241 Official Selections and New Competition Section Introduced
Global Stars Including Juliette Binoche to Attend
The Busan International Film Festival, which launched in 1996 as Korea's first international film festival, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The festival began in Busan, then considered a cultural wasteland, and established itself as a non-competitive film festival focused on Asian cinema. It also created unique venues such as the Suyeongman Outdoor Theater, Nampo-dong Square, and Haeundae Beach food stalls. Having grown through periods of censorship and controversy over film selections, the festival has now become a central hub for Asian cinema and a global meeting place for the international film industry.
The 30th Busan International Film Festival will kick off on September 17, 2025, running for ten days throughout Busan. This year, the festival has expanded its screening scale, introduced a new competition section, and will bring together world-renowned filmmakers, stars, and audiences in one grand celebration. Park Kwangsoo, Chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, stated, "The festival should be a space where films are created together with the audience and where the future of Asian cinema is discussed," adding, "On our 30th anniversary, I hope it will be a festival that brings happiness to everyone."
This year, there will be 241 official selections, an increase of seventeen films compared to last year. Including related programs, the total reaches 328 films. The opening film is director Park Chanwook’s latest work, "No Other Choice," which will have its Asian premiere following screenings at the Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals. Lead actor Lee Byunghun will host the opening ceremony, setting the tone for the event.
Works by world-renowned filmmakers will also be featured in abundance. Jim Jarmusch's "Father Mother Sister Brother," winner of the Golden Lion at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, and Gianfranco Rosi’s "Under the Clouds," which received the Special Jury Prize, will be screened. Yorgos Lanthimos's "Bugonia," the Hollywood remake of director Jang Junhwan’s "Save the Green Planet!," will also be introduced to Korean audiences.
Genre films will be screened late at night over four days in the "Midnight Passion" section. Highlights include the Japanese horror game adaptation "Exit 8," "Protector" starring Milla Jovovich, and "Honey, Don't!" directed by Ethan Coen. The Netflix animation "K-Pop Demon Hunters" will have a sing-along screening, where the audience can join in singing the original soundtrack, on September 20 at Sohyang Theater, Dongseo University.
The biggest change at this year's festival is the launch of the competitive "Busan Awards" section. Fourteen major Asian films have been invited to compete for five prizes: Best Picture, Best Director, Special Jury Prize, Best Actor, and Artistic Contribution. Notable entries include "Travel and Days" starring Shim Eunkyung, "7 AM Breakfast Club for the Brokenhearted" directed by Lim Sunae, and "Twilight of Luomu" by Zhang Lu. Director Na Hongjin will serve as jury president, joined by seven jurors including Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Indian actress and director Nandita Das, and actress Han Hyojoo.
Global stars will also be coming to Busan. Juliette Binoche, one of France's most celebrated actresses, will walk the red carpet for the first time in 15 years, and directors Guillermo del Toro and Sean Baker will also attend. Milla Jovovich will return to the festival after eight years. Directors Park Chanwook, Lee Changdong, and Bong Joonho will share their filmmaking experiences in "Special Talk" sessions, while novelist Eun Heekyung, anchor Son Sukhee, and actor Kang Dongwon will discuss their "films of a lifetime" with the audience.
Amid the rich program, the festival organizers are also reflecting on the current state of the Korean film industry. Jeong Hanseok, Executive Director of the Busan International Film Festival, stated, "Everyone knows that Korean cinema is currently facing a crisis," adding, "With this milestone event, which is set to break records for both scale and achievements, we aim to overcome the crisis and seek a new leap forward for Korean film."
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