30th Busan International Film Festival
BIFF official poster | |
| Opening film | No Other Choice by Park Chan-wook |
|---|---|
| Closing film | Gloaming in Luomu by Zhang Lü |
| Location | Busan Cinema Center |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Awards |
|
| Directors | Jung Han-seok |
| Hosted by | |
| Artistic director | Choi Soon-dae |
| No. of films | 241 official Selection |
| Festival date | Opening: September 17, 2025 Closing: September 26, 2025 |
| Website | www |
The 30th Busan International Film Festival (Korean: 제30회 부산국제영화제) was held from September 17 to September 26, 2025, at the Busan Cinema Center in Busan. The festival celebrating its 30th anniversary, opened with the South Korean black comedy thriller film No Other Choice by Park Chan-wook. Na Hong-jin, South Korean film director, producer and screen writer served as President of the Competition jury.[1]
In celebration of the 30th anniversary, festival started a new competition segment featuring approximately 14 Asian films, and will present various 'Busan Awards' such as Best Film, Best Director, Special Jury Prize, Best Actor for two individuals, and an Artistic Contribution accolade. The current New Currents and Kim Jiseok categories were merged into this updated competitive section. The festival has also broadened its scope, featuring 241 films compared to 224 previously, and adding more screening locations. It also extended the Midnight Passion segment from two to four nights, revamping the Vision category, and bringing back the Asian Cinema 100 project, which originally debuted in 2015.[2]
On September 25, Busan Vision Awards' winners were announced. 2025 Indonesian drama film On Your Lap by Reza Rahadian, a story of a Kopi pangku waitress, won four awards including KB Vision Audience Award, Fipresci Award, Bishkek International Film Festival’s Central Asia Cinema Award, and the Face of the Future Award.[3]
The festival closed on September 26, with closing ceremony hosted by Claudia Kim. Zhang Lü's Chinese road film Gloaming in Luomu won the best film while Shu Qi won the best director award for her 2025 coming-of-age drama film Girl.[4]
Overview
The film registration for the festival began in March 2025 with the closing date for submission fixed for July 2, 2025.[5] To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the festival opened public voting for its popular 'Request Cinema' program on July 15, 2025. While the main screenings took place at the Busan Cinema Center in the Haeundae District, selected films are also shown at various venues across the southeastern port city.[6] The festival programme was announced in a press conference on August 26, 2025.[7]
- The New Currents Award
Although 'The New Currents' section will be merged into the newly created Competition and Vision sections, the festival retained the New Currents Award, recognizing a debut feature by a first-time filmmaker chosen from entries in the Competition and Vision categories. A dedicated jury oversaw the selection for this award. In addition, the festival overhauled its opening and closing ceremonies: the closing event now highlights the awards for the competition section, followed by a screening of the Best Film winner in place of a separate closing title. This year’s ceremonies will be helmed by the South Korean director Min Kyu-dong.
- Trophy
To mark the introduction of its first competitive section, the festival has commissioned a newly designed trophy by the Thai filmmaker and installation artist Apichatpong Weerasethakul.[2][8]
- Poster
This year’s official poster crafted by art director Choi Soon-dae encapsulates 30 years of shared passion between audiences and filmmakers. Featuring a central seal embedded in red sand, it symbolizes the festival’s identity and legacy. The dynamic calligraphic "30," brushed in traditional style, bridges heritage with modern design, reflecting both the history and evolving spirit of the festival.[9]
- Again, Asking the Path of Asian Cinema
In its 30th year, the festival and the Jiseok Film Institute will host "Forum BIFF" from September 18 to 21 at the Film Industry Center. This four-day event will examine the present and future of Asian cinema amid global content shifts, featuring discussions on industry, policy, criticism, technology, and education. Filmmakers, producers, critics, and scholars from across Asia will gather to address key trends and challenges shaping the region’s film landscape.[10]
- European Women Filmmakers Take Center Stage
As part of the festival's commitment to promoting diverse cinematic perspectives, 16 films directed by European women have been officially selected for screening under the program EUROPE! VOICES OF WOMEN+ IN FILM. The program is presented in partnership with European Film Promotion (EFP) and showcases a wide range of genres, styles, and narratives that reflect the richness of contemporary European cinema.
