29th Busan International Film Festival

BIFF official poster
Opening film	Uprising by Kim Sang-man
Closing film	Spirit World by Eric Khoo
Location	Busan Cinema Center
Founded	1995
Awards	New Currents Award: The Land Of Morning Calm Kim Jiseok Award: Village Rockstars 2 by Rima Das Korean Film Achievement Award: Lee Sun-kyun
Hosted by	Supported by: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Metropolitan City of Busan Korean Film Council
No. of films	278
Festival date	Opening: October 2, 2024 (2024-10-02) Closing: October 11, 2024 (2024-10-11)
Website	www.biff.kr/eng/
Busan International Film Festival
30th 28th

The 29th Busan International Film Festival (Korean: 제29회 부산국제영화제) opened on October 2 at the Busan Cinema Center in Busan, with South Korean film Uprising by Kim Sang-man, and screened 278 films from 63 countries, including 224 officially invited films and 54 community beef screenings.^[1] Park Bo-young and Ahn Jae-hong hosted the opening ceremony.^[2]

Mohammad Rasoulof, an Iranian film director was chosen as president of the competitive section 'New Currents' jury.^[3] The festival this year announced a Special Program in Focus, 'In Memory of Lee Sun-kyun' who died on December 27, 2023, and was known for his role in the Oscar winning film Parasite. He will also posthumously receive the Korean Film Achievement Award.^[4]

The festival closed with the ceremony hosted by Gong Myung and Choi Soo-young.^[5] Spirit World, a fantasy-drama film directed by Singapore's Eric Khoo and starring French actress Catherine Deneuve was screened as closing film.^[6]

On closing day, the main award of the festival New Currents Award was awarded to the South Korean film The Land Of Morning Calm by Park Yi-woong, set among inhabitants of a rural coastal community; and a co-production film Ma – Cry of Silence by The Maw Nang, a film about a young Burmese woman who moves to the big city to work in a garment factory.^[7]

The film registration for the festival began in March 2024 with the closing date for submission fixed for July 17, 2024.^[8]

The poster for 29th edition of the festival was unveiled on August 27, 2024. Based on the motif of numerous waves powerfully rising in the ocean of films, symbolically capturing the diverse waves of films, each with their own story, the art director Choi Soon-dae, who has been working as an art director since the 2nd Busan International Film Festival planned and designed it. According to the director Choi Soon-dae, "The image of the ocean, a space of infinite possibilities, and waves of different colors coming together is so vivid that it seems to visualize a fleeting moment of the Busan International Film Festival."^[9]

This year documentary filmmakers competed for a new prize, an audience award for feature documentaries. The prize was given to a single documentary feature competing within "Wide Angle – Documentary" section of the festival.^[10]

The titles for New Currents and Jiseok, the competitive sections were announced on August 27, 2024. New Currents is a section for first and second films by up-and-coming Asian filmmakers, whereas Jiseok section selects films from Asian directors with more than three feature films to their credit and honours two such directors with Jiseok awards.^[11] On September 3, BIFF unveiled full line-up for its 2024 edition and announced Kiyoshi Kurosawa the winner of Asian Filmmaker of the Year award. The opening film of the festival was Kim Sang-man's Uprising and closing film Eric Khoo's France, Singapore, Japan co-production Spirit World, a fantasy film starring French actress Catherine Deneuve.^[12]

From this edition, the "Camellia Award" was introduced, named after Busan’s city flower, the camellia. This award, established with the involvement of Chanel, aims to raise the status of women in the film industry. Ryu Seong-hie, South Korean film art director is the first recipient of the award.^[13]

The eve event to wish the success of the festival was held on October 1, at the outdoor stage of BIFF Square in Jung-gu, Busan. The event hosted by South Korean actress, singer-songwriter, director and artist Ku Hye-sun and creator Lee Seung-guk had celebratory performances by singer Won Mi-yeon [ko], and DJ 'New Jinsnim's' DJing.^[14] In the event, South Korean actor Cho Jin-woong, who was selected as the ‘Actor Beloved by Busan’ this year, received a plaque of appreciation, and a handprint unveiling ceremony for Hong Kong actor and filmmaker Chow Yun-fat, who visited the festival last year, was also held.^[15]

Source:^[16][17]

• Mohammad Rasoulof, Iranian independent filmmaker who lives in exile in Europe, (Chairman of jury)
• Lee Myung-se, South Korean filmmaker
• Zhou Dongyu, Chinese actress
• Kani Kusruti, Indian actress and model
• Vanja Kaludjercic, Croatia-born festival programmer, festival director, International Film Festival Rotterdam

