China’s Beijing Film Festival drastically cuts back Korean films… Why the cancellation?

A tightly shut gate, “Beijing International Film Festival” and the removed “Korean Film”

While “Beijing International Film Festival”, China’s biggest film festival, kicked off with pomp, “Korean Film” had far too few slots. Even though the international event saw 1,826 films from 139 countries submitted, only one Korean work—“Classic” from 2003—made it onto the screening lineup. In particular, the sudden cancellation of “The World’s Owner”, which surfaced right before the opening, clearly reflects Chinese authorities’ stance on “selective opening.” It sheds light on the reality of cultural barriers behind the glamorous red carpet.

According to the Beijing International Film Festival organizing committee, this year’s festival will run at the Beijing Huairou Yanqiuhu International Convention Center until the 25th. Initially, Korean films were expected to be invited in the amount of about three titles, including director Yoon Ga-eun’s “The World’s Owner.” However, in the final screening lineup, only one film made an appearance: director Kwak Jae-yong’s “Classic,” released in 2003.

In particular,

“The World’s Owner” had been officially announced as an invited film by the distributor, and the festival’s social media accounts also introduced it as a major highly anticipated title. Yet just ahead of the opening, the screening was suddenly canceled. Although the specific reason for the cancellation has not been disclosed, analyses have pointed to the possibility that Chinese authorities’ “selective opening” approach toward cultural content played a role.

This stands in stark contrast to recent trends. Last year, four titles—including “The Old Woman with the Knife” and “Secret” —were invited, and even in early 2024, five films such as “Concrete Utopia” and “A Traveler’s Needs” met Chinese audiences. In just a few months, Korean films’ presence has narrowed sharply.

Meanwhile, this year’s festival’s international competition segment, “Tian Tan Awards,” received 1,826 submissions from 139 countries, and French actor Juliette Binoche served as chair of the jury. At the opening ceremony, Han Geng—who previously debuted as a member of Super Junior—walked the red carpet and drew attention alongside major figures from the Greater China region, including director Feng Xiaogang, actor Zhou Dongyu, and Shu Qi.