The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), formerly the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan (also Pusan), South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia.[1] The first festival, held from 13 to 21 September 1996, was also the first international film festival in Korea.
The main focus of the BIFF is to introduce new films and first-time directors, especially those from Asian countries. Another notable feature is the appeal of the festival to young people, both in terms of the large youthful audience it attracts and through its efforts to develop and promote young talent.
In 1999, the Pusan Promotion Plan (renamed Asian Project Market in 2011) was established to connect new directors to funding sources. The 16th BIFF in 2011 saw the festival move to a new permanent home, the Busan Cinema Center in Centum City.[2][3]
History
1990s
1st Busan International Film Festival, 13–21 September 1996
Opening Film: Septet: The Story of Hong Kong - Johnnie To, Ringo Lam, Hark Tsui, Sammo Hung, Ann Hui, Patrick Tam Yuen, Wo Ping, Hong Kong, China/China
Closing Film: Josee, the Tiger and the Fish - Tamura Kotaro, Japan
The Busan International Film Festival is organised in various sections[11]
Gala Presentation: Gala Presentation screens new master cineastes, films, and premieres.
Icons: A showcase of the latest films of contemporary iconic filmmakers from around the world.
Jiseok: A competition section for established Asian filmmakers with three or more feature films. The two best films are presented with the KIM Jiseok Award. The award was created in commemoration of the late Kim Jiseok, program director who devoted his life to nurture and support Asian cinema.
A Window on Asian Cinema: A showcase of new and/or representative films by Asian filmmakers.
New Currents: The only international competition section featuring the first or the second feature films by future directors of Asian cinema.
Korean Cinema Today: Selected Korean feature films are shown in three sub-sections, Special Premiere, Panorama and Vision. These three sub-sections recognise the current production trend of Korean cinema and anticipate its future.
Korean Cinema Retrospective: Revisiting the history of Korean cinema by spotlighting films of a certain notable director or films with a significant theme.
World Cinema: Presentation of new works by filmmakers along with films that help understanding the recent trends in world cinema.
Flash Forward: This section is a collection of first or second films of up-and-coming filmmakers from non-Asian countries.
Wide Angle: A section showing short films, animation, documentaries, and experimental films.
Open Cinema: outdoor screening venue where a collection of new films, combining both art and mass popularity, are shown.
Midnight Passion: A collection of horror, SF, and thriller films that are certain to keep diehard film fans awake throughout the night.
On Screen: Presentation of highly anticipated or most talked about drama series of the year.
Special Programs in Focus: A retrospective and special showcase of films of a certain notable director or genre.
Official divisions
Asian Film MarketPPP(Pusan Promotion Plan) meeting
Asian Film Market: Launched in 2006 as a marketplace for the industry events at the Busan International Film Festival.
Asian Project Market (former PPP: Pusan Promotion Plan) is a pre-market.
Asian Cinema Fund: The Asian Cinema Fund is a funding program to help activate more independent film productions and to set up a stable production environment. It supports projects in various stages and categories. The 900 million won (approximately US$900,000) Asian Cinema Fund will be used to provide support to seven projects in script development, five post-productions, and thirteen documentary films.
The Script Development Fund is aimed at helping screenwriters complete their scripts.
The Post-Production Fund is made possible through the support of Korean post-production companies and the Korean Film Council. With this fund, the director is invited to Korea to work on sound and DI with Korean post-production houses. It will help the director complete his or her film in 35mm.
The Asian Network of Documentary Fund was initiated in 2002 and sponsored by six universities and corporations in the Busan region. As a part of the Busan International Film Festival, and holds master classes and clinics to stabilise the environment for documentary productions.
Asian Film Academy (AFA) is an educational program where prospective filmmakers and established directors from Asia gather to deliberate and prepare for the future of Asian cinema.
Asian Film Academy
Busan Cinema Forum (BCF) is an academic event for filmmakers and scholars, launched on 10 October 2011.[12] It aims to enhance the knowledge and support of the film industry and film aesthetics.
