Hello again,

Hope you are staying cool and safe during this extremely hot summer. The whole world is experiencing an unprecedented climate change - at times devastating, at times disorienting.

And yet, despite recurring heat waves and difficulties, our lives still go on, like Abbas Kiarostami’s film.

And Life Goes on

Most acclaimed work by Abbas Kiarostami, showing his aesthetic style and cinematic philosophy. Even in the scorching summer and the heaviness of daily life, time keeps moving, and so does the countdown to BIFF. With just around 50 days left until the festival opens, we’re back to share the hottest updates and most exciting news.

Director Jafar Panahi at the 8th Busan International Film Festival

Jafar Panahi has been selected as ‘The Asian Filmmaker of the Year’ at the 30th Busan International Film Festival. The award is presented to an Asian film figure or organization that has made the most significant contribution to the development of the Asian film industry and culture.🎬🏆 

Jafar Panahi is well known as a towering figure in Iranian cinema, who has explored the existence and freedom of individuals living amid censorship and political repression. The director was honored by all three major international film festivals, receiving the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 for It Was Just an Accident (2025), following the Golden Lion at Venice for The Circle (2002), and the Golden Bear in Berlin for Taxi (2015).

‘The Asian Filmmaker of the Year’ will be presented at the Opening Ceremony scheduled to take place on September 17 at the Busan Cinema Center.

The 2025 Asian Project Market (APM) announced the official selections of 30 film projects. 👏📝

As the largest co-production and financing platform in Asia, APM plays a vital role in discovering fresh, emerging talent and connecting them with global investors, producers, and distributors, while fostering an ecosystem for meaningful co-production and investment opportunities. This year, the Market received 455 submissions from 44 countries, breaking its own record for the highest number of entries.

The selected projects will be nominated under each sponsor category, with winners to be disclosed at the APM Awards Ceremony on September 23 (Tue). The 2025 Asia Project Market is scheduled to take place from September 20 (Sat) to 23 (Tue), during the 20th Asian Contents & Film Market at BEXCO.

The 30th Busan International Film Festival made an agreement with the Korea Hydro Nuclear Power (KHNP). 🙌🎇

As Busan is a city based on nuclear industry, sponsorship of KHNP holds special meaning for BIFF. Park Kwang-su, the Festival Chairperson and Lee SangWoog, the Head of Kori Nuclear Power Site attended the partnership event, underscoring the strong engagement between the two organizations.

Under the two year in a row sponsorship of KHNP, the 30th Busan International Film Festival will be a meaningful event.

The official poster for the 30th edition of BIFF is now revealed! 🎉🎨

The iconic BIFF emblem, set against vibrant red sand, takes center stage in this year’s official poster—unveiled in celebration of the 30th edition. The vibrant texture, elegant calligraphic line, and refined typography come together to create a harmonious blend of modern aesthetics and traditional graphic. 

We invite you to discover the spirit of BIFF through this visually compelling poster!

⏳D-55 Until the Opening

Stay tuned for more exciting and thrilling updates -

See you in Busan for the late-summer festival!

- The 30th Busan International Film Festival -