🎬 The 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) 2025: A Festival Connecting Asia and the World

📽️ 30 Years of History, A Global Stage for Cinema in Busan

🌏 The Busan International Film Festival is now the place to experience the flow of world cinema firsthand.

Introduction to the Busan International Film Festival

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), which opened on September 13, 1996, is Korea’s first international film festival.At its inaugural edition, 169 films from 31 countries were screened across only six theaters. Today, BIFF has grown into Korea’s largest international film festival and one of the most celebrated film events worldwide.

Every year, more than 300 films from 70–80 countries are invited, screened across up to 37 theaters. In particular, the Busan Cinema Center, which opened in 2011 as the festival’s official venue, has become a cultural landmark of Busan.This year’s 30th BIFF marks a symbolic milestone, drawing the attention of film fans and industry professionals around the world.

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Key Features of the 30th BIFF in 2025

The 2025 Busan International Film Festival has been prepared around three major directions:

1. Strengthening solidarity in Asian cinema and exploring future development

2. Creating opportunities to overcome the current challenges facing Korean cinema

3. Striving to become a truly audience-friendly festival

This year’s lineup includes 241 official selections, with an expanded total of 328 films including Community BIFF.The newly established competition, the “Busan Award”, will spotlight major Asian works, reaffirming BIFF’s position as Asia’s premier film festival.

Asking the Path of Asian Cinema

Since its inception, the Busan International Film Festival has focused on discovering new Asian directors and fostering independent cinema.Marking its 30th edition, BIFF is expanding this tradition with a new competitive section that reflects Asia’s vision of its own cinema.

• Vision Section: Expanded across Asia, with 12 Korean films and 11 other Asian titles presenting fresh perspectives and bold visions.

• Forum BIFF: Under the theme “Once Again, Asking the Path of Asian Cinema”, discussions will address the future of Asian cinema within OTT platforms, international co-productions, and the global content ecosystem.

• Special Programs: “Decisive Moments of Asian Cinema” will bring together legendary Asian directors who have shaped Asian cinema history to present their iconic works directly to audiences.

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2025 BIFF Honorees and Highlights

Asian Filmmaker of the Year: Iranian master Jafar Panahi, the first Asian director to win top honors at all three major European film festivals (Venice, Berlin, and Cannes). His works continue to explore freedom and dignity under censorship and repression.

• Camellia Award: Sylvia Chang, actress, director, producer, and mentor who has been a vital force in Asian cinema for decades.

Film Highlights

• <Shooting Star> by Vimukthi Jayasundara (Sri Lanka)

• <The Era of Wilderness> by Bi Gan (China)

• <Days in Trip> by Sho Miyake (Japan)

• <Girl>, the directorial debut of Taiwanese actress Sylvia Hsieh

• <The Way to Erase> by Yoo Jae-in (Korea)

These films reflect the diversity and vitality of contemporary Asian cinema.

Experiencing World Cinema in Busan

The Busan International Film Festival is also a vibrant stage to experience the flow of world cinema all in one place.

• <Lou’s Lucky Day> by Lloyd Lee Choi

• <Sound of Falling> by Marsha Sielinski, acclaimed at Cannes

• <Hind’s Voice> by Kaouther Ben Hania, dramatizing the Gaza tragedy

• <God Does Not Help> by Hana Jusich, a powerful female-centered narrative

In addition, acclaimed Asian films already recognized at Berlin, Cannes, and Venice will also be screened in Busan, including <The Botanist>, <The President’s Cake>, and <The Useful Ghost>.

Conclusion: BIFF Through the Eyes of a Researcher

The 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) 2025 is more than just a film festival. It clearly reveals three key currents:

• Strengthening solidarity in Asian cinema

• Revitalizing Korean cinema

• Becoming a crossroads with world cinema

The introduction of the Busan Award and the special program “Decisive Moments of Asian Cinema” offer significant signals for understanding industry shifts and cultural contexts.From a researcher’s perspective, the trends observed at BIFF provide valuable insights for interpreting the future of cultural and content research as well as evolving audience insights.