Awards
A number of awards are handed out each year, including:
The Asian Filmmaker of the Year
Tsai Ming-liang, Asian Filmmaker of the Year, Pusan International Film Festival 2010
The Asian Filmmaker of the Year(올해의 아시아영화인상) is granted to the Asian filmmaker who has made the most significant contribution to the advancement of Asian film industry and culture throughout the year.[13]
The Choon-yun Award(이춘연 영화인상) was established in honor of the late Chairman of the Korean Association of Film Art & Industry, Lee Choon-yun. This award is given to one newly emerging producer with a cash prize of KRW 10,000,000, sponsored by IOK Company.[13]
The New Currents Award(뉴 커런츠상) is given to the two best feature films selected from the first or second feature of new Asian directors introduced in the New Currents section. A grand prize of USD 30,000 is awarded to each film. The jury consists of world-renowned film experts who will choose winners to discover and encourage the hidden jewels of Asian cinema.[13][23]
The KIM Jiseok Award(지석상), Established in 2017, is to remember and honor the late Kim Jiseok who devoted his whole life to discovering and supporting the growth of Asian cinema. The award is given to the films in the competition category for the Korean and Asian directors who have directed more than 3 feature films, and two best films are selected and awarded a cash prize of USD 10,000 each sponsored by BIFF Supporters Association.[25][13]
BIFF Mecenat Award(비프메세나상) is granted to the best documentary from Korea and Asia in Wide Angle competitive section. The winner will be granted KRW 10,000,000 with the purpose of assisting their next production.[13]
Sonje Award(선재상) is given to the best Korean and Asian short films in the Wide Angle section, to assist them in producing next project by providing KRW 10,000,000 to each director.[13]
The Actor of the Year(올해의 배우상) is the award to focus on the newcomer in the independent Korean films among the New Currents and Korean Cinema Today – Vision section. The renowned Korean actor and actress select one actor and one actress with outstanding performance. The winners will be awarded at the closing ceremony with a cash prize of KRW 5,000,000 each.[13]
KB New Currents Audience Award(KB 뉴 커런츠 관객상; formerly KNN Award) is given to the film that is most highly rated by festival audiences from the New Currents section. Sponsored by KB Kookmin Bank, KRW 20,000,000 is awarded to the director.[13]
Flash Forward Audience Award(플래시 포워드 관객상) is given to the film that is most highly rated by festival audiences from the Flash Forward section. Sponsored by BIFF Supporters Association, KRW 10,000,000 is awarded to the director.[13]
FIPRESCI(International Federation of Film Critics) Award(국제영화비평가연맹상) is given to well-made works that reflect its experimental and progressive spirit, among those presented in the New Currents section.[13]
The NETPAC Award(아시아영화진흥기구상) is given to the best film selected by the NETPAC(The Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) jury among the films screened in the New Currents section.[13]
The LG OLED New Currents Award(LG 올레드 뉴 커런츠상) is established in 2023, is given to an Asian feature film in the New Currents section, that demonstrates an innovation in visual aesthetics. The award recipient will be chosen by the New Currents jurors, and will be granted prizes sponsored by LG OLED including ₩30,000,000 cash award.[13]
No.
Year
Film
Director
Country
28
2023
Solid by the Sea
Patiparn Buntharik
Thailand
LG OLED Vision Award
The LG OLED Vision Award(LG 올레드 비전상; formerly Daemyung Culture Wave Award, KTH Award, Watcha Award) is given to one Korean film in the Korean Cinema Today - Vision and New Currents section, that demonstrates an innovation in visual aesthetics. The award recipient will be granted prizes sponsored by LG OLED including ₩30,000,000 cash award.[13][27][28]
The DGK PLUS M Award(한국영화감독조합 플러스엠상; formerly DGK Award) goes to two Korean films from the Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. Each winner will be granted KRW 5,000,000. This cash prize is sponsored by Directors Guild of Korea and PLUS M.[13]
CGV Award(CGV상) was newly created in 2011 in collaboration with CJ CGV to shed new light on the Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. The winner will receive a cash prize of KRW 10,000,000 sponsored by CJ CGV.[13]
The KBS Independent Film Award(KBS독립영화상) is given to support Korean independent films. One Korean film will be selected among Korean Cinema Today - Vision and New Currents section to receive KRW 10,000,000. This cash prize is sponsored by Korean Broadcasting System.[28][13]
The CGK Award(CGK촬영상), sponsored by Cinematographers Guild of Korea, is given to one Korean film from either New Currents or Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. The winner’s cinematographer will be granted KRW 5,000,000.[13]
No.
