Film recommendations from the programmers of the 30th Busan International Film Festival!
Each BIFF programmer introduces selections from their curation.
Discover the 30th BIFF through the programmers’ thoughtful insights and personal picks.
The Kinder Programmer - PARK Sunyoung
Hello, my name is Sunyoung Park, a programmer responsible for Chinese-speaking territories, Central Asian, and South Asian films. This year, I’ll be introducing my selections through several thematic strands. A rich and diverse lineup of Asian films awaits, and I hope you’ll look forward to them.
The Flâneur’s Camera
TSAI Ming-Liang – Back Home
Tsai Ming-Liang’s camera wanders into Laos, capturing traces of fiction within documentary form.
Venice International Film Festival – Out of Competition
Zhang Lu – Gloaming in Luomu
Zhang Lu, ever the urban flâneur, brings his camera to Luomu, a town surrounded by high mountains. His signature humor and rhythm remain intact even amid its remote landscapes.
SF… but Unusual
Vimukthi JAYASUNDARA– Spying Stars
A new sci-fi film from Sri Lankan master Vimkthi Jayasundara — quiet, poetic, and deeply human.
KUNG Siu Ping – Measure in Love
Here, sci-fi serves only as the backdrop for a tender, luminous love story between two young souls. Starring Hsu Kuang-Han of Someday or One day (2022) and Angela Yuen, the film will screen at the Outdoor Theater and will feature a special greeting from the cast.
A Love Letter to Cinema and Theaters
BI Gan – Resurrection
From the silent film era to the decline of the movie theater, Bi Gan reconstructs the history of cinema. A heartfelt love letter to the age of film and theaters.
Cannes Film Festival – Special Prize in Competition
TSAI Ming-Liang – Goodbye, Dragon Inn (2003)
Goodbye, Dragon Inn — a timeless masterpiece that audiences long to revisit — unfolds during the final screening at the Fu-Ho Grand Theatre. Like its lingering patrons, we find it hard to leave, too. Tsai Ming-Liang returns to the cinema alongside Lee Kang-Sheng for Defining Moments of Asian Cinema.
Venice International Film Festival 2003 -Competition, Fipresci Award Winner
Childhood Isn’t Easy Either
TSOU Shih-Ching – Left-Handed Girl
A mother and two daughters who moved to Taipei. Even the child suffers in life because she is left-handed. Co-written, edited, and produced by Sean Baker.
Cannes Film Festival – Critics’ Week
Natalia UVAROVA – Malika
“What happens if Mom remarries? I’ll be forced to live with Dad! There’s only one mission: stop her remarriage—no matter what it takes.” Beautiful scenery and impressive camera work.
Anoop LOKKUR – Don’t Tell Mother
The mother loves her son, yet at times life feels overwhelming. But what secret is he hiding — one he cannot even share with her? A warm, heartfelt film.
Exceptional Actors, Exceptional Directorial Works
Shu Qi – Girl
Renowned actor Shu Qi makes her directorial debut with a striking command. Condensed emotions, a tightly woven narrative, and evocative visual language announce the arrival of a remarkable new filmmaker.
Venice International Film Festival – Invited to Competition
LEE Hong-chi – A Dance in Vain
The second directorial feature by Taiwanese actor Lee Hong-chi, highlighted by a striking “vain” dance in the closing scene. Both his debut Love Is a Gun (2023) and his latest In Vain, Dance were invited to the Critics’ Week of the Venice International Film Festival.
Tannishtha CHATTERJEE – Full Plate
Acclaimed for her work across both Indian and international cinema, Tannishtha Chatterjee presents her second directorial feature. The film captivates with its spirited, endearing protagonist, brought to life through a delicate balance of strength and tenderness.
Remarkable Debuts with Distinctive Rhythms
Maharshi Tuhin KASHYAP – Kok Kok Kokoook
A love story of outsiders — or perhaps a triangle between him, her, and it. One of the year’s most singular debut works.
Tribeny RAI – Shape of Momo
Returning to her hometown near the Himalayas, the protagonist rediscovers life’s subtle rhythms through small conversations and everyday acts, where emotions are never trivial. This debut feature and its filmmaker deserve our support.
