247 official selections from 59 countries; opening film 'Day and Night Are for Each Other'; festival earns FIAPF A-list status; Busan Award winner eligible for Academy Awards submission

The official poster for the 31st Busan International Film Festival [Busan city government]
The official poster for the 31st Busan International Film Festival [Busan city government]

The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will run Tuesday through Oct. 15 at the Busan Cinema Center and other venues across the city.

Organized by the Busan International Film Festival Association and supported by the Busan city government, this year's festival will screen 247 official selections from 59 countries. Director Kim Jong-kwan's "Day and Night Are for Each Other" will open the festival in its world premiere, while 14 films have been invited to compete in the competition section, spotlighting the future of Asian cinema.

Building on 30 years of history, the festival has also lined up a range of audience engagement programs — including open talks, special talks and Actors House — where filmmakers and fans from around the world can meet directly. Particularly notable this year, BIFF earned official designation as an A-list festival by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), cementing its standing on the global stage.

In addition, the winner of the Busan Award — the top prize in the competition section — will be eligible for submission to the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, strengthening the festival's role as a launchpad for films discovered in Busan to reach the world stage.

Beyond screenings, the festival serves as a hub for Asia's screen industry, spanning development, investment, production and distribution. The 21st Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), running Oct. 10 through Oct. 13 at BEXCO Exhibition Hall 2, will offer 64 programs across seven categories covering the latest trends in Asian content — including intellectual property, global investment and distribution, cinematic AI and new media.

The market will also support global content business through the Asia Project Market (APM), which connects Asian feature film projects with investors and co-producers; the Busan Story Market (BSM), which explores adapting source content for the screen; and InnoAsia, a showcase for technology-driven content.

Community-oriented programming has also been expanded. Now in its sixth year, "Dongne Bangne BIFF" — a neighborhood screening initiative — has grown beyond Busan to reach 17 regions, including Yangsan and Seoul, weaving the festival more tightly into the fabric of everyday life.

"Community BIFF," running Oct. 8 through Oct. 11 in the Nampo-dong area, will be audience-led, with participants helping to plan the program. It will screen 69 films across 42 showings, bringing cinema closer to local residents.

Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo said BIFF represents "the strength of Busan as a film city, having grown alongside the city over the past 30 years." He added: "With the film festival kicking off this autumn, followed by a rich lineup of events including the fireworks festival and G-Star, I hope many people will visit Busan and take home beautiful memories."


kaf2002@heraldcorp.com