Busan Excited by Cheers from Over 5,000 Fans... Opening Amid Congratulations from Tony Leung and Song Kang-ho [2022 BIFF]

The 27th Busan International Film Festival On Site

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Busan=Asia Economy Reporter Lee Iseul] Asia's largest film festival, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), has set sail into the sea of cinema. Declaring a return to normalcy after three years, the festival has fully regained the enthusiasm seen before the pandemic.

On the afternoon of the 5th, the 27th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) held its opening ceremony at the outdoor theater of Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae, Busan, kicking off the ten-day-long celebration. Actors Ryu Jun-yeol and Jeon Yeo-been hosted the event.

Before the opening ceremony, the red carpet event began at 6 p.m., featuring a dazzling lineup of guests including actors Tony Leung Chiu-wai (Yang Jo-wi), Song Kang-ho, Park Hae-il, Shin Ha-kyun, Byun Yo-han, Jung Hae-in, Kwon Yul, Jung Il-woo, Daniel Dae Kim, Park Ji-hoon, and directors Im Kwon-taek, Lee Joon-ik, Kim Han-min, and Hirokazu Kore-eda. The festival, reopening brightly after three years, was illuminated by these stars. The actors appeared noticeably excited. This festival, set to be recorded as the largest film event since the pandemic, was as passionate as the actors' lively expressions.

Additionally, Japanese actor Tsumabuki Satoshi, along with Lee Young-ae, Lee Byung-hun, Kang Dong-won, and Ha Jung-woo, are also scheduled to visit Busan during the festival to meet audiences.

The audience filled approximately 5,000 seats without social distancing. Especially when Tony Leung appeared, the crowd responded with enthusiastic cheers. Fans who came early to see him at the opening ceremony were visible throughout the venue. As he stepped out of the car, cheers erupted among the masked audience. Many were busy capturing his walk on the red carpet with their phones.

On this day, Tony Leung, who received the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award, expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am thankful to the festival for this honorable award and happy for the opportunity to meet fans again."

Before the opening, a musical tribute was held in memory of the late Kang Soo-yeon, who passed away in May. Host Ryu Jun-yeol said, "We will never forget senior Kang Soo-yeon, who spared no effort for the Busan International Film Festival."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The festival, officially opening after three years, invites 242 films from 71 countries, screened across 30 screens in 7 theaters. The opening film is the Iranian movie "The Scent of Wind" (director Hadi Mohaghegh), and the closing film is the Japanese film "A Man" (director Ishikawa Mei).

The On Screen section, which screens new releases from online streaming services (OTT) in theaters, has been expanded from 3 films last year to 9 this year. A 15-minute footage of "Avatar: The Way of Water," set to be released in December, will also be unveiled during the festival.

The Asia Cinema Fund (ACF) and Platform Busan are reopening, and the Asia Project Market has grown by adding six new awards. The Asia Contents & Film Market will be held as usual, and the Busan Story Market will launch this year.

The Busan International Film Festival, which declared its opening, will be held around the Busan Cinema Center until the 14th.

Busan=Reporter Lee Iseul