30th Eve
The '30th Eve' event to wish the success of the festival was held on September 16, at the outdoor stage of BIFF Square in Nampo-dong. The event was hosted by South Korean acor Lee Jong-hyuk and South Korean singer, actress, and radio personality, Park Gyu-ri. The event opened with a performance by South Korean singer-songwriter, composer, musical actress and television presenter BADA. Two South Korean film directors from Busan, Yoon Je-kyoon and Jung Woo were honoured with the ‘Busan’s Beloved Film Icon’ award.[11]
Screening venues
- Busan Cinema Center
- CGV Centum City
- Lotte Cinema Centum City
- KOFIC Theater
- Dongseo University Sohyang Theatre ShinhanCard Hall
- Busan Community Media Center
- Community BIFF:
- Megabox Busan Theater
- Catholic Center Space101.1
Honorary awards
In the opening ceremony, Jafar Panahi, Iranian film director, screenwriter, and editor was awarded the 'The Asian Filmmaker of the Year' award for his "significant contribution to the development of the Asian film industry and culture", whereas Chung Ji-young, South Korean film director and screen writer was conferred with Korean Film Achievement Award, while Camellia Award was awarded to Sylvia Chang, Taiwanese actress, singer, and director.[12]
Final report
238,697 total visitors attended the festival, including 63,000 people who were part of various events held throughout the festival. 328 films including, official Selection of 241 films from 64 countries and 87 Community BIFF films were screened.[13][14]
Jury
Competition jury
The festival announced seven Jury members for the Competition section on September 3, presided over by Na Hong-jin.[15]
- Na Hong-jin, South Korean film director, producer and screenwriter, (President of jury)
- Tony Leung Ka-fai, Hong Kong actor
- Nandita Das, Indian actress and director
- Marzieh Meshkini, Iranian cinematographer, film director and writer.
- Kogonada, American filmmaker
- Yulia Evina Bhara, Indonesian film and theatre producer
- Han Hyo-joo, South Korean actress
New Currents Award Jury
Emerging Asian Filmmakers
- Jessica Kiang, Berlin based critic
- Alexandre Koberidze, Georgian filmmaker and screenwriter
- Oh Seung-uk, South Korean director
Documentary Competition – BIFF Mecenat Award Jury
- Ito Shiori, Japanese journalist-filmmaker
- Kim Mire, director
- Basil Tsiokos, Senior Programmer for Documentaries at the Sundance Film Festival.
Korean, Asian Short Film Competition – Sonje Award Jury
- Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, Thai director
- Byun Young-joo, South Korean film and television directo
- Lee Hong-chi, Taiwanese actor, director
Vision - Asia – NETPAC Award Jury
- Diana Ashimova, a member of the NETPAC, producer, and festival programmer
- Baek Jae-ho, Chairperson of the Association of Korean Independent Film & Video
- Teng Lee Yein, producer
Vision - Asia – FIPRESCI Award Jury
- Narendra Bandabe, Journalist, film critic
- Sofía Ferrero Cárrega, film critic from Argentina
- Kim Mee-hyun, Professor at Sungkyunkwan University, researcher on Korean film history
Actor of the Year Award
- Lee Jung-eun, South Korean actress
- Teo Yoo, South Korean actor[16]
DGK PLUS M Award
- Kim Jung-ho, South Korean director
- Nam Yeon-woo, South Korean actor, director
- Seo Yoo-min, South Korean film director
KBS Independent Film Award
- Kim Bo-nyun, South Korean programmer and critic
- Roh Deok, South Korean film director and screenwriter
- Ahn Gooc-jin, South Korean film director and screenwriter
Critic b Award
- Park In-ho, South Korean Critic
- Lee-Dongyun, South Korean Critic
- Lee Ha-neal, South Korean Critic
CINE21 Award Juries
- Chang, Yeong-yeop, CEO, Cine21
- Song Hyeong-guk, Journalist, Critic for KBS
- Oh Jin-woo, Critic
Opening and closing ceremonies
Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony of the festival was held on 17 September at the Busan Cinema Center Outdoor Theater in Haeundae and was broadcast live on Naver TV, CHZZK and YouTube. The event was hosted by actor Lee Byung-hun and attended by several Korean and international film stars, including Milla Jovovich, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Kentaro Sakaguchi, Ken Watanabe, Jafar Panahi, Guillermo del Toro, Kogonada, Sylvia Chang, Michael Mann, and Maggie Kang. Sylvia Chang received the Camellia Award "for breaking boundaries across generations and roles, expanding the path for Asian women in cinema." Jafar Panahi was presented with the Asian Filmmaker Award, and Chung Ji-young received the Korean Film Achievement Award.[17]
Closing ceremony
Claudia Kim hosted the closing ceremony on September 26, 2025. It featured award presentations by prominent filmmakers, recognizing excellence across various categories. During the ceremony, the award-winning films were also officially presented. It was broadcast live on Naver TV, CHZZK and YouTube.[18]
Events
'K-Pop Demon Hunters' Sing-Along Screening
The special sing-along screening of KPop Demon Hunters, a 2025 American animated musical urban fantasy film will be held at Dongseo University's Sohyang Theater Shinhan Card Hall, Centum Campus, Haeundae District, Busan as an event of the festival.[19]
Commemorative stamp album
On August 25, 2025, the festival unveiled a commemorative stamp album featuring personalized stamps, along with a special edition postcard, created in collaboration with the Busan Regional Post Office.[20]
Actors House
In this edition the following actors will share unknown behind-the-scenes stories and their future plans with the audience:[21]
- Lee Byung-hun, South Korean actor
- Son Ye-jin, South Korean actress
- Kim You-jung, South Korean actress
- Kazunari Ninomiya, Japanese singer, songwriter, actor, voice actor, presenter and radio host
Creative Asia
Netflix in partnership with the Festival will host Creative Asia for its second year on September 20, highlights are:[22]
- Masters of Imagination: Guillermo del Toro and Yeon Sang-ho in Conversation
- Behind the Scenes of KPop Demon Hunters with Maggie Kang
- Breaking the Mold of Period Filmmaking with Yui Miyamori
- Shifting the Lens: Directing Film vs. Series with Leste Chen
Program sections
The following sections will be there in the anniversary edition:[23][24]
- Competition
- Gala Presentation
- Icons
- Vision
- A Window on Asian Cinema
- Korean Cinema Today - Special Premiere
- Korean Cinema Today - Panorama
- World Cinema
- Flash Forward
- Wide Angle
- Open Cinema
- Midnight Passion
- On Screen
- Special Program in Focus
- Our Little History, Please Take Care of Our Future!
- Decisive Moments in Asian Cinema
- 'Carte Blanche'
- Special Screening
Opening film
No Other Choice starring Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin, a story of Man-su and "his own war of survival." was selected as opening film of the festival.[25]
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(ies) |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Other Choice | 어쩔수가없다 | Park Chan-wook | South Korea |
Competition
The competition section of the festival features 14 Asian films selected for their artistic merit and regional significance. These entries will vie for the 'Busan Awards', which are presented in five categories: Grand Prize, Best Director, Special Jury Prize, Best Actor, and Best Artistic Contribution.[26][27]
- Highlighted title indicates award winner
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(ies) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seven O'Clock Breakfast Club for the Brokenhearted | 실연당한 사람들을 위한 일곱 시 조찬모임 | Lim Sun-ae | South Korea |
| Another Birth | Isabelle Kalandar | Tajikistan, United States, Qatar | |
| Baka's Identity | 愚か者の身分 | Koto Nagata | Japan |
| By Another Name | Lee Je-han | South Korea | |
| En Route To | 지우러 가는 길 | Yoo Jae-in | South Korea |
| Funky Freaky Freaks | 충충충 | Han Chang-rok | South Korea |
| Girl | 女孩 | Shu Qi | Taiwan, China |
| Gloaming in Luomu | 罗目的黄昏 | Zhang Lü | China |
| Left-Handed Girl | 左撇子女孩 | Shih-Ching Tsou | Taiwan |
| Leave the Cat Alone | 猫を放つ | Daisuke Shigaya | Japan |
| Spying Stars | Vimukthi Jayasundara | Sri Lanka, France, India | |
| Resurrection | 狂野时代 | Bi Gan | China, France |
| Two Seasons, Two Strangers | 旅と日々 | Sho Miyake | Japan |
| Without Permission | Hassan Nazer | Iran, United Kingdom | |
