Festival jurors promise fair evaluations as BIFF transitions into a fresh chapter
Busan International Film Festival Unveils Inaugural Competition
The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is underway, running from September 1st to 26th across various venues in Busan, South Korea. This year marks the festival's inaugural competition, with a total prize money of 110 million won ($80,000) up for grabs.
The jury, composed of seven esteemed members, will be evaluating 14 Asian films for five awards: best film, best director, special jury prize, best actor, and artistic contribution. Among the notable entries are Chinese director Bi Gan's "Resurrection," fresh from its special jury prize at Cannes, and Taiwan's "Left-Handed Girl," directed by Tsou Shih-Ching and produced by Sean Baker, the recent Palme d'Or winner.
One of the competition's standout films is Korean director Lim Sun-ae's "Seven O'Clock Breakfast Club for the Brokenhearted," starring Suzy and Lee Jin-wook. Sang-yong Lee, a programmer for the Busan International Kids and Youth Film Festival (BIKY) and a significant figure in Busan film events, is likely to be the jury member associated with this film.
Kogonada, a Korean American director, emphasized the importance of collaborative evaluation, while Na, the jury president, underscored the need to experience films first before making decisions. Na Hong-jin, known for directing "The Chaser" and "The Wailing," presides over the jury.
The jury aims for unanimous decisions, and Na expressed determination about the jury's role, aiming to benefit the festival and the film community. Nandita Das, an Indian actor-director, is also a member of the jury. She stressed the subjective nature of judgment while maintaining optimism about selecting films that reflect contemporary concerns.
Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka-fai is part of the jury, visiting BIFF for the second time. Korean actress Han Hyo-joo is the youngest member of the jury. She is joined by Indonesian producer Yulia Evina Bhara, participating in the Busan International Film Festival's inaugural competition.
The competition's winners will be revealed at the closing ceremony on September 26th, marking the end of another exciting chapter in the Busan International Film Festival's history.
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