31st Busan International Film Festival opens today, Oct. 6, with 316 films from 59 countries over 10 days

The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), Asia’s largest film festival, opens Oct. 6 with an opening ceremony that begins 10 days of events. Actor Kim Min-ha will host the ceremony solo, which will be livestreamed exclusively on Naver Chzzk at 6 p.m. on Oct. 6.

This year’s festival will present 316 films from 59 countries, including 69 Community BIFF selections, across 31 screens at eight theaters throughout Busan, including the Busan Cinema Center. Director Kim Jong-kwan’s 〈“Day and Night Are Like Each Other”〉 has been selected as the opening film. Actor Michelle Yeoh will receive the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award, former BIFF Chairman Kim Dong-ho will receive the Korean Cinema Award, and director and producer Ann Hui will receive the Camellia Award.

To significantly expand opportunities for audiences, the festival moved its opening one day earlier, from the usual Wednesday to Tuesday, and will increase the number of screenings to five per day from Thursday through Sunday, when attendance is typically concentrated. In its second year, the competition section features 13 Asian films, which will be evaluated by a jury led by jury president Zhang Yimou. The winner of the Busan Award will be eligible for submission to the Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.

The festival’s star-studded international guest lineup is also drawing attention. Actor and director Maggie Gyllenhaal, who previously served as president of the jury at the Venice International Film Festival, will visit South Korea for the first time. Other major guests include director Alfonso Cuarón, Isabelle Huppert, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Majid Majidi, Lav Diaz and director Rintaro, as well as acclaimed Korean directors Lee Chang-dong, Na Hong-jin and Kim Jee-woon.

The festival will also feature a range of special programs, including “Beautiful Days, Ahn Sung-ki,” honoring the late actor Ahn Sung-ki; a “Japanese Animation Special Exhibition”; and “Michelle Yeoh: All Times, All Places.” Forum BIFF and the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) will take place alongside the festival.

The 31st Busan International Film Festival runs from Oct. 6 through Oct. 15 across Busan.