Gala Presentation
In this section 4 films will be presented by their directors and casts, attending the presentation.[28]
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(ies) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frankenstein | Guillermo del Toro | United States | |
| Good News | 굿뉴스 | Byun Sung-hyun | South Korea |
| It Was Just an Accident | یک تصادف ساده | Jafar Panahi | Iran, France, Luxembourg |
| Kokuho | 国宝 | Lee Sang-il | Japan |
Icons
This section showcases the latest works by masters. It now has 33 film, 16 more than last year.[29]
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(ies) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | Julia Ducournau | France, Belgium | |
| A Big Bold Beautiful Journey | Kogonada | United States | |
| A House of Dynamite | Kathryn Bigelow | United States | |
| A Magnificent Life | Marcel et Monsieur Pagnol | Sylvain Chomet | France, Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, United States |
| Back Home | Tsai Ming-liang | Taiwan | |
| Below the Clouds | Sotto le nuvole | Gianfranco Rosi | Italy |
| Bugonia | Yorgos Lanthimos | Ireland, South Korea, United States | |
| Dracula | Radu Jude | Romania, Austria, Luxembourg | |
| Dreams | Michel Franco | Mexico, United States | |
| Dreams (Sex Love) | Drømmer | Dag Johan Haugerud | Norway |
| Duse | Pietro Marcello | Italy, France | |
| Eagles of the Republic | Tarik Saleh | Sweden, France, Denmark, Finland | |
| Enzo | Robin Campillo | France, Italy, Belgium | |
| Father Mother Sister Brother | Jim Jarmusch | United States, Ireland, France | |
| Franz | Agnieszka Holland | Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, France, Turkey | |
| Jay Kelly | Noah Baumbach | United Kingdom, United States | |
| La grazia | Paolo Sorrentino | Italy | |
| Magellan | Magalhães | Lav Diaz | Portugal, Spain, Philippines, France |
| Miroirs No. 3 | Christian Petzold | Germany | |
| Nouvelle Vague | Richard Linklater | France | |
| Orphan | Árva | László Nemes | Hungary, France, Germany, United Kingdom |
| Romería | Carla Simón | Spain, Belgium, Germany | |
| Sentimental Value | Affeksjonsverdi | Joachim Trier | Norway, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom |
| Sirāt | Oliver Laxe | Spain, France | |
| The Lost Bus | Paul Greengrass | United States | |
| The Love That Remains | Ástin Sem Eftir Er | Hlynur Pálmason | Iceland, Denmark, France, Finland, Sweden |
| The Mastermind | Kelly Reichardt | United States, United Kingdom | |
| The Secret Agent | O Agente Secreto | Kleber Mendonça Filho | Brazil, France, Germany, Netherlands |
| Silent Friend | Stille Freundin | Ildikó Enyedi | Germany, France, Hungary |
| The Stranger | L'Étranger | François Ozon | France |
| The Wizard of the Kremlin | Le mage du Kremlin | Olivier Assayas | France, United Kingdom, United States |
| Young Mothers | Jeunes mères | Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne | Belgium, France |
| Two Prosecutors | Два прокурора | Sergei Loznitsa | Latvia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Romania, Lithuania |
Vision
23 independent films from Asia, including Korea, will be showcased in this expanded and revamped section.[30][31]
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production countrie(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vision – Asia | |||
| All Greens | 万事快調 オール・グリーンズ | Takashi Koyama | Japan |
| Black Rabbit, White Rabbit | Shahram Mokri | Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates | |
| Girlfriends | 女孩不平凡 | Tracy Choi | Macau, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand |
| If on a Winter's Night | Sanju Surendran | India | |
| Kok Kok Kokoook | Maharshi Tuhin Kashyap | India | |
| Kurak | Erke Dzhumakma Tova, Emil Atageldiev | Kyrgyzstan | |
| Malika | Natalia Uvarova | Kazakhstan, Moldova, Ireland | |
| Mothernet | Esok Tanpa Ibu | Ho Wi-ding | Indonesia, Singapore |
| On Your Lap | Pangku | Reza Rahadian | Indonesia, Saudi Arabia |
| Shape of Momo | Tribeny Rai | India, South Korea | |
| Tiger | Taiga | Anshul Chauhan | Japan |
| Vision – Korea | |||
| The Accordion Door | 8 아코디언 도어 | Son Kyeong-su | South Korea |
