BUSAN — The 31st Busan International Film Festival will present 315 films when it opens next month, with 246 official selections marking the largest lineup since 2019. In the competition section, now in its second year, 14 titles will vie for the top Busan Award.
The festival's organizing committee announced the details at a news conference on the 1st at the Busan Cinema Center in the city's Haeundae district. Of the 246 official selections from 59 countries, 95 are world premieres.
The competition section, launched last year, includes Korean films such as Im Ha-yeon's "Taeju of That Day" and Kim Jung-hoon's "Shave," alongside "Bread and Book," the latest work from Iranian director Majid Majidi, known for "Children of Heaven." Also selected are Hirose Nanako's "Between Two Rivers," Okita Shuichi's "Satoko Always" and Taiwanese director Lee Yun-chan's "To Be Ordinary," bringing the total to 14 notable Asian titles.
The organizing committee said the strength and range of submissions had improved dramatically this year on the back of the strong response and results of the first edition.
The Icon section, which showcases the newest works by world-renowned directors, will screen a record 36 films. They include Cristian Mungiu's "Fjord," which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes; Hamaguchi Ryusuke's "A Sudden Turn for the Worse," which took the best actress prize there; Pedro Almodovar's "Bitter Christmas"; and Nanni Moretti's "Tonight, Love Happens."
A focus on animation is another feature of this year's festival, reflecting the medium's growing weight in the industry after animated films topped the box office in both China and Japan last year. As part of that, a special program devoted to Japan, an animation powerhouse, will screen 13 features and shorts. Rather than widely accessible titles such as those by Miyazaki Hayao, the program centers on works that have been difficult to see in Korea.
The Open Cinema section, the outdoor screening series popular with filmgoers, will present seven films, including "Look Back," a new live-action adaptation of a manga by Japanese director Kore-eda Hirokazu. The visually spectacular Chinese animated film "Monkey King Rises" has also been invited to Open Cinema.
Films that will shape the future of Korean cinema will also have their debut at the festival. They include the opening film, Kim Jong-kwan's "Day and Night to Each Other," Jung Joo-ri's "Dora," and Song Il-gon's "Still Radiant," which marks actress Kim Hye-ja's return to the screen after nine years.
Leading directors and stars from the global film industry will also visit Busan. Maggie Gyllenhaal, who starred in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" and won the screenplay award at the Venice International Film Festival for directing "The Lost Daughter," will attend with her new film "Flesh Impact."
Michelle Yeoh, the first Asian actor to win the Academy Award for best actress, will visit Busan as this year's recipient of the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award. French actress Isabelle Huppert will meet audiences with her new film "Tomorrow Has a Name."
Iran's Majid Majidi will visit Korea for the first time. Other guests include Japanese animation master Rintaro, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Philippine director Lav Diaz, Taiwan's Tsai Ming-liang, Hong Kong's Ann Hui, and leading Chinese actresses Zhou Xun and Fan Bingbing.
Unlike previous years, the festival will open on a Tuesday rather than a Wednesday, a move intended to widen viewing opportunities given that most audiences plan their schedules around the opening week. From Thursday through Sunday, when attendance peaks, daily screenings will be expanded to five slots from four.
