Busan joins world's 17 A-list film festivals as 31st BIFF opens amid 'The Assassin' cancellations

247 official selections — largest since 2019 — among 316 total films; festival gains Oscar qualifying status

Actor Fan Bingbing walks the red carpet at the opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, held Tuesday afternoon at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan. [Yonhap]

The 31st Busan International Film Festival opened Tuesday with a star-studded lineup — from Hollywood actor Maggie Gyllenhaal to Japanese master filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda and Chinese actor Fan Bingbing — as the festival marked its elevation to one of the world's 17 A-list film festivals. A total of 316 films, including 247 official selections from 59 countries, will screen across the city in what is the festival's largest program since 2019. However, the film "The Assassin," which had been set to participate, saw its official schedule repeatedly canceled amid a swirling controversy over alleged historical distortion.

The opening ceremony was held Tuesday afternoon at the outdoor theater of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, kicking off a 10-day run.

The festival's most significant development this year is its rise in international standing. BIFF was officially designated an A-list festival under the International Federation of Film Producers Associations' (FIAPF) new certification framework, placing it alongside the Cannes Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, Venice and 14 other festivals in the world's top tier.

The elevation also opens a new path to the Oscars. Beginning this year, the winner of the Busan Award — the festival's top prize in its competition section — will be eligible to submit directly for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, independent of each country's national selection process. The Academy has extended this direct submission pathway to the top prizes of six festivals in total, including BIFF, the Berlin International Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, the Sundance Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival and the Venice International Film Festival.

The festival's expanded global profile is matched by a larger program. The 247 official selections represent an increase from last year's 241. Combined with 69 Community BIFF screenings, all 316 films will be shown across 31 screens at eight theaters. Particularly notable among the official selections are 95 world premieres and 10 international premieres, meaning 105 films will make their first public appearance in Busan.

Actor Kim Min-ha, who stars in the 31st Busan International Film Festival's opening film "Day and Night Greet Each Other," attends the event. [Yonhap]

Thirteen films are currently competing for the Busan Award in the competition section. Directors in the running include Korea's Im Ha-yeon and Kim Jeong-hun, Iran's Majid Majidi, Japan's Nanako Hirose and Shuichi Okita, and Taiwan's Li Yun-chan.

The Icons section, which gathers new works by established masters, features 35 films. Highlights include "Fjord" by Cristian Mungiu, winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, alongside new works by Asian cinema luminaries Hirokazu Kore-eda and Tsai Ming-liang.

A host of international film stars made their way to Busan. Hollywood actor Maggie Gyllenhaal attended, as did Chinese-language actors Zhou Xun and Fan Bingbing, and Japanese actors Masami Nagasawa, Tasuku Emoto, Kento Yamazaki and Erika Sawajiri. Asian cinema masters including Kore-eda and Tsai Ming-liang will also meet audiences in person, along with numerous other directors and actors.

The Camellia Award, which honors women in film, goes this year to Hong Kong director Ann Hui. Other audience-facing programs include Actors House — featuring actors Kim Go-eun and Joo Ji-hoon — as well as master classes, open talks, special talks and outdoor stage greetings. A special program spotlighting Japanese animation rounds out the festival with 13 films.

However, the controversy over alleged historical distortion surrounding "The Assassin" cast a shadow over the festival right up to its opening. The film's production company canceled its planned attendance at the opening ceremony and an outdoor stage greeting scheduled for Wednesday, citing concerns over safety and the smooth running of events, and the festival accepted the decision. A scheduled Actors House appearance by Lee Min-ho was also canceled.

shee@heraldcorp.com