| Beautiful Dreamer | 단장 | Lee Kwang-kuk | |
| Coming of Age | 철들 무렵 | Jeong Seung-o | |
| The Gorals | 산앙들 | Yoo Jaewook | |
| Journey There | 12 흐르는 여정 | Kim Jinyu | |
| The Love of Truman | 트루먼의 사랑 | Kim Dukjoong | |
| Maze | 미로 | Shin Sun | |
| (the) Mutation | 사랑의 탄생 | Shin Su-won | |
| The Observer's Journal | 관찰자의 일지 | Lim Jung-hwan | |
| The Second Child | 두 번째 아이 | Yu Eun-jeong | |
| Two Voices Into the Echo | 9 우아한 시체 | Kim Kyung-rae | |
| Winter Days | 겨울날들 | Choi Seung-woo | |
A Window on Asian Cinema
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production countrie(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Dance in Vain | 李鴻其 | Lee Hong-chi | China |
| A Useful Ghost | ผีใช้ได้ค่ะ | Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke | Thailand, France, Singapore, Germany |
| After Dreaming | Երազելուց հետո | Christine Haroutounian | Armenia, United States, Mexico |
| Amoeba | Tan Siyou | Singapore, Netherlands, France, Spain, South Korea | |
| Bayaan | Bikas Mishra | India | |
| Becoming | Zhannat Alshanova | France, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Lithuania, Sweden | |
| Becoming Human | Polen Ly | Cambodia | |
| The Botanist | Yi Jing | China | |
| Dear Stranger | ディア・ストレンジャー | Tetsuya Mariko | Japan, Taiwan, United States |
| Don't Tell Mother | Anoop Lokkur | India, Australia | |
| The Fox King | Woo Ming Jin | Malaysia, Indonesia | |
| Full Plate | Tannishtha Chatterjee | India | |
| Human Resource | Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit | Thailand | |
| In the Land of Arto | Le Pays D'arto | Tamara Stepanyan | France, Armenia |
| Ky Nam Inn | Quán Kỳ Nam | Leon Le | Vietnam |
| Love on Trial | 恋愛裁判 | Koji Fukada | France, Japan |
| The President's Cake | مملكة القصب | Hasan Hadi | Iraq, Qatar, United States |
| Raindrops on a Roof | Zhou Jiali | China | |
| Rangga & Cinta | Riri Riza | Indonesia | |
| Renoir | ルノワール | Chie Hayakawa | Japan, Australia, France, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia |
| The River That Holds Our Hands | 擁啊擁 | Chen Jianhang | Hong Kong, Vietnam, South Korea |
| Sai: Disaster | 災 劇場版 | Yutaro Seki, Kentaro Hirase | Japan |
| Sand City | Mahde Hasan | Bangladesh | |
| The Sun Rises on Us All | 日挂 終天 | Cai Shangjun | China |
| Whisperings of the Moon | Lai Yuqing | Hong Kong, Cambodia, India | |
Korean Cinema Today - Special Premiere
This year, the section will screen five films, including four world premieres.[32][33]
| English title | Original title | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Audition 109 | 오디션109 | Jung Woo, Oh Seong-ho |
| Boss | 보스 | Ra Hee-chan |
| The Great Flood | 대홍수 | Kim Byung-woo |
| The People Upstairs | 윗집 사람들 | Ha Jung-woo |
| Project Y | 프로젝트 Y | Lee Hwan |
Korean Cinema Today - Panorama
| English title | Original title | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| My Home | 완벽한 집 | Jeong Yong-ki |
| The Old Woman with the Knife | 파과 | Min Kyu-dong |
| People and Meat | Yang Jong-hyun | |
| Times in the Theater | 극장의 시간들 | Lee Jong-pil, Yoon Ga-eun |
World Cinema
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(ies) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam's Interest | L'intérêt d'Adam | Laura Wandel | Belgium, France |
| Don't Let the Sun | Jacqueline Zünd | Switzerland, Italy | |
| Dry Leaf | ხმელი ფოთოლი | Alexandre Koberidze | Germany, Georgia |
| God Will Not Help | Bog Neće Pomoći | Hana Jušić | Croatia, Italy, Romania, Greece, France, Slovenia |
| Islands | Jan-Ole Gerster | Germany | |
| Lovely Day | Mille secrets mille dangers | Philippe Falardeau | Canada |
| Meteors | Météors | Hubert Charuel | France |
| No Beast. So Fierce. | Kein Tier. So Wild. | Burhan Qurbani | Germany, Poland, France |
| Phantoms of July | Sehnsucht in Sangerhausen | Julian Radlmaier | Germany |
| Sound of Falling | In die Sonne schauen | Mascha Schilinski | Germany |
| Sweetheart | Gioia mia | Margherita Spampinato | Italy |
| That Summer in Paris | Le rendez-vous de l'été | Valentine Cadic | France |
| The Blue Trail | O Último Azul | Gabriel Mascaro | Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Netherlands |
