Busan Film Festival Opens With A-List Status for the First Time

The 31st Busan International Film Festival opened Tuesday with a larger global profile, staging its first edition since receiving A-list accreditation from the International Federation of Film Producers Associations.

The 10-day festival runs through Oct. 15 in the southeastern port city of Busan. Organizers have assembled 247 official selections from 59 countries, the event’s biggest program since 2019. Ninety-five of the films are scheduled to receive world premieres, reinforcing the festival’s longstanding role as a platform for new Asian cinema.

The international federation’s designation places Busan alongside 16 other A-list festivals, including Cannes, Berlin and Venice. The recognition is expected to strengthen the Korean festival’s position in the global film calendar and attract greater attention from filmmakers, distributors and international media.

Busan also gained a new connection to the Academy Awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences added the festival to a group of six events where the winner of a designated prize may be submitted for consideration in the best international feature film category. At Busan, that route applies to the top winner of the Busan Award.

A seven-member jury led by Chinese director Zhang Yimou will select the Busan Award winners from 14 films in the Competition section, which was introduced last year. The nominees represent South Korea, Japan, China, Indonesia, Iran, Taiwan and Uzbekistan.

Director Kim Jong-kwan’s “The Table: Day and Night” is opening the festival. Other Korean films in the lineup include July Chung’s coming-of-age drama “Dora” and “Still Shining,” which marks veteran actor Kim Hye-ja’s return to cinema after nine years. Korean directors and performers are also scheduled for public talks and the festival’s Actors’ House conversations.

The international guest list includes Maggie Gyllenhaal, Isabelle Huppert, Zhou Xun and Fan Bingbing. Alfonso Cuarón, the filmmaker behind “Gravity” and “Roma,” is due to make his first visit to South Korea.

The festival will honor Michelle Yeoh with its Asian Filmmaker of the Year award. Hong Kong director Ann Hui will receive the Camellia Award for her contributions to advancing women in the film industry. Both are expected to attend in person.

Alongside the screenings and public programs, the Asian Contents and Film Market will run from Saturday through the following Tuesday, bringing together investors, distributors and other industry participants. The expanded program and new credentials give this year’s festival added significance for both Korean cinema and the wider Asian film business.