Table of Contents
- Busan's 30th Autumn Towards the Sea of Films
- The 30th Busan International Film Festival: Scale and Significance
- Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, and Awards Ceremony
- Enhancing Audience-Friendly Programs
- Concurrent Asian Contents & Film Market
- Busan: A City with Films
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Busan's 30th Autumn Towards the Sea of Films
The Busan International Film Festival, the largest film festival in Asia, is celebrating its 30th year.
This year's festival will be held from September 17 to 26 across Busan, with Park Chan-wook's latest film 'Decision to Leave' selected as the opening film, drawing the attention of film enthusiasts worldwide.
The area around the Busan Cinema Center, Centum City, and Nampo-dong is expected to be filled with excitement during the festival period.
The 30th Busan International Film Festival: Scale and Significance
This year's festival showcases 241 official invited films from 64 countries.
In addition, various works will be presented, including 87 Community BIFF films and 32 Dongnae Bangnae BIFF films.
The number of invited films has increased compared to last year, especially with 90 world premiere films, enhancing the enjoyment of experiencing premieres.
This year's festival firmly establishes its position as a global competitive film festival by introducing an official competition section for the first time since its inception. Fourteen outstanding Asian films have been selected for this competitive section. Furthermore, the Busan Award, which symbolizes the festival, will present awards in five categories: Grand Prize, Best Director, Jury's Special Award, Best Actor, and Artistic Contribution Award.
Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, and Awards Ceremony
The opening ceremony will take place on September 17 at 6 PM at the outdoor theater of the Busan Cinema Center. It is expected that Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to Leave' will showcase the excellence of Korean cinema once again.
The closing ceremony will be held at the same venue on September 26. This time, instead of a separate closing film, the Grand Prize winner of the Busan Award will be screened. The newly introduced awards ceremony this year is expected to be a significant moment that further strengthens the identity of the film festival.
Enhancing Audience-Friendly Programs
The Busan International Film Festival has established itself as an event emphasizing communication with the audience beyond simple film screenings.
The Community BIFF will take place from September 18 to 21 at Nampo-dong BIFF Square and Megabox Busan, featuring programs that allow audience participation.
Moreover, the Dongnae Bangnae BIFF will be held at 15 locations in Busan from September 17 to 26, under the theme 'Wind Path', providing citizens easy access to films.
Various programs such as special talks, open talks, actor houses, and masterclasses will strengthen communication between filmmakers and audiences.
Concurrent Asian Contents & Film Market
The 20th Asian Contents & Film Market will be held from September 20 to 23 at BEXCO Hall 2. More than 1,200 companies and 2,500 participants from over 50 countries will participate, introducing various programs focused on the convergence of content and technology.
Especially, programs such as InnoAsia, emphasizing the harmony of innovative technologies and content, Doc Square for documentary co-production, and The A, a cooperation network in Asia, will provide opportunities for the development of the global content industry.
Participants will have valuable time to seek new opportunities, grasp industry trends, and expand networks.
Busan: A City with Films
With the Busan International Film Festival reaching its 30th year, Busan is solidifying its position as a global film city. This festival will serve as a catalyst for a new leap in Korean cinema and strengthen the bond of Asian films. Busan's autumn is preparing to become a rich cultural and artistic venue through this event.
Following this film festival, Busan will host fireworks festivals, G-Star, and various other festivals, creating special autumn memories for domestic and international tourists.
Conclusion
The 30th Busan International Film Festival will be held from September 17 to 26, welcoming audiences through various programs and a new competitive section.
This year's opening film is Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to Leave', and this festival will be an important occasion that highlights the power of Korean cinema and the potential of Asian films at the same time.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the opening film of the 2025 Busan International Film Festival?
Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to Leave' is the opening film of the 2025 Busan International Film Festival.
The 2025 Busan International Film Festival will open on September 17, with Park Chan-wook's latest film 'Decision to Leave' selected as the official opening film. This film is expected to showcase the excellence of Korean cinema to the world during its premiere at the opening ceremony, which will be grandly held at the outdoor theater of the Busan Cinema Center at 6 PM.
Q. How many official invited films are there in the 2025 Busan International Film Festival?
There are 241 official invited films from 64 countries along with various programs.
This year's festival will present a total of 241 official invited films from 64 countries. Additionally, the Community BIFF will showcase 87 films, and the Dongnae Bangnae BIFF will present 32 films, offering diverse film experiences. Notably, there are 90 world premiere films, providing ample opportunities to watch exclusive premieres.
Q. Tell me about the newly introduced official competition section in the 2025 Busan International Film Festival.
An official competition section has been introduced for the first time, featuring 14 Asian films competing.
This year, the Busan International Film Festival has officially introduced a competition section for the first time since its inception. This section invites 14 outstanding films from Asia, reinforcing its status as a competitive film festival on a global scale. The competition will lead to the Busan Award ceremony, with awards presented in five categories: Grand Prize, Best Director, Jury's Special Award, Best Actor, and Artistic Contribution Award.
Q. How are the Community BIFF and Dongnae Bangnae BIFF programs operated?
The Community BIFF emphasizes audience participation while the Dongnae Bangnae BIFF focuses on citizen-friendly initiatives held in various locations in Busan.
The Community BIFF will take place from September 18 to 21 at Nampo-dong BIFF Square and Megabox Busan, offering a variety of programs that allow audience participation. The Dongnae Bangnae BIFF will be held from September 17 to 26 at 15 locations in Busan under the theme 'Wind Path', providing citizens easy access to films. Both programs focus on enhancing communication between filmmakers and the audience.
Q. When and where will the Asian Contents & Film Market take place, and what are its features?
It will be held from September 20 to 23 at BEXCO Hall 2, with participation from over 1,200 companies from 50 countries.
The Asian Contents & Film Market will take place from September 20 to 23 at BEXCO Hall 2 in Busan. More than 1,200 companies and over 2,500 participants from over 50 countries will be present, introducing various programs focused on the convergence of content and technology. Innovative technologies and cooperation platforms will be showcased, providing opportunities for the development of the global content industry and networking.
