Why Did the Busan Film Festival Choose the OTT Film 'Jeon,ran' as the Opening Film? [BIFF]

'Dudung~' Sound Opens the 29th Busan International Film Festival
Netflix Movie Selected as Opening Film for the First Time
"Symbolism Should Have Been Considered" Film Industry Backlash

Park Dosin, Acting Executive Director of the Busan International Film Festival
Photo by Yonhap News

"Netflix works being invited to film festivals often spark controversy. I want to ask, 'Is it really a problem?' Are only films viewed on the big screen considered good films? It is time to reflect on what the conditions and meaning of a good film truly are."

These were the words of director Kim Sang-man, who made the Netflix film Jeon, Ran, at a press conference for the 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) held on the afternoon of the 2nd at the Shinsegae Department Store Culture Hall in U-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan. Jeon, Ran is a film fully funded by Netflix. This is the first time that the Busan Film Festival has selected an online streaming service (OTT) film as its opening film. Moreover, it is an unusual case as it received a 'Restricted to Adults' rating.

Since 2017, the Cannes Film Festival in France has not invited Netflix films to its main sections. After screening Bong Joon-ho’s Okja and Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories in 2017, which sparked strong backlash, they have maintained this policy. At that time, the French film industry even went as far as boycotting to prevent Netflix works from being accepted at film festivals, fearing it could harm the industry ecosystem.

Busan is also experiencing growing pains between tradition and acceptance. Are OTT films truly inappropriate as opening films for festivals? Various opinions are emerging within the industry. At the press conference, reporters bombarded questions asking, "Why invite an OTT film?" Until now, BIFF has invited independent films with strong thematic consciousness as opening films. In contrast, Jeon, Ran, produced by director Park Chan-wook and released on the global OTT platform Netflix, is distinctly commercial. Some worry that if the festival leans too much toward popularity, independent art films may be pushed aside. There are concerns that the festival’s identity and value could even be shaken.

On the afternoon of the 2nd, a press conference for the opening film of the 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), the Netflix movie "Jeon, Ran," was held at the Shinsegae Department Store Centum City branch cultural hall in Haeundae-gu, Busan.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Park Do-shin, acting executive director of the Busan Film Festival, responded, "We saw it as a venture worth trying." He emphasized, "We have selected high-quality independent films as opening films so far, and that identity and principle will not change." He added, "Whether it is an OTT work or not, the door is open."

Regardless of whether it is a theatrical film, the symbolic meaning of a festival’s opening film is important. The festival usually selects works with timely and meaningful themes. Jeon, Ran is interesting in that it deals with social class and status. When asked why Jeon, Ran was chosen as this year’s opening film, Acting Executive Director Park said, "I have worked as a programmer for over 20 years, and when watching films, sometimes you get the feeling that 'this work must be the opening film' because it is so good. Personally, I really wanted to introduce it to the audience."

Regarding questions about the theme and meaning of Jeon, Ran, Acting Executive Director Park only repeated that it was "an interesting work." He added, "Personally, I judged it to be a highly complete commercial film even among commercial films. I think it is meaningless to assign more significance than that." Even if it is a work considering popularity, there must have been some meaning in inviting it as the opening film. Reporters who saw the film at the press screening could fully empathize with this, but the festival side did not explain any meaning beyond popularity.

Director Kim Sang-man and Acting Executive Chairman Park Do-shin are answering questions at the press conference for the opening film of the 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), the Netflix movie "Jeon, Ran," held on the afternoon of the 2nd at the Shinsegae Department Store Centum City branch cultural hall in Haeundae-gu, Busan.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

As questions continued, Director Kim took the microphone and said, "Decades ago, I watched the film Edward Scissorhands at a small theater in Sinchon, Seoul. It was on a small screen about 100 inches, but it was a good film. Is a good film one that is only seen on a big screen?" He continued, "The shared experience of watching good films at a festival is important. This special experience will have a unique meaning for the audience."

This year’s Busan Film Festival will screen OTT works in theaters, including Netflix’s Jeon, Ran, Hellbound Season 2, Farewell, Even After That, Spotlight Is Mine, TVING’s Good or Bad Dongjae, A Week Before I Die, and Disney+’s Gangnam B-Side.