| The Chronology of Water | Kristen Stewart | France, Latvia, United Kingdom, United States | |
| The Currents | Las Corrientes | Milagros Mumenthaler | Argentina, Switzerland |
| The Great Arch | L’inconnu de la Grande Arche | Stéphane Demoustier | France |
| The Little Sister | La Petite Dernière | Hafsia Herzi | France, Germany |
| The Voice of Hind Rajab | صوت هند رجب | Kaouther Ben Hania | Tunisia, France |
| The Wedding Banquet | Andrew Ahn | United States | |
Flash Forward
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(ies) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Year of School | Un anno di scuola | Laura Samani | Italy, France |
| Hana Korea | Frederik Sølberg | Denmark, South Korea | |
| Her Will Be Done | Que ma volonté soit faite | Julia Kowalski | France, Poland |
| I Only Rest in the Storm | O Riso e a Faca | Pedro Pinho | Portugal, Brazil, France, Romania |
| Lucky Lu | Lloyd Lee Choi | United States, Canada | |
| My Father's Shadow | Akinola Davies Jr. | United Kingdom, Ireland, Nigeria | |
| Omaha | Estrada para o Desconhecido | Cole Webley | United States |
| Reedland | Rietland | Sven Bresser | Netherlands, Belgium |
| Strange River | Estrany riu | Jaume Claret Muxart | Spain, Germany |
| The Last One for the Road | Le città di pianura | Francesco Sossai | Italy, Germany |
| The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo | La misteriosa mirada del flamenco | Diego Céspedes | Chile, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium |
| Wild Foxes | La danse des renards | Valéry Carnoy | Belgium, France |
Wide Angle
Korean Short Film Competition
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Man Who Takes Pictures of Flowers | 꽃 사진을 찍는 남자 | Yoo Lee | United States |
| Backpike | 백파이크 | Kim Eun-seo | South Korea |
| Fadeout Cosmos | 사라지는 세계 | Lim Jin-hwan | South Korea |
| In Our Sunset | 해질무렵 | Kim Soyeon | South Korea |
| Into The Light | 빛 속으로 | Lee Nakyung | South Korea |
| Poetic License / Into The Night | 시적허용 | Jung Dabin | South Korea |
| It Sounds Louder On Rainy Days | 비 오는 날 소리는 더 크게 들린다 | Kim Sang-yun | South Korea |
| Noise Cancellation | 노이즈 캔슬링 | Choi Jihye | South Korea |
| Poetry Syndrome | 이상현상 | Oh Seyeon | South Korea |
| The Cheat | 포섭 | Kim Keon-woo | South Korea |
| Very Very Strange Love | 베리 베리 스트레인지 러브 | Song Heesook | South Korea |
| Yellow Ghost | 노란 옷의 유령 | Pyun Seokhoon | South Korea |
Asian Short Film Competition
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambush | Kameen | Yassmina Karajah | Jordan, Canada |
| Delay | Wang Han-xuan | China | |
| Throughout These Cages | Sekat Sekat | Aaron Pratama | Indonesia |
| INTERFACE | Kawazoe Aya | Japan |
Documentary Competition
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10s Across The Borders | Chan Sze-Wei | Philippines, Singapore, Germany | |
| In the Sea of Strange Thoughts | 기이한 생각의 바다에서 | Choi Jeong-dan | South Korea |
| Baima Boy | Ye Bingjun | United States, China, France | |
| Habibi Hussein | Alex Bakri | Palestine, Germany,Saudi Arabia, Sweden | |
| Ikaino | Lee Wonsik | South Korea | |
| Panic Button | Samara Sagynbaeva | Kyrgyzstan, Czech Republic | |
| Raining Dust | Ju Romi, Kim Taeil | South Korea | |
| Relay Race | Ko Hyoju | South Korea | |
| Singing Wings | Hemen Khaledi | Iran, Georgia, Belgium | |
| Where We Stay For A While | Wang Mincheol | South Korea | |
Documentary Showcase
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coexistence, My Ass! | Amber Fares | United States, France | |
| Hair, Paper, Water... | Tóc, Giấy và Nước... | Nicolas Graux and Minh Quý Trương | Belgium, France, Vietnam |
Open Cinema
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Centimeters Per Second | 秒速5センチメートル | Yoshiyuki Okuyama | Japan |
| Arco | Ugo Bienvenu | France | |
| Audition 109 | 오디션109 | Jung Woo, Oh Seong-ho | South Korea |
| Bring Him Down to a Portable Size | 兄を持ち運べるサイズに | Ryōta Nakano | Japan |
| The Final Piece | 盤上の向日葵 | Naoto Kumazawa | Japan |
| The Lovers on the Bridge | Les Amants du Pont-Neuf | Leos Carax | France |
| Measure in Love | 他年她日 | Kung Siu Ping | Hong Kong, Taiwan |