Year
Film
Cinematographer
Country
CGK&SamyangXEEN Award
24
2019
Kyungmi’s World
Kim Gilja
South Korea
25
2020
Snowball
Lee Jae-u
South Korea
Renamed as CGK Award
26
2021
Chorokbam
Choo Kyeong-yeob
South Korea
27
2022
Hail to Hell
Jung Grim
South Korea
28
2023
House of the Seasons
Lee Jinkeun
South Korea
Critic b Award
Critic b Award(크리틱b상) is given to one film chosen by Busan Film Critics Association among the selections in the New Currents and the Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. The winner will receive KRW 10,000,000.[13]
No.
Year
Film
Director
Country
26
2021
Hot in Day, Cold at Night
Park Song-yeol
South Korea
27
2022
a Wild Roomer
Lee Jeong-hong
South Korea
28
2023
Last Summer
Choi Seung-woo
South Korea
Watcha Short Award
Watcha Short Award(왓챠단편상) is established to support short film directors in Korean cinema. Two short films chosen from Wide Angle - Korean Short Competition section will be given a cash prize of KRW 5,000,000. This cash prize is sponsored by Watcha.[13]
No.
Year
Film
Director
Country
27
2022
Other Life
Roh Dohyeon
South Korea
28
2023
MYDEAR
Jeon Do-hee, Kim So-hee
South Korea
KARMA
Choi Soo-hyuk
South Korea
Aurora Media Award
Aurora Media Award(오로라미디어상) is established to support new directors in Korean cinema. Two Korean films chosen from the New Currents and the Korean Cinema Today - Vision section will be given a cash prize of KRW 10,000,000 respectively. This cash prize is sponsored by Aurora Media.[13]
No.
Year
Film
Director
Country
27
2022
Greenhouse
Lee Sol-hui
South Korea
Big Sleep
Kim Taehoon
South Korea
28
2023
House of the Seasons
Oh Jung-min
South Korea
FAQ
Kim Da-min
South Korea
Citizen Critics' Award
Citizen critics from the Busan Cinematheque choose the best film from those screened in Korean Cinema Today - Vision section. Citizen Critics' Award(시민평론가상) is awarded KRW 10,000,000 for supporting the director’s next production.[13]
Busan Cinephile Award(부산시네필상) is given to the best Korean and Asian documentary film presented in the Wide Angle documentary showcase section. The winner is awarded KRW 5,000,000. The jury of college students, including numerous students from the cinema-related departments of six universities in Busan region, select the winner.[13]
^Choi Young-joo (15 September 2021). "[현장EN:]부국제, 정상 개최 예고…"100% 극장 상영·개막식 진행"" [[On-site EN:] Bu-Kukje, the summit announcement… "100% theater screening and opening ceremony"]. CBS Nocut News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
^Kang Min-kyung (8 August 2022). ""3년만 정상 개최" 제27회 부산국제영화제, 공식 포스터 공개" [The 27th Busan International Film Festival, Official Poster Released, "The first summit in three years"]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
^Lee Ha-neul (24 August 2023). "제28회 부산국제영화제, '화란'→'LTNS'…한국영화의 오늘x온 스크린 선정작 공개" [The 28th Busan International Film Festival, 'Hwaran' → 'LTNS'... Korean Cinema Today x On Screen Selected Films Revealed]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
^Park Mi-ae (15 September 2021). "임권택 감독 아시아영화인상, 故이춘연 대표 한국영화공로상" [Director Im Kwon-taek's Asian Film Award, the late Chun-yeon Lee's Korean Film Achievement Award]. Edaily Star (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
^Shin Jae-woo (17 September 2021). "왓챠 박태훈 대표 "부산국제영화제 '왓챠상' 신설…독립영화 발굴"" [Watcha CEO Park Tae-hoon "Busan International Film Festival's 'Watcha Award' is newly established...Independent film discovery"]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