Mahde HASAN – Sand City
Life in Dhaka feels as if it were built on sand. Two protagonists who never cross paths are brought to life through strikingly inventive editing rhythms.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival – Proxima Grand Prix Winner
Central Asian Women Filmmakers in the Spotlight
Erke DZHUMAKMATOVA, Emil ATAGELDIEV – Kurak
A co-directed work by Kyrgyz filmmaker Erke Dzhumakmatova and the late Emil Atageldiev. Voices of women weave together into a “patchwork(kurak)” that breaks through the weight of systemic oppression.
Zhannat ALSHANOVA – Becoming
The debut feature of Kazakh filmmaker Zhannat Alshanova follows a teenage girl — abandoned once again by her mother — who struggles to persevere as a determined young swimmer.
Locarno Film Festival – Concorso Cineasti del Presente
Isabelle KALANDAR – Another Birth
Through the verses of girl’s poetry, a mother’s love, sorrow, and despair flow with lyrical grace. A remarkable first feature by a Tajikistani-born woman filmmaker.
Dopamine Rush: Action from Asia!
Larry YANG – The Shadow’s Edge
An elegant yet high-energy showcase of action, uniting Jackie Chan and Tony Leung Ka-fai in a legendary pairing. JUN of SEVENTEEN also delivers a seamless performance amid the dazzling action.
CHEN Cheng-dao, HSU Chao-jen – The Resurrected
Two mothers, united by the loss of their daughters, are compelled to act under extreme circumstances. Raw emotion and fierce combat collide in this revenge-driven drama series starring Shu Qi and Lee Sinje.
TANIGAKI Kenji – The Furious
A Hong Kong take on Taken: a furious father unleashes raw, unrelenting hand-to-hand combat. A relentless display of pure action, leaving no time to catch your breath.
Toronto International Film Festival – Invited to Midnight Madness
Johnnie TO – Election (2005)
Hong Kong noir at its finest, crafted by legendary director Johnnie To with an ensemble cast including Tony Leung Ka-fai, Simon Yam, and Louis Koo. Johnnie To returns to Busan for Defining Moments of Asian Cinema.
Cannes Film Festival 2005 - Competition
Their Stories of Love
Tracy CHOI – Girlfriends
A tender love story unfolds across Macao, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, as the protagonist retraces her past and present relationships in a journey of self-discovery.
LAI Yuqing – Whisperings of the Moon
Returning from New York to her hometown of Phnom Penh, a woman reunites with the lover she parted from seven years ago. Can love begin again?
Even If the World Deceives Us
JIA Zhang-ke – Still Life (2006)
From the haunting tightrope walk of its final scene to its portraits of coal miners, Jia Zhang-ke’s masterpiece resonates with layered meaning. Jia returns to Busan for Defining Moments of Asian Cinema.
Venice International Film Festival 2006 – Golden Lion Winner
CAI Shangjun – The Sun Rises on Us All
An unexpected reunion forces a woman into uneasy cohabitation with the ex-husband she once abandoned. As their concealed past comes to light, events spiral toward an inevitable tragedy.
Venice International Film Festival – Competition
ZHOU Jiali – Raindrops on a Roof
The debut feature of a Tibetan woman filmmaker portrays the journey of single mother Shining and her family as they navigate loss and trauma. A film of quiet solace and tender healing.
Films Supported by Busan
YI Jing – The Botanist
Set against the landscapes and sensibilities of northern Xinjiang, this poignant coming-of-age tale traces a boy’s journey with lyrical beauty.
Asian Project Market 2023 – Official Selection
Berlin International Film Festival – Generation Kplus, Grand Prix of the International Jury for Best Film
Bikas Ranjan MISHRA – BAYAAN
The story follows a female police officer who fights to protect a young girl exposing the sexual crimes of a cult leader.
Asian Project Market 2024 – Official Selection
Toronto International Film Festival – Discovery
Sanju SURENDRAN – If on a Winter’s Night
One cold night in Delhi, young couples and friends navigate the lives of migrants in the metropolis, portrayed with warmth and realism.
Asian Cinema Fund 2025 - Post-Production Fund
CHEN Jianhang – The River That Holds Our Hands
Centering on a documentary filmmaker from a Chinese ethnic minority, the film offers a thoughtful reflection on the history of diaspora.
Asian Cinema Fund 2025 - Post-Production Fund
This year, the 30th Busan International Film Festival presents an exceptional lineup of films best experienced on the big screen. Most of all, we hope you’ll continue to walk with us on this journey of Asian cinema, with all the curiosity and love you bring. As autumn approaches, we look forward to welcoming you to Busan. Thank you.
