Busan Rolls Out the Red Carpet—K-Drama Style
The 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) officially opened on October 17, setting the city abuzz with global film industry buzz. Hosted in the film-dedicated Haeundae area of Busan, the glamorous opening night was emceed by none other than Squid Game’s very own Lee Byung-hun.
All the (A-List) Stars Came Out
The red carpet looked more like a who’s-who of Asian entertainment: Director Park Chan-wook, actors Son Ye-jin, Lee Sun-kyun, Park Hee-soon, Han Hyo-joo, Jung Jong-seo, Shin Ye-eun, and SF9’s Rowoon wowed the crowd. International names didn’t hold back either—Japanese stars like Kentaro Sakaguchi, Ko Shibasaki, Takuya Yamada, and Takumi Kitamura brought major movie star energy alongside Ken Watanabe and Junichi Okada.
Also gracing the event was Hollywood badass Milla Jovovich and Chinese-American director Maggie Kang (K-pop Girls! Demon Hunters cuteness alert). But the night nearly stopped when BLACKPINK’s Lisa made a surprise appearance—cue screaming fans.
Lee Byung-hun Reflects on 30 Years
The charismatic MC, Lee Byung-hun, celebrated his own 30-year milestone in the industry along with BIFF’s anniversary. “A small dream that started in Busan has become Asia’s most iconic film festival,” he said. “Like the festival, I’ve grown—slowly, but surely. What hasn’t changed? The thrill of storytelling.”
Award Highlights: International Honors Take the Stage
- Asian Filmmaker of the Year: Jafar Panahi (Iran)
- Korean Cinema Achievement Award: Director Jung Ji-young
- Camellia Award: Sylvia Chang (Taiwan)—actress, director, and cinematic force
- BIFF Cinema Master Tribute: Marco Bellocchio (Italy)
Director Jung gave a stirring speech about decades of creative struggle and community support. “The Korean film industry may be in a moment of crisis,” he said, “but out there, hidden like gems, are movies waiting to be discovered.”
Park Chan-wook’s ‘It’s Okay’ Opens the Festival
BIFF’s opening film, “It’s Okay,” comes from globally acclaimed director Park Chan-wook. Festival chairman Jung Han-seok praised its selection: “It almost felt like this film was made for this moment.”
Park returned the love, recalling his skepticism when he first heard about a Korean international film festival thirty years ago. “Back then, it sounded impossible. And here we are,” he said. “To be the opening film on BIFF’s 30th anniversary? Pure honor.”
Wrapping Up, But Rolling Forward
The festival runs through October 26, promising ten packed days of screenings, panels, and plenty of K-wave sparkle. Actress Soo-hyun (aka Claudia Kim) will host the closing ceremony. Whether you’re a cinephile or just here for the red carpet drama, BIFF 2025 is setting the global screen on fire—again.