• Christian Jeune, French, director of Film Department at the Cannes Film Festival
• Prasanna Vithanage, Sri Lankan, filmmaker
• Shin Su-won, South Korean film director and screenwriter

• Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Iranian documentary film director
• Fuzioka Asako, Japanese, chairman of Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival
• Jéro Yun, South Korean film director

• Yamanaka Yoko, Japanese director
• Constance Tsang, Chinese American filmmaker based in New York
• Lim Dae-hyung, South Korean film director and screenwriter

• Teréz VINCZE, Hungarian film professor
• WANG Hsin, Taiwanese writer
• RHEE Souewon, Chair of South Korean FIPRESCI

• IGARASHI Kohei, Japanese director
• Herman VAN EYKEN, Belgium film professor
• KIM Miyoung, South Korean director

• Kim Lokk-young, South Korean director
• Lee Dong-eun, South Korean film director and screenwriter
• Lee Ho-jae, South Korean film director and screenwriter

• Junh Sung-il, South Korean film critic, director
• Choi Kook-hee, South Korean producer
• An Eun-mi, South Korean film producer

• Park Jung-hun, South Korean cinematographer
• Sung Seung-taek, South Korean cinematographer
• Cho Yong-kyou, South Korean cinematographer

• Kim Young-gwang, South Korean film critic
• Han Changwook, South Korean film critic
• Ham Yoon-jeong, South Korean film critic

• Kim Sun-young, South Korean actress
• Ryu Jun-yeol, South Korean actor

• Kang Je-ky South Korean film director.
• Shim Jae-myung South Korean,CEO of Myung Films
• Yoo Ji-tae, South Korean actor
• Kwon Young-rak, South Korean producer
• Jung Han-seok, South Korean, festival advisor

Opening ceremony of the festival was held at Busan Cinema Center Outdoor Theater on October 2 and broadcast live on Naver TV.^[18] Park Bo-young and Ahn Jae-hong hosted the opening ceremony attended by the Korean and international stars from the film industry. Kiyoshi Kurosawa was presented the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award, whereas Ryu Seong-hie, a South Korean film art director was honoured with Camellia Award, which named after Busan’s city flower, the camellia, introduced this year with the involvement of Chanel and aims to raise the status of women in the film industry. A video commemorating the late Lee Sun-kyun, the recipient of the Korean Film Achievement Award was played.^[19]

Park Bo-young, MC of the opening ceremony

Ahn Jae-hong, MC of the opening ceremony

Gong Myung

Choi Soo-young

MCs of the closing ceremony

Gong Myung and Choi Soo-young acted as master of ceremonies of closing ceremony held at Busan Cinema Center Outdoor Theater on October 11.^[20] According to the Busan Film Festival Organizing Committee, 278 films, including 224 official from 63 countries and 54 community BIFF screenings were showcased. 145,238 people watched the event. The festival closed with Spirit World, a fantasy-drama film directed by Singapore's Eric Khoo and starring French actress Catherine Deneuve.^[5]

• Actors House: In this edition the following actors shared unknown behind-the-scenes stories and their future plans with the audience:^[21]

• • Sul Kyung-gu
  • Park Bo-young
  • Hwang Jung-min
  • Chun Woo-hee

Actors House was held from October 3 to 6 at Culture Hall, 9F, Shinsegae, Centum City.

• Master class:
  • Ann Hui, Hong Kong film director, producer, screenwriter and actress
  • Miguel Gomes, Portuguese film director
  • Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Japanese film director, screenwriter, film critic, author, actor, and professor

Master classes was held from October 3 to 6 at 11F Conference Hall, Busan Film & Audio Visual Industry Center

• Open Talk: The open talk will be held from October 3 to 9 at BIFF Outdoor Stage, Busan Cinema Center. Directors and actors of the official selection to the festival will freely communicate with the audience for about 50 minutes.

• Talk-to-Talk: Vivid Stories from Directors and Actors: Talk-to-Talk: Vivid Stories from Directors and Actors of 36 films in about an hour session with the audience, will be held from October 6 to 9 at 6F Talk-to-Talk Lounge, Cine mountain, Busan Cinema Center.
• Hand printing: Hand printing event will be attended by Miguel Gomes, winner of the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival. The event was held on October 4, after the screening of his film Grand Tour at Haneulyeon Theater, Busan Cinema Center.

