As the summer heat finally cools off and a fresh autumn breeze fills the air, we know one thing for sure: BIFF is right around the corner!
Step into our latest edition as we bring you one step closer to the festival grounds – packed with exciting lineup drops, special highlights, exclusive features, and a fun trivia quiz to get you hyped for the big days ahead!
Click on each 📌 to discover more! 👀
EXCLUSIVE:
Inside Wide Angle – Korean Short Film Competition
BIFF’s Wide Angle has always been about expanding cinematic horizons through fresh vision and fearless storytelling.
Want the inside scoop on this year’s selections?
Read below for Programmer Kang Sowon’s exclusive message along with commentary straight from the directors of this year’s lineup! 🎁
Programmer Kang Sowon Introduces
2026 Wide Angle – Korean Short Film Competition
“Explore the Versatile and Extraordinary Universe of Korean Short Films”
If there’s one word to sum up this year’s lineup, it’sdiversity. From the rise of animation and bold genre experiments to unpredictable narratives, vibrant characters, sharp social critiques, and boundless imagination—these films are ready to captivate Busan audiences.
Get a taste of the bold new voices in Korean short cinema, only at BIFF!
All of Her
KIM Nam-hyeon
”Pre-marriage power game“
Afternoon on the Bridge
HA JIi-hyung
“There’s a moment your heart skips,
and only you remain.”
Dear Sunshine
GOO Jiyoon
“Nevertheless, it seeps in.
A fleeting tenderness of life.”
The Distant House
GONG Seonjeong
“On a spring day when the cherry blossoms bloom, Grandma disappeared.”
This year, BIFF pays a heartfelt tribute to a timeless Korean cinema icon presenting the Special Program in Focus: ‘Those Beautiful Years, Ahn Sung-ki’.
[Credit: Korean Film Archive (KOFA)]
A Fine, Windy Day (1980) – LEE Jang-ho ／ Whale Hunting (1984) – BAE Chang-ho
Chil-su and Man-su (1988) – PARK Kwang-su ／ Gagman (1989) – LEE Myung-Se
White Badge (1992) – CHUNG Jiyoung ／ Festival (1996) – IM Kwon-taek
[Credit: Korean Film Archive (KOFA)]
This retrospective marks the grand finale of a nationwide series of tributes, featuring six landmark films personally selected by the actor before his passing. Each screening will be followed by special Guest Visits (GVs) and special talks. Joined by fellow colleagues, rising filmmakers, film critics, and scholars, these sessions will offer thoughtful retrospectives on Ahn’s filmography and legacy.
To mark this special program, BIFF is also releasing a special volume titled Between the Adventurous and the Exemplary: Ahn Sung-ki, Actor of His Time. The publication includes an essay by acclaimed critic Jung Sung-il, deep-dive reviews of Ahn’s most iconic and rediscovered works, and heartfelt interviews with the directors and actors who worked with him.
Join us in celebrating the extraordinary life, artistry, and lasting legacy of our most beloved screen icon!
BIFF’s Vision section is back to spotlight the boldest voices and most exciting storytelling across Korea and Asia. This year, we’re proud to present 12 standout Korean features in Vision – Korea and 11 extraordinary titles in Vision – Asia.
Together, these 23 films offer an unforgettable roadmap to the landscape of contemporary Asian cinema. Ready to see what compelling stories await?
From fresh, breathtaking debuts by emerging directors to brilliant new works from festival favorites, these visionary talents have gathered in Busan to share their unique stories.
Take a peek at the lineup and find your next favorite film!
Featuring three highly anticipated drama series, On Screen selections reflect cinema's expanding forms while offering audiences the unique opportunity to experience them in theaters ahead of their release.
Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere: With three selected titles showcasing the finest in contemporary Korean cinema, you’ll be the very first to see them on the big screen.
Six titles are joing the lineup for Korean Cinema Today – Panorama, including four world premieres making their first-ever screenings right here in Busan. Ranging from major blockbusters to arthouse gems, these films capture the true breadth and direction of Korean cinema today.
Don’t miss this incredible chance to catch the newest wave of Korean cinema and series—join us right here in Busan!
Do you remember last week’s newsletter where Programmer Kang Sowon introduced Forum BIFF? True to her promise of offering a stage to hear the latest breakthroughs and trends directly from active filmmakers, this year's Forum BIFF will assess where cinema stands today across industry, technology, and policy under the theme 'Exploring the Possibilities of Contemporary Cinema.' Organized into four thematic strands—Industry, AI & Creation, Institutions & Policy, and Region & Environment—Forum BIFF presents eight sessions. Highlights include international co-productions as a new path for mid-budget films, the exciting possibilities for Korean animation amid Asia's animation boom, and the new relationship between technology and art in AI cinema. Additionally, these sessions will explore vital topics such as rights and sustainability, public support for film festivals, and the green transition in regional film policy. From shifts in industry and technology to questions of people, policy, and the environment, 2026 Forum BIFF brings together diverse voices around a single overarching vision.
Come catch a glimpse of cinema today and help shape the future of the medium at this year’s Forum BIFF!
The Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) is proud to announce its inaugural 'Country of Honor' program with Thailand stepping into the spotlight as the very first honored nation!
Thailand’s screen industry has been expanding its international reach, bringing content rooted in Thai culture to audiences around the world. Supported by Netflix investments and hosting over 540 foreign productions, the country has firmly established itself as a major Asian powerhouse for both competitive local stories and global production.
ACFM and Thailand share a long-standing connection, spanning project discovery, production funding, festival screenings, awards, and private-sector support. Through this new flagship program, ACFM will feature Thailand’s leading companies, creators, and fresh IPs across its sales market and investment networks—opening dynamic new business avenues between global industry professionals.
Stay tuned as Thailand and ACFM open an exciting new chapter together, and discover what’s next for Asia’s content industry!
BIFF Quiz🧩
Q This year’s ‘Wide Angle – Korean Short Film Competition’ drew numerous submissions from passionate Korean filmmakers. So, how many films made the final cut and will be presented at this year’s BIFF?
① 4
② 6
③ 8
④ 12
⑤ 20
Q Which of the following is TRUE about the six films selected for ‘Those Beautiful Years, Ahn Sung-ki,’ this year’s Special Program in Focus honoring actor Ahn Sung-ki?
① Selected through an online audience vote.
② Films personally recommended by Ahn Sung-ki. ③ A collection of his top box-office hits. ④ Films from his early career as a child actor.
👀 Answers to Last Issue’s BIFF Trivia
Q Which of the following awards is NOT presented at the Opening Ceremony?
① The Asian Filmmaker of the Year
② Korean Cinema Award
③ Camellia Award
④ BIFF Cinema Master Honorary Award
⑤ Busan Cinephile Award
⑤Busan Cinephile Award
⑤ Busan Cinephile Award:Celebrating excellence in documentary filmmaking, the Busan Cinephile Award is presented to one Korean or Asian documentary from the Wide Angle - Documentary Showcase, selected by a student jury comprising film-related majors from Busan's universities.
Q Busan Cinema Center is the hub of BIFF, offering everything from art-house cinema to live performances. As we prepare for the 31st BIFF this October, the venue is also known by its native Korean name, 'Dureraum', a combination of Dure and Raum. What does the word ‘Dure’ actually mean?
① A Silver lining
② New, Fresh, Visionary
③ Fun, Joy, Excitement
④ A vibrant gathering
⑤ Ocean waves
④ A vibrant gathering: Just as its name suggests, come enjoy the magic of cinema together at Dureraum!
