Hello everyone 🙌

How has your week been so far?

Last week, the weather in Busan was especially fickle. A brief shower would pass, followed by blazing sunshine, only for the skies to turn overcast again by evening. ☔☀️🌥

Amidst this ever-changing weather, the Busan International Film Festival has been quietly but steadily building momentum behind the scenes.

From small sparks to a sky full of fireworks—the moment is almost here. Are you ready? 😉

The 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced actor Claudia Kim as the solo host of the Closing Ceremony. Until the moment the newly established Busan Awards is presented, Claudia will serve as a steadfast bridge between the films and the audience on stage. From Marvel film, Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) to Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2023)—and most recently, winning the Best Supporting Actress award at the Baeksang Arts Awards 2025! She’s now bringing that same star power to the BIFF stage. 🌟

Developed in collaboration with the Pusan National University Film Institute and the Korean Film Archive, selected films will be screened, accompanied by special talk sessions featuring directors and lead actors, exploring the creative and artistic spirit of Asian cinema. 🎁

This year’s survey engaged 161 figures from 34 countries, including directors, producers, actors, critics, professionals, and festival programmers. A total of 119 films (including tied rankings) were selected, with 10 titles officially invited for screening at the festival. 

In addition, BIFF will publish a commemorative book featuring all 119 films titled Defining Moments of Asian Cinema – 100 Best Asian Films Since 1996.

We can’t wait to share it with you.

Six of this year’s most anticipated drama series—three from Korea and three from abroad—will premiere exclusively in the 4th ‘On Screen’ section. Experience an immersive experience you won’t find on your TV or streaming platforms—catch them first, and on the biggest screen, at the Busan International Film Festival! 😆

Acclaimed actor Lee Jung-Eun of Parasite (2019) and global star Yoo Teo of Past Lives (2023) will serve as jury members for the Actor of the Year Award at the 30th Busan International Film Festival. 🎉 Established in 2014, the Actor of the Year Award honors emerging talent in Korean independent feature films, selecting one male and one female actor from Korean works in the Vision section. 🏆 The Actor of the Year Award comes with a cash prize of KRW 5 million. Lee Jung-Eun and Yoo Teo will present the awards during the Busan Vision Awards.

A special forum ‘Revisiting the Path of Asian Cinema’ will be held over four days, from September 18 (Thurs) to 21 (Sun). Marking the 30th edition of the festival, it will examine the current state and future of Asian cinema amid the ever-evolving global content landscape. The forum will cover a wide range of topics, including industry trends, critical discourse, policy frameworks, technology, and education. Directors, producers, critics and researchers from across Asia will gather to discuss the latest developments and pressing challenges facing the region’s film industries. 🤼

The small sparks are coming together, burning brighter, clearer, and stronger by the day. Soon, they’ll burst into a brilliant firework display over the September night sky in Busan.

Until then, we’ll continue to share these sparks with you, week by week.
Don’t miss a single one—let’s see them through together. 🙏😎

- The 30th Busan International Film Festival -