• Special talk: Special Talks to commemorate the late actor Lee Sun-kyun, joined by actors and directors with whom he collaborated in his major works selected for the Special Program in Focus was held On October 3 and 4, at Lotte Cinema, Centum City.

• Outdoor stage greetings: Meet the Directors and Cast:- Directors and cast members of the official selections introduce their film. Each event for 20 minutes, will take place from October 3 to 5 at BIFF Theater, Busan Cinema Center.

• 2024 Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards: The awards ceremony to recognise the achievements of excellent content made for TV, OTT, and online across Asia, took place on October 6, 2024, at BIFF Theater, Busan Cinema Center, Busan, South Korea.^[22]

Source:^[23][24]

The festival has following sections:

• Gala Presentation
• Icons
• New Currents
• Jiseok
• A Window on Asian Cinema
• Korean Cinema Today Vision Section
• 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
  • In Memory of Lee Sun-kyun
  • Miguel Gomes, a filmmaker of Joyful Melancholy
  • Teenage Minds, Teenage Movies
  • Special Screening

Source:^[25][26]

The selected titles are eligible for multiple awards, including the New Currents Award, the FIPRESCI Award, the NETPAC Award, and the KB New Currents Audience Award.^[27]

Highlighted title indicates award winner

This section selected films from Asian directors with a portfolio of more than three feature films, and from the line-up of eight films, two were honoured with Jiseok awards.^[28]

Highlighted title indicates award winner

This year 12 films were showcased as world premiere.^[29]

This year, the section will screen five films, including four world premieres.^[30][31]

A collection of new and internationally acclaimed films, offering an ideal mix of the popular with the artistic are screened at the hallmark outdoor theater.

Highlighted title indicates award winner

Highlighted title indicates award winner

Highlighted title indicates award winner

A collection of thrillers, horror and action films.

In this section 4 Korean 1 Taiwanese and 1 Japanese works will be released for the first time in the world.

The festival will hold 'In Memory of Lee Sun-kyun', a special feature program and screen six of the late actor's works and hold a special talk, while looking back on his acting life and achievements and creating a meaningful memorial.^[32]

Miguel Gomes has been invited to the festival, where his eight full-length films will be screened.^[33]

Source:^[34]

Image	Recipient	Country	Ref.
The Asian Filmmaker of the Year
	Kiyoshi Kurosawa	Japan	[35]
Korean Film Achievement Award
	Lee Sun-kyun	South Korea	[36]

• New Currents Award:
  • The Land of Morning Calm
  • Ma – Cry of Silence
• KIM Jiseok Award:
  • Village Rockstars 2, Rima Das, India
  • Yen and Ai-Lee by Tom Lin Shu-yu, Taiwan
• Sonje Award:
  • Yurim by Song Ji-seo, South Korea
  • A Garden In Winter by Eléonore Mahmoudian, Matsui Hiroshi, Japan, France
• BIFF Mecenat Award
  • Works And Days by Park Min-soo, Ahn Kearn-hyung, South Korea
  • Another Home by Frankie Sin, Taiwan, Hong Kong, France
• Actors of the Year:
  • Yoo Lee-ha, The Final Semester, Actor, South Korea
  • Park Seoyun, Humming, Actress, South Korea
• KB New Currents Audience Award:
  • The Land of Morning Calm by Park Ri-woong
• Flash Forward Audience Award:
  • Memories of a Burning Body, by Antonella Sudasassi Furniss, Costa Rica, Spain
• Documentary Audience Award: K-Number by Jo Se-young
• FIPRESCI Award:^[a] Tale of the Land by Loeloe Hendra
• NETPAC Award: The Land of Morning Calm by Park Ri-woong
• The Choon-yun Award
  • Park Kwan-su, producer, South Korea
• Camellia Award: Ryu Seong-hie, South Korean film art director or production designer

• DGK PLUS M Award:
  • The Final Semester, by Lee Ran-hee
  • Red Nails, by Hwang Seulgi
• 'CGV Award: Fragment, by Kim Sung-yoon
• KBS Independent Film Award: The Final Semester, by Lee Ran-hee
• CGK Award: Waterdrop, cinematographer: Kang Jong-su
• Critic b Award: Inserts, by Lee Jong-su
• Chorokbaem Media Award:
  • Waterdrop, by Choi Jong-yong
  • Fragment, by Kim Sung-yoon
• Watcha Short Award: Lost Target, by Kim Dong-eun

• Songwon Citizen Critics’ Award: The Final Semester, by Lee Ran-hee
• Busan Cinephile Award: No Other Land, by Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor, Palestine, Norway

• BIFF official website