== Watcha Short Award ===
Watcha Short Award(왓챠단편상) is established to support short film directors in Korean cinema. Two short films chosen from Wide Angle - Korean Short Competition section will be given a cash prize of KRW 5,000,000. This cash prize is sponsored by Watcha.
=== Aurora Media Award ===
Aurora Media Award(오로라미디어상) is established to support new directors in Korean cinema. Two Korean films chosen from the New Currents and the Korean Cinema Today - Vision section will be given a cash prize of KRW 10,000,000 respectively. This cash prize is sponsored by Aurora Media.
=== Citizen Critics' Award ===
Citizen critics from the Busan Cinematheque choose the best film from those screened in Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. Citizen Critics' Award(시민평론가상) is awarded KRW 10,000,000 for supporting the director’s next production.
=== Busan Cinephile Award ===
Busan Cinephile Award(부산시네필상) is given to the best Korean and Asian documentary film presented in the Wide Angle documentary showcase section. The winner is awarded KRW 5,000,000. The jury of college students, including numerous students from the cinema-related departments of six universities in Busan region, select the winner.
=== Camellia Award ===
In 2024, the Camellia Award was introduced, named after Busan’s city flower, the camellia. This award, established with the involvement of Chanel, aims to elevate the status of women in the film industry. The first recipient of this honor was Ryu Seong-hie, a South Korean film art director.
List of film festivals in South Korea
Cinema of Korea
Busan International Comedy Festival
Busan International Fireworks Festival
Busan International Mobility Show (BIMOS)
Culture of South Korea

== External links ==Official website
Busan International Film Festival at IMDb