Strong turnout, star power propel 31st BIFF into global spotlight

The 31st Busan International Film Festival drew more than 50,000 visitors to official program events during its first five days through Saturday. The record engagement coincided with BIFF’s first edition after receiving A-List status from the International Federation of Film Producers Associations. Global filmmakers and actors joined expanded screenings, talks and industry events, while a controversy over the historical thriller Assassin(s) prompted discussions about artistic freedom.

The Asian Contents & Film Market brought together more than 3,000 film professionals from 1,200 companies across 58 countries.

The Competition Section features 13 films competing for the Busan Award across five categories, with the grand prize winner becoming eligible for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

The festival’s opening ceremony included Michelle Yeoh, Jury President Zhang Yimou, Alfonso Cuarón, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Fan Bingbing and Hirokazu Kore-eda.

BIFF shifted its opening day to Tuesday and added extra weekend screenings to improve access for movie fans and industry officials.

The festival concludes Thursday with a closing ceremony hosted by Yim Si-wan, when the Busan Award winners will be announced.

Published Oct 11, 2026 4:06 pm KST

People walk past the Busan Cinema Center in Busan, Sunday, where the 31st Busan International Film Festival is being held. Yonhap

The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has drawn record crowds and major global star power at its midpoint, cementing its position as Asia's premier film event.

On Sunday, the festival organizer said attendance at BIFF’s official program events, such as outdoor stage greetings, Master Classes Actors House sessions and Open Talks, surpassed 50,000 visitors within its first five days through Saturday.

This figure already exceeds the total attendance recorded across all program events during last year’s full festival run, they added. This highlights a sharp increase in public engagement outside movie theaters.

The surging interest comes as BIFF celebrates its first edition since being elevated to the International Federation of Film Producers Associations A-List status, solidifying its standing alongside premier global film festivals.

By shifting its opening day to Tuesday and adding extra weekend screenings, the festival made it much easier for both movie fans and industry officials to attend.

At Tuesday's opening ceremony, the festival brought together world-renowned filmmakers and actors, including Asian Filmmaker of the Year recipient Michelle Yeoh, Jury President Zhang Yimou and acclaimed figures such as Alfonso Cuarón, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Fan Bingbing and Hirokazu Kore-eda.

Actor Shin Min-a, left on the stage, speaks during an Actors House session, a major program event at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, at Shinsegae Department Store in Busan, Saturday. Yonhap

Master Classes and special talks emerged as major highlights of the first week. Cuarón led an interactive session following a screening of "Gravity," while actors Kim Go-eun, Kim Min-ha, Ryu Seung-ryong, Shin Min-a, and Ju Ji-hoon revisited their careers during Actors House sessions.

Additionally, international stars expressed admiration for Korean cinema, with Yeoh and Fan sharing their desire to collaborate with director Lee Chang-dong.

The festival's Competition Section, now in its second year, features 13 movies competing for the prestigious Busan Award across five categories. Highlights among the entries include director Kim Jung-hoon's psychological thriller "Shaving, alongside international titles such as "The Sea Speaks His Name" by Indonesian director Yosep Anggi Noen. The grand prize winner will earn eligibility for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

Parallel to the screenings, the Asian Contents & Film Market opened Saturday, bringing together more than 3,000 film industry professionals from 1,200 companies across 58 countries to discuss co-productions, sales and emerging industry trends.

However, the festival has also sparked discussions beyond cinema. The historical thriller "Assassin(s)" withdrew from red carpet events and outdoor greetings over debates about its depiction of historical events, prompting jury members — including the jury president — to emphasize artistic freedom during an official press conference.

BIFF runs through Thursday, concluding with a closing ceremony hosted by actor Yim Si-wan, where the Busan Award winners will be officially announced.

