Over the 10 days through Oct. 15, BIFF will screen 247 films from 59 countries at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu and other venues across the city. World premieres alone number 93. The Icon section, which showcases the latest works by global masters, will screen 35 films, including "Fjord" by Cristian Mungiu, a Palme d'Or winner at Cannes. Including titles outside the official invitation lineup, the festival will present 316 films.
The opening film is "Day and Night to Each Other" by director Kim Jong-kwan, known for "Worst Woman," making its debut at this year's BIFF. The cast includes Kim Min-ha, Joo Jong-hyuk, Han Sun-hwa, Jang Ryul, Shim Eun-kyung and Lee Hee-joon. The film depicts the lighthearted, understated conversations of four couples at a cafe between summer and autumn. Critics say it makes use of the cafe as a place where strangers come and go, while delicately rendering each character's own narrative, personality, mood and nuance with a brisk rhythm and thoughtful gaze. Kim said it is "a story about small and trivial things," describing it as "a film that focuses on the beauty contained within them." The closing film will be the winner of the Busan Award, the top prize in the competition section, to be screened at the BIFF Roof Theater at the Busan Cinema Center on Oct. 15, the day of the closing ceremony.
Interest in the winner is especially high this year, as the Busan Award — the top prize in the festival's competition section — now confers eligibility to enter the U.S. Academy Awards. Renowned director Zhang Yimou serves as head of the jury. Korean entries in the competition section include "Taeju of That Day" by Lim Ha-yeon, born in 1998; "The Long Long Night" by Yeom Kyu-bok, who has directed advertisements for global brands including Samsung Electronics and BMW; and "Shave" by Kim Jung-hoon, director of "Wild Dog." Other competition entries include "Bread and Books," the latest film by Iranian master Majid Majidi, whose "Children of Heaven" (1997) became the first Iranian film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film; "My Mother" by Indonesia's Edwin Chahyono; "Satoko Is Always" by Japan's Shuichi Okita; and "First Loneliness" by China's Gu Yu.
Kim Go-eun, Kim Min-ha, Shin Min-a, Yoo Seung-ryong and Ju Ji-hoon The program, in which actors look back on their filmographies and share their acting philosophies and behind-the-scenes stories, has become a signature BIFF event. Famous directors and top stars are meeting audiences at the festival, further heightening the atmosphere. Director Lee Chang-dong of "Possible Love" and actors Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Jo In-sung and Jo Yeo-jeong; director Kim Ji-hyun of "The Jeongs" and actors Ryu Seung-ryong, Park Hae-joon, Ong Seong-wu and Lee Sang-hee; director Woo Min-ho of "Made in Korea" and actor Hyun Bin; and Choi Hyun-wook of "Sweet Part-Time Job" will all meet audiences. From abroad, Hollywood actor Maggie Gyllenhaal, head of this year's Venice Film Festival jury; Chinese actor Fan Bingbing; French actor Isabelle Huppert; acclaimed director Alfonso Cuaron of "Roma"; Japanese master Hirokazu Kore-eda, a longtime friend of BIFF; the rarely seen Filipino director Lav Diaz; and Bertrand Mandico, who has built a core fandom in Korea with his bizarre, sensual visuals, are also attending.
Audiences on the ground are enthusiastic. A woman in her 30s who attended the festival again this year after last year said, "I'm really looking forward to the Actors' House with Ju Ji-hoon, whom I've liked since I was young," adding, "I plan to see as many Gala Presentation films as I can." A man in his 20s said, "I've mostly been watching streaming services, but lately the experience of watching a film together with other people is what appeals to me," adding, "I came after reading articles that many actors would be at the festival, and I'd heard a lot of foreigners come to Busan — there really are so many, which is amazing." Still, the political controversy surrounding the film "The Assassin(s)" left a sour note, as the director, cast and other participants all skipped the festival.
