The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), one of Asia’s most prestigious film festivals, marks its 30th anniversary this year. From September 17 to 26, 2025, the festival unfolds across the iconic Busan Cinema Center and theaters throughout the city, transforming Busan into a global hub for film and culture.
This year’s BIFF presents its largest lineup ever, featuring 241 official selections from 64 countries and 87 community screenings, for a total of 328 films. With its expanded scale, BIFF continues to cement its reputation alongside Cannes, Venice, and Berlin as one of the world’s leading film festivals, while also serving as the premier platform for Asian cinema.
Image source: Busan International Film Festival
A Historic First: The Competition Section
For the first time in its history, BIFF introduces a new competitive section. Fourteen films from across Asia—including South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Iran—will compete for five prestigious “Busan Awards.” The winning films will be screened at the closing ceremony, offering a powerful finale to the festival.
Image: Official poster
Opening Night Spotlight
The festival opens with Park Chan-wook’s highly anticipated new film No Other Way, starring celebrated actors Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin. Their appearance at the red carpet and opening ceremony is already generating major buzz. In addition, internationally acclaimed filmmakers and stars from Hollywood and beyond will gather in Busan, providing audiences with rare opportunities for dialogue and connection.
Special Programs for the 30th Anniversary
To commemorate its milestone year, BIFF is hosting a rich slate of special programs. Decisive Moments in Asian Cinema revisits masterpieces that shaped Asian film history, while Our Small Histories, A Future to Imagine showcases works by emerging Korean women directors and fosters dialogue with veteran filmmakers.
Beyond screenings, BIFF offers interactive events for audiences and industry professionals alike—including outdoor stage greetings, masterclasses, open forums, and the Community BIFF screenings that bring cinema directly into the city. The pre-festival celebration at Nampo-dong’s BIFF Square and the open-air screenings at the Busan Cinema Center create a festive atmosphere that blends film with the city’s vibrant culture.
Busan: A Global Film Hub
Over three decades, BIFF has played a crucial role in transforming Busan from a port city into a global film capital. Today, the festival not only champions Asian talent but also hosts the Asian Contents & Film Market, connecting filmmakers, producers, and investors worldwide. English-subtitled screenings and international guest programs ensure that visitors from around the world can fully engage with the festival.
Looking Ahead
The 30th edition of BIFF is more than a celebration—it is a turning point for the future of Asian cinema. By launching a competitive section, nurturing emerging voices, and strengthening its role as a cultural bridge, BIFF reaffirms its mission to spotlight Asian stories on the world stage.
As the spotlight shines on Busan this September, the city reasserts itself not just as the host of a film festival, but as the beating heart of global cinema’s future.
