Introduction to Biff’s 30th Anniversary
The Busan International Film Festival (Biff) is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a new competition department as part of a broader programming and team revision. The festival, which will run from September 17th to 26th, will feature around 14 Asian films in the new competition section.
New Competition Department
The new competition section will have five categories of awards, including the main prize, best director, special award, best actor (for two performers), and artistic contribution. The winner of the main prize will be screened as the final film of the festival, marking a change from recent years where a separately selected title was shown. The trophies for the awards are designed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, a celebrated Thai filmmaker.
Changes to the Program
The festival will also feature the New Currents Award, which has been in place since the first edition of Biff in 1996. This award is given to a debut feature from a first-time director selected from the films shown in the competition and vision sections. A separate jury is appointed for this award, and it aims to help the festival continue to discover and support the next generation of filmmakers.
Revised Sections
The Korean cinema section, Biff Today Vision Strand, will be split into two sections: Vision-Asia and Vision-Korea, with 12 films selected for each. These films will be independent titles that "give an insight into the future of Korean and Asian cinema". Plans are also in the works to introduce awards for this section. The Midnight Passion Strand will also be expanded from two to four nights during the festival, featuring a wider variety of late-night screenings, including genre films and arthouse titles.
Team Changes
The festival has undergone some team changes, with Jung Hansseok being promoted to festival director. He has set goals to strengthen Biff’s solidarity with the Asian cinema, address the ongoing downturn in the Korean film industry, and create an audience-friendly festival through top-class films and guests. Karen Park has also been appointed as the new program director, replacing Nam Dong-Chul.
Festival Goals
The organizers aim to feature around 240 films, closer to pre-pandemic levels of up to 300 titles. The festival will also take place almost a month earlier than usual to avoid conflicts with other events in the country. The chairman, Park Kwang-Su, stated that "after 30 years of growth alongside Asian cinema, we are looking for a new vision for the next three decades".
Conclusion
The Busan International Film Festival is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a new competition department, revised sections, and team changes. The festival aims to discover and introduce the excellence and diversity of Asian cinema, and to support the next generation of filmmakers. With its new programming and team in place, Biff is ready to take on the challenges of the film industry and continue to be one of the leading film festivals in Asia.
