Busan International Film Festival Announces Major Competition Overhaul For 2025

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), a cornerstone of the Asian cinema festival season, has announced a landmark transformation for its 30th edition, scheduled to run from September 17 to September 26, 2025.

In a significant strategic shift, BIFF will transition to a fully competitive film festival, introducing a unified main competition section designed to elevate the status and global influence of Asian cinema.

This pivotal change marks a new era for the festival, reflecting on its three decades of growth and setting a bold vision for the future. The decision to move from a primarily non-competitive format to a comprehensive competitive structure aims to more actively discover and champion the excellence and diversity inherent in Asian filmmaking.

The festival's new, overarching Competition section will feature approximately 14 selected Asian films. These works will vie for multiple prestigious accolades, including:

• Best Film (Grand Prize): The winner of this top honor will notably be screened as the festival's closing film, a significant departure from previous editions where a separate title was chosen.

• Best Director

• Special Jury Award

• Best Actress

• Best Actor

• Artistic Contribution

• Busan Award: A newly introduced prize, further emphasizing the festival's commitment to recognizing outstanding cinematic achievements.

  
  

The trophies for these inaugural awards will be designed by the internationally acclaimed Thai filmmaker and artist Apichatpong Weerasethakul, adding a unique artistic dimension to the new competitive framework.

This strategic overhaul underscores BIFF's ambition to not only celebrate but also actively contribute to the global recognition of Asian films. By consolidating its competitive elements, the festival aims to provide a more focused and impactful platform for filmmakers, enhancing their visibility on the world stage.

In addition to the competitive restructuring, the festival also announced key leadership appointments. Jung Han-seok, a seasoned journalist and critic who previously served as BIFF's Korean Cinema Programmer, has been appointed as the new Festival Director. Karen Park will step into the role of Program Director, bringing fresh perspectives to the festival's curation.

Filmmaker Min Kyu-dong, known for works like Memento Mori and All About My Wife, will oversee the production of both the opening and closing ceremonies, promising impactful presentations for this milestone edition.

The 30th Busan International Film Festival is poised to be a landmark event, not just as a celebration of its history, but as a bold statement about the future of Asian cinema. Further details regarding the selected films and the full jury lineup will be announced in the coming months.

Submissions currently ongoing. The deadline for Asian short films is June 4, 2025, and for feature films, it is July 2, 2025.

Additionally, opportunities for other vital programs are still open, including the Co-production Support Fund (accepting applications until August 14, 2025) and Platform BUSAN (open until August 14, 2025).

For comprehensive details on all submission categories, eligibility criteria, and the festival's complete rules and regulations, please visit the official submission page: https://www.biff.kr/eng/addon/10000001/page.asp?page_num=9265.