| The Shadow's Edge | 捕風追影 | Larry Yang | Hong Kong, China |
Midnight Passion
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bride of the Covenant | Khế Ước Bán Dâu | Le-Van Kiet | Vietnam |
| Exit 8 | 8番出口 | Genki Kawamura | Japan |
| Exterior Night | Esterno notte | Marco Bellocchio | Italy, France |
| The Furious | 火遮眼 | Kenji Tanigaki | Hong Kong |
| Halabala | Halabala: Rừng Ma Tế Xác | Eakasit Thairaat | Thailand |
| The Holy Boy | La valle dei sorrisi | Paolo Strippoli | Italy, Slovenia |
| Honey Don't! | Ethan Coen | United States | |
| My Home! | Jeong Yong-ki | South Korea | |
| Protector | Protetora | Adrian Grunberg | United States, South Korea |
| Weapons | Zach Cregger | United States | |
On Screen
This year’s line-up features six series—three from South Korea and two from Japan and one from Taiwan. 2 episodes of the series will be screened in this section.[34]
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(ies) | Platform / Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As You Stood By | 당신이 죽였다 | Lee Jeong-lim | South Korea | Netflix |
| Dear X | 친애하는 X | Lee Eung-bok and Park So-hyun | South Korea | TVING |
| Last Samurai Standing | イクサガミ | Michihito Fujii and Kento Yamaguchi | Japan | Netflix |
| The Murky Stream | 탁류 | Choo Chang-min | South Korea | Disney+ |
| The Resurrected | 回魂計 | Chao-jen Hsu and Leste Chen | Taiwan | Netflix |
| Romantics Anonymous | 匿名の恋人たち | Sho Tsukikawa | Japan | Netflix |
Special program in focus
Our Little History, Please Take Care of Our Future!
It showcases five emerging female Korean directors, each selecting a Korean film that significantly influenced their approach to filmmaking.[35]
| Year | English title | Original title | Director(s) | Emerging woman director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Art Museum by the Zoo | 미술관 옆 동물원 | Lee Jeong-hyang | Yoon Ga-eun |
| 2003 | Jealousy Is My Middle Name | 질투는 나의 힘 | Park Chan-ok | Yoon Dan-bi |
| 1999 | Memento Mori | 여고괴담 두번째 이야기 | Kim Tae-yong, Min Kyu-dong | Kim Se-in |
| 2001 | Take Care of My Cat | 고양이를 부탁해 | Jeong Jae-eun | Lim Oh-jeong |
| 2001 | Waikiki Brothers | 와이키키 브라더스 | Yim Soon-rye | Kim Cho-hee |
Decisive Moments in Asian Cinema
As part of the special "Asian Cinema 100" program, the festival will invite masters of Asian cinema to showcase their signature work.[36]
| Year | English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(ies) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Day I Became a Woman | روزی که زن شدم | Marzieh Meshkini | Iran |
| 2003 | Goodbye, Dragon Inn | 不散 | Tsai Ming-liang | Taiwan |
| 2003 | Oldboy | 올드보이 | Park Chan-wook | South Korea |
| 2003 | Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks | 鐵西區 | Wang Bing | China |
| 2004 | Nobody Knows | 誰も知らない | Hirokazu Kore-eda | Japan |
| 2005 | Election | 黑社會 | Johnnie To | Hong Kong |
| 2006 | Still Life | 三峡好人 | Jia Zhangke | China |
| 2011 | This Is Not a Film | فیلم نیست این | Jafar Panahi, Mojtaba Mirtahmasb | Iran |
| 2018 | Burning | 버닝 | Lee Chang-dong | South Korea, Japan |
| 2021 | Drive My Car | ドライブ・マイ・カー | Ryusuke Hamaguchi | Japan |
'Carte Blanche'
The program includes screenings of films selected by notable individuals from the film and cultural sectors, followed by audience discussions featuring their personal experiences and analytical insights.[37]
| Year | English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country | Selected by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Eureka | Shinji Aoyama | Japan | Bong Joon Ho | |
| 2006 | The Host | 괴물 | Bong Joon Ho | South Korea | Maggie Kang |
| 2009 | Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard | 전우치 | Choi Dong-hoon | South Korea | Gang Dong-won |
| 2022 | Small, Slow but Steady | ケイコ 目を澄ませて | Sho Miyake | Japan, France | Eun Heekyung |
| 1975 | Dog Day Afternoon | Sidney Lumet | United States | Sohn Suk-hee | |
Special Program in Focus - Marco Bellocchio, the filmmaker who never stopped raising his fist
This year the festival will present the films of Marco Bellocchio, an Italian film director, screenwriter, and actor in a special programme.
