[BIFAN 2026] Enjoy Bucheon 30 Years 100 Times ③ Lee Choon-yeon Film Award returns, new International Federation of Film Critics prize, and the July Carnival

Two awards will be newly introduced. The 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (executive committee chair Shin Cheol, BIFAN) will bring back the “Lee Choon-yeon Film Award” this year and also introduce the “International Federation of Film Critics Award” (FIPRESCI Award). The Lee Choon-yeon Film Award was established in 2022 to honor the late Lee Choon-yeon Film Association’s chairman (former vice chair of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival’s organizing committee) and is given to producers involved in film planning and production. After the first award in 2022 was paused once last year, BIFAN will announce the fourth winners in Bucheon this year. Producer Baek Jae-ho, the first winner in 2022; producer Kim Ji-yeon, the second winner in 2023; and producer Park Gwan-su, the third winner in 2024, are the previous recipients. There was no winner in 2025.

This year’s winners were co-selected as producers Kim Se-hoon and Gu Jeong-a of the film 〈The Master of the World〉 (director Yoon Ga-eun, 2025). Kim Se-hoon received recognition for his planning abilities that helped create standout independent films, including 〈The Master of the World〉, as well as for his contribution to driving qualitative growth in Korean independent cinema through the effort. Gu Jeong-a, meanwhile, carried out a wide range of production activities including 〈The Master of the World〉 and 〈Little Forest〉 〈The Actress Is Here Today〉, and was recognized for her contribution to the Korean film industry by participating as a mentor in various international co-production projects.

This year’s honorees were selected through the final selection meeting based on multiple nominations from the Korean Film Producers Association (PGK) and the Korea Independent Film Association. Director Kang Je-gyu, actor Yoo Ji-tae, Chae Yoon-hee (former) chairperson of the Korea Media Rating Board, producer Kwon Young-rak, and BIFAN programmer Kim Young-woo were named. The Lee Choon-yeon Film Award ceremony is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 5 p.m., during the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, with the winners and fellow film figures in attendance.

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Alongside this, BIFAN also newly created the International Federation of Film Critics Award (FIPRESCI Award) for the first time in a genre film festival through collaboration with the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI, hereafter “FIPRESCI”). It is the first in the world for FIPRESCI to form an official critics’ jury for a fantastic genre film festival and carry out the awards.

The BIFAN FIPRESCI Award newly introduced this year targets films in the festival’s international competition section, ‘Bucheon Choice World: Feature.’ Three jury members appointed by the federation will review the submissions and select the final winning work. The introduction of this section is expected to spotlight the cultural value of genre films while also serving as a stepping stone to enhance BIFAN’s international standing.

FIPRESCI president Ahmed Shawky said, “With genre films receiving major recognition in the international film festival landscape right now, this collaboration with BIFAN reflects FIPRESCI’s commitment to expanding the diversity of cinema,” adding, “It is meaningful that we will present the FIPRESCI Award for the first time at a fantastic film festival.” In response, BIFAN executive committee chair Shin Cheol said, “We extend deep respect to FIPRESCI for its long-standing dedication to advancing the world film community and deepening film criticism,” and added, “This historic meeting will be an opportunity for BIFAN and the entire genre film community to take a step forward.”

Meanwhile, for its 30th summer edition, this year BIFAN will hold the street festival July Carnival together with Bucheon City. “July Carnival” runs for three days from Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, in and around Sohyang-ro in front of the Bucheon City Hall, and it will take the form of an outdoor festival designed to extend the festival’s momentum beyond the theater. As an in-town outdoor festival that brings together residents, audiences, and local businesses, it will operate various programs in and around Sohyang-ro in front of Bucheon City Hall, Bucheon Central Park, and the lawn plaza, adding a carnival atmosphere to downtown Bucheon throughout the BIFAN period. Detailed programs include the Local Mutual Growth Market, the Bucheon Wio Joichi Mac Festival, the Strange Lawn Concert, Horror Night, the Strange Treasure Hunt, and the Strange Shops, among others.

“Horror Night” is the first program carried out in collaboration with SBS, and it will be held at the lawn plaza in front of Bucheon City Hall on Saturday, July 4. At the “Horror Makeup Experience,” which runs from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., participants can transform into horror characters through special makeup for a distinctive experience. At the “Horror Night Performance,” from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., visitors can watch thrilling and flashy horror performances presented by a professional performance team. The hands-on experience and performance events meant to cool off the midsummer heat will expand BIFAN’s genre color into the outdoor festival setting.

The “Local Mutual Growth Market” is an outdoor market where Bucheon’s small businesses and traditional markets come together. This year, the event expands its scale compared with last year and will operate with 70 booths, taking place in and around Sohyang-ro and Bucheon Central Park. Operating hours are from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4, and from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 5. It is designed as a space where local merchants, residents, and festival audiences can interact. Next, the “Bucheon Wio Joichi Mac Festival” will be held at the lawn plaza in front of Bucheon City Hall. As a program where attendees can enjoy chicken and beer together, it runs from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4. There is no participation fee, but attendees must bring an ID card for age verification.

The “Strange Lawn Concert” will be held at the lawn plaza in front of Bucheon City Hall. On Friday, July 3, starting at 5:00 p.m., it will feature performances by amateur singers. Selected through recruitment, Lee Hyeon-sook, Sa-jun Seo, Kwak Jeong-yoon, Real Voice, and Lee Seo-yeon and Jang Min-woo will take the stage. On Sunday, July 5 at the same time, along with multiple performances, indie bands “Ghost Bookstore” and “LuaMel” will perform as a two-year consecutive collaboration with BIFAN and the Gyeonggi Content Agency, extending the summer evening outdoor performances. Next, the “Strange Treasure Hunt” is a participatory event for residents and audiences who visit BIFAN. It will run at Bucheon Central Park from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. from Friday, July 3 through Saturday, July 4, and there is no participation fee.

The “Strange Shops” are a local commercial district revitalization program that offers discounts and service benefits at shops near BIFAN. The program will run throughout the entire festival period at CGV So-poong, Rodeo Street, Bi-pan Street, Tteo-eo-gil, Hyundai Department Store Jungdong Branch, and Hillsate × Purji-o, and this year, shops located with the Webtoon Convergence Center will join as well to widen the scope of participation. Those holding a BIFAN 2026 badge and same-day paper and mobile tickets can receive benefits at participating shops, and more details, including participating shops, can be checked through BIFAN’s official website or the festival guide during the festival period. However, the Local Mutual Growth Market, the Bucheon Wio Joichi Mac Festival, the Strange Lawn Concert, and the Strange Treasure Hunt may be postponed in case of rain from Friday, July 10 through Sunday, July 12. The 30th BIFAN, which will get even hotter with the July Carnival, will be held in the Bucheon area from Thursday, July 2 through Sunday, July 12.