Busan Int'l Film Festival kicks off star-studded 10-day run

第31届釜山国际电影节在开幕的前五天（截至周六）吸引了超过5万名观众参加官方活动。这一创纪录的观众人数恰逢釜山国际电影节获得国际电影制片人协会联合会（IFFPA）A级电影节称号后的首届电影节。来自世界各地的电影人和演员参与了扩大的放映、研讨会和行业活动，而围绕历史惊悚片《刺客》的争议则引发了关于艺术自由的讨论。

亚洲内容及电影市场汇聚了来自 58 个国家 1200 家公司的 3000 多名电影专业人士。

竞赛单元共有 13 部影片角逐釜山电影节五大奖项，其中最高奖项的获得者将有资格角逐奥斯卡最佳国际影片奖。

电影节开幕式出席者包括杨紫琼、评审团主席张艺谋、阿方索·卡隆、玛吉·吉伦哈尔、夏洛特·甘斯布、范冰冰和是枝裕和。

釜山国际电影节将开幕日改至周二，并增加了周末放映场次，以方便影迷和业内人士观影。

釜山电影节将于周四举行闭幕式，由任时完主持，届时将公布釜山电影奖的获奖者。

发布于2026年10月11日下午4:06（韩国标准时间）

周日，人们走过位于釜山的釜山电影中心，第31届釜山国际电影节正在这里举行。（韩联社）

第31届釜山国际电影节（BIFF）在进行到一半时吸引了创纪录的观众人数和众多国际明星，巩固了其作为亚洲顶级电影盛会的地位。

周日，电影节主办方表示，釜山国际电影节官方节目活动（如户外舞台见面会、大师班、演员之家课程和公开讲座）的观众人数在开幕后的前五天（截至周六）超过了 5 万名观众。

他们补充说，这一数字已经超过了去年电影节所有活动的总参与人数。这凸显了公众在电影院以外的参与度显著提高。

随着釜山国际电影节（BIFF）被提升为国际电影制片人协会联合会（IFPA）A级电影节，巩固了其与全球顶级电影节并肩的地位，人们对该电影节的兴趣也日益高涨。

通过将开幕日改到周二，并增加周末放映场次，电影节让影迷和业内人士更容易参加。

在周二的开幕式上，电影节汇聚了世界知名的电影制作人和演员，包括亚洲年度电影人奖获得者杨紫琼、评审团主席张艺谋以及阿方索·卡隆、玛吉·吉伦哈尔、夏洛特·甘斯布、范冰冰和是枝裕和等著名人物。

周六，在釜山新世界百货举行的第31届釜山国际电影节重要活动“演员之家”环节中，演员申敏儿（左）发表讲话。（韩联社）

大师班和专题讲座成为第一周的亮点。在放映电影《地心引力》后，导演阿方索·卡隆主持了一场互动环节；而在演员之家，金高银、金敏荷、柳承龙、申敏儿和朱智勋等演员回顾了他们的演艺生涯。

此外，国际明星们也表达了对韩国电影的赞赏，杨紫琼和范冰冰都表示希望与导演李沧东合作。

釜山电影节竞赛单元今年已是第二届，共有13部影片角逐五大奖项，争夺久负盛名的釜山电影节大奖。参赛影片亮点纷呈，包括金正勋导演的心理惊悚片《剃刀》，以及印尼导演约瑟夫·安吉·诺恩的国际佳作《大海在诉说他的名字》。最终大奖得主将获得角逐奥斯卡最佳国际影片奖的资格。

与放映活动同期，亚洲内容与电影市场于周六开幕，汇聚了来自 58 个国家 1200 家公司的 3000 多名电影行业专业人士，共同探讨联合制作、销售和新兴行业趋势。

然而，电影节也引发了电影之外的讨论。历史惊悚片《刺客》因其对历史事件的描绘引发争议，退出了红毯活动和户外见面会，促使包括评审团主席在内的评审团成员在官方新闻发布会上强调了艺术自由的重要性。

釜山国际电影节将持续到周四，闭幕式将由演员任时完主持，届时将正式宣布釜山电影奖的获奖者。

釜山国际电影节拉开帷幕，开启为期10天的星光熠熠的盛会