Busan’s 30th BIFF Ushers in a New Era with Record Film Count and Fresh Competitive Structure
The 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has officially opened its doors on September 17, 2025, at the Busan Cinema Center, introducing its most expansive and ambitious edition to date. With **241 official selections** from **64 countries**, and a total of **328 films** including Community BIFF screenings, this year’s festival surpasses last year’s offerings both in scale and scope.
This landmark edition not only marks BIFF’s three-decade milestone, but also introduces significant structural innovations. Among its most notable changes is the launch of a brand new **Competition section** dedicated to Asian cinema — a unified platform that merges the former New Currents and Kim Jiseok categories. Fourteen Asian films will contend for the newly-launched “Busan Awards,” spanning five major honors: Best Film, Best Director, Special Jury Prize, Best Actor, and Artistic Contribution.
Other than competition restructuring, BIFF has expanded its curatorial breadth. The Vision section has been enlarged to incorporate more Asian works alongside its Korean selections, while the Icons section—the segment that showcases celebrated global auteurs—has grown dramatically, reflecting the festival’s ambition to balance spotlight on regional artistry with international masters.
The **Opening Film**, No Other Choice by celebrated director Park Chan-wook, sets the tone for the ten-day celebration of film. Following in BIFF tradition, major master classes, forums, and special programs are also in full swing, including a focused retrospective on defining moments in Asian cinema, and conversations exploring the future of Korean film in a rapidly globalizing environment.
According to BIFF organizers, expanding screening venues forms another pillar of this year’s efforts. Audiences can now attend films at 31 screens across seven theaters, including prominent additions such as the CGV Centum City IMAX, Dongseo University Sohyang Theatre ShinhanCard Hall, and the Busan Community Media Center — enhancing accessibility and diversifying viewing experiences.
The new competition section has already made news with its inaugural lineup. Among the selected 14 films is *Spying Stars* by Sri Lankan filmmaker Vimukthi Jayasundara, in a production co-produced with India and France, raising hopes that BIFF’s updated format will boost visibility for Asian auteurs across borders.
As BIFF enters its 30th year, the festival is clearly embracing both celebration and transformation. Fresh competition structures, record numbers, and widened global participation suggest a bold strategy: one that honors BIFF’s legacy while looking toward Asia’s cinematic future. The success of this edition may well reshape expectations for regional film festivals and raise the benchmark for competition, curation, and cross-cultural engagement in Asian and global cinema.