| Year | English title | Original title | Production country(ies) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | A Leap in the Dark | Salto nel vuoto | Italy, France, Germany |
| 1986 | Devil in the Flesh | Il diavolo in corpo | Italy |
| 2022 | Exterior Night | Esterno notte | Italy, France |
| 1965 | Fists in the Pocket | I pugni in tasca | Italy |
| 2003 | Good Morning, Night | Buongiorno, notte | Italy |
| 2022 | Marx Can Wait | Marx può aspettare | Italy |
| 2025 | Portobello (episodes 1 and 2) | Italy, France | |
| 2009 | Vincere | Italy, France | |
Special Program in Focus - A Little History of Our Own, ‘Take Care of Our Future!′
This year the festival will present the films of the French actress Juliette Binoche in a special programme.
| Year | English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(ies) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | In-I in Motion | Juliette Binoche | France | |
| 1991 | The Lovers on the Bridge | Les Amants du Pont-Neuf | Leos Carax | France |
| 1993 | Three Colours: Blue | Julie Vignon de Courcy | Krzysztof Kieślowski | France, Poland, Switzerland |
Special Screening
| Year | English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country(ies) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Dancing Village: The Curse Begins | Badarawuhi di Desa Penari | Kimo Stamboel | Indonesia |
| 1995 | Heat | Michael Mann | United States | |
| 2025 | KPop Demon Hunters | Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans | United States | |
| 1994 | Life and Death of the Hollywood Kid | 헐리우드 키드의 생애 | Chung Ji-young | South Korea |
| 2025 | Mr. Kim Goes to the Cinema | 미스터김, 영화관에 가다 | Kim Dong-ho | South Korea |
Awards and winners
The following awards were presented at the 30th edition:[38][39][40]
Busan Awards
- Best Film Award: Gloaming in Luomu by Zhang Lü
- Special Jury Award: Han Chang-rok for Funky Freaky Freaks
- Best Director Award: Shu Qi for Girl
- Best Actor Award:
- Lee Ji-won for En Route To
- Takumi Kitamura, Ayano Go, Hayashi Yuta for Baka's Identity
- Artistic Contribution Award: Liu Qiang, Tu Nan for Resurrection by Bi Gan
- New Currents Award: En Route To by Yoo Jae-in
- BIFF Mecenat Award:
- Korea: Raining Dust
- Asia: Singing Wings
- Special Mention: Relay Race
- Sonje Award:
- Korea: It Sounds Louder on Rainy Days
- Asia: Delay
- Special Mention: INTERFACE
Busan Vision Awards
- Actor of the Year:
- Lee Seung-yeon for The Gorals
- Moon Woo-jin for The Accordion Door
- Flash Forward Audience Award: Hana Korea by Frederik Sølberg
- KB Vision Audience Award: On Your Lap by Reza Rahadian
- FIPRESCI Award: On Your Lap by Reza Rahadian
- NETPAC Award: Malika by Natalia Uvarova
- CGV Award: Beautiful Dreamer by Lee Kwang-kuk
- DGK PLUS M Award:
- Coming of Age by Jeong Seung-o
- Journey There by Kim Jinyu
- KBS Independent Film Award: Journey There by Kim Jinyu
- Critic B Award: The Observer's Journal Lim Jung-hwan
- Songwon Citizen Critic's Award: Coming of Age by Jeong Seung-o
- Hylife Vision Award:
- Tiger by Anshul Chauhan
- If on a Winter's Night by Sanju Surendran
- Songwon Vision Award: Shape of Momo by Tribeny Rai
- International Film Festival of India-Vision Asia Award: Black Rabbit, White Rabbit by Shahram Mokri
- Bishkek International Film Festival-Central Asia Union Award: On Your Lap by Reza Rahadian
- Bangladesh July Memorial Prize: Kurak by Erke Dzhumakma Tova, Emil Atageldiev
- Taipei Film Commission Award: Shape of Momo by Tribeny Rai
- Vision of Jiseok Award: Kurak by Erke Dzhumakma Tova, Emil Atageldiev
- Face of the Future Award: On Your Lap by Reza Rahadian
- CINE21 Award: The Accordion Door by Son Kyeong-su
- Busan Cinephile Award: I, Poppy by Vivek Chaudhary
- Documentary Audience Award: Where We Stay For A While by Wang Mincheol
Honours
- The Asian Filmmaker of the Year
- Jafar Panahi, Iranian film director, screenwriter, and editor. [41]
- Korean Film Achievement Award:
- Chung Ji-young, South Korean film director and screen writer.[42]
- Camellia Award:
- Sylvia Chang, Taiwanese actress, singer, director, screenwriter, and producer[26]
- BIFF Cinema Master Honorary Award:
- Marco Bellocchio, Italian film director, screenwriter, and actor
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