BUSAN, South Korea — The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) officially commenced on Tuesday, October 6, gathering prominent figures from both the Korean and global cinema landscapes.
Scheduled to run through October 15, the 10-day event features a lineup of 316 films representing 59 nations, including 69 selections under the Community BIFF banner.
The Philippine film industry is represented by multiple works, including Lav Diaz’s Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors and Carl Joseph Papa’s 58th. Also featured are Arvin Belarmino’s Ria—a joint project between the Philippines, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, and Japan—and Rafael Manuel’s Filipiñana, produced across Singapore, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, France, and the Netherlands.
Actor Kim Minha hosted the opening ceremony, held at the Busan Cinema Center.
During the opening, BIFF honored several luminaries: Michelle Yeoh was named Asian Filmmaker of the Year, Ann Hui received the Camellia Award, and former BIFF chairperson Kim Dong-ho was presented with the Korean Cinema Award.
Director Kim Jong-kwan’s The Table: Day and Night served as the festival’s official opening film, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Kim Min-ha, Joo Jong-hyuk, Han Sun-hwa, Chang Ryul, Shim Eun-kyung, Lee Hee-jun, Jeon So-young, and Kim Dong-hwi.
The opening festivities drew a star-studded audience of prominent South Korean actors and international entertainment figures, including Hyun Bin, Win Metawin, Fan Bingbing, Jung Woo-sung, Hwang Jung-min, Son Suk-ku, and Jeon Do-yeon.
American actor and filmmaker Maggie Gyllenhaal attended the festival as a guest, marking her very first visit to South Korea.
Other notable international delegates in attendance include Filipino auteur Lav Diaz, Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón, French actresses Isabelle Huppert and Charlotte Gainsbourg, Iranian director Majid Majidi, and Japanese